A cozy space for January

January in Syracuse is... an experience, one that is best lived out on the slopes or hiking trails in your favorite oversized parka or in a cozy space under a blanket with your favorite candle burning.

I'm not as confident on the slopes, but I do know the peace and relief of a cozy space. My favorite cozy space has a pillow or two, a few plants, something comfy to sit on and not much else.

Imagine your cozy space (or look around it if that's where you're reading this.) How does it make you feel? I did this at the end of December after we took down our Christmas decorations. We have two large built-in bookshelves around our fireplace. I ended up taking almost everything off of them, save a few plants and pictures. The space feels more settled, which is what I needed after all of the glitz and sparkle of Christmas.

Are there a few decorative items your could take out of your cozy space? Could they live in storage for a bit? Or, better yet, is there someone who might want them? I created a "gift" bin for items I loved from my bookshelves and am ready to part with, and this will be my first stop for birthdays or celebrations this year (#normalizesecondhandgifts.)

Is there a piece of furniture that is just taking up space? Maybe a bench or chair? Post it on Facebook Marketplace for $20 and give it a second life somewhere else. I recently got the piano of my dreams on my local Buy Nothing group (a post for a different day!) and sold a hutch that had been storing board games and random knickknacks. The board games we use went in the hall closet and the rest went in the basement, and I haven't missed the storage since.

One of my biggest challenges is sitting still, and when I'm in my cozy space, it's somehow easier. There's nothing to do, nothing to move (except a stray toy or book from my boys.) I feel settled when I sit down here, and isn't that something we all want, a space to feel calm and restful in?

Enjoy your space, friends.