Let's Stay In
Written by: Claire Sugden
T’is the season for staying in! The days are short, the ground is frosty, and it’s no longer acceptable to wear a Santa hat to keep the rain off: if there was ever a month to hunker down and embrace the joy of staying home, it’s January. The Christmas tree may have come down, but the sparkle needn’t stop here. With a few cosy touches, it’s so simple to transform your space into the perfect hideaway haven until the days start getting a little brighter.
Coffee and candlelight
Create the perfect “do not disturb” corner with blankets, cushions, and heaps of candlelight. From LED glass candle jars to battery powered tea lights, clusters of flickering flames create instant ambience and provide a soothing setting for cosying up with a good book and giant mug of coffee. Gather your candles in groups of three or five for a natural, informal look, and consider mixing-and-matching colours for a little added texture: we love pairing classic ivory with cool, contemporary white.
Add some sparkle
Why should Christmas lights be confined to the loft until next December? The tree may have been packed away, but that doesn’t mean the sparkle has to be switched off. Repurpose fairy lights by swagging along bookshelves and tacking around doorframes, or trailing along mantlepieces and windowsills. And whilst the light-up penguins and polar bears might be best tucked away for another year, we fully support keeping the stars and the snowflakes out in pride of place: a simple, Scandi-style Osby star light will bring a bit of cheer to any corner this month.
The perfect “shelfie”
Nothing says “welcome home” like a shelf or a bookcase twinkling with warm, golden light. Battery powered candles and lanterns are ideal for bringing some glow to your shelves: the LED flames always remain cool to the touch, so can safely be tucked into even the smallest of spaces. What’s more, with 6-hour timers and remote control functionality, it’s a totally fuss-free operation: no need to be clambering on footstools to reach those high-up shelves! We recommend grouping candles of varying sizes together and styling with coffee table books, miniature paintings and mango wood trays for an Insta-ready scene.
Lantern-lit corners
The key to ultimate cosiness is remembering the importance of lighting at all levels. Fairy lights around doorframes bring the sparkle up high, and candles on bookshelves bring the glow to eye-level. But what about the floor? Here’s where candle lanterns come in. From contemporary matte black to rustic wood-and-rope designs, battery powered lanterns provide a stylish finishing touch to your January hideaway. Cluster in pairs or trios, and enjoy the glow.
With a little sparkle and a pile of warm blankets, your January can be transformed from blue to bright. Draw the curtains, light the fire, and get cosy: there’s no place like home.
