New Year, Clean House.

Anyone else feel the sudden need to PURGE after the holidays? Maybe its living with boxes and presents (and in our case, toys) scattered all over the house, or maybe its all the delicious (and carb-loaded) food that we eat, and eat...and eat....and eat for several days in a row, but I suddenly want to get rid of everything! My clothes, the food in my fridge, old linens, old toys, and I really really want to simplify my decor.

Here are a couple of things you can do in the New Year to give your house a breath of fresh air.

1. Clean out your fridge.

If it's over a week old, throw it out. If you're never going to eat it, throw it out. I'm in the process of making a meal plan for next week that includes a full week of NO-CARB dinners. No, we're not on a diet. I just want to stop feeling like a fat couch potato. I think some fresh greens will help get my blood flowing a bit. Okay, so maybe we are on a diet. Plus, its a great way to start out a new year with a healthy body.

2. Go through that closet.

Chances are, you may have gotten some cute new clothes, shoes, or accessories to fill up your wardrobe for the holidays. Or maybe you hit up the after Christmas sales on your own. Get rid of that stuff that you WON'T wear again. You KNOW you won't wear it. Just LET IT GO! Yes, you know the pieces I'm talking about. I love walking into an organized closet. It makes me feel so much less stressed and cuts down on my time figuring out what to wear.

It's also a great idea to go through your linen closet. Pull EVERYTHING out. Throw out the old and raggedy sheets or towels you never use, and nicely fold everything as you put it away. This is a closet you open pretty much everyday and seeing it clean is also a great de-stressor.

3. Declutter your Decor

I LOVE my Christmas decor. It makes me so happy to pull it out each December and relive memories and feel the anticipation of Christmas. Now that its over however, my house just feels, cluttered. I don't necessarily want to BUY new decor, I just want to simplify what I have. Pack away the holiday stuff, but don't replace every nook and cranny with a non-holiday piece of decor. Just leave it alone. Let the space breathe.

Another great way to make a space feel cleaner and less cluttered is to keep a really simple color pallet. The more color you have in a room, the more "full" it will feel. Scan your room to see if you can switch out some pieces for some calmer, more neutral tones. In terms of decor and accessories, I'm looking for a candle, a cozy throw blanket, and some pillows. Everything else can take some time off for now. This monochromatic home featured in this Elements of Style blog really captures that clean, minimalist look without feeling cold or forgotten.

Finally, I'm not sure how the weather has been in your neck of the woods, but we have been all over the place here in New Jersey. Cold, warm, snow, rain- probably why all of us are sick! But if you happen to have a warmer day in the forecast, open your windows and air out the place. Getting some fresh air is huge in brightening your mood and may even get your butt in gear to clean and be productive.

One tip before your start your New Year's purge: Do NOT try to accomplish all of these tasks in one day. Take your time, but hold each task's time limit to one day. If you drag any of these out, you'll get bored and probably overwhelmed. Keep that end goal in mind- the feeling of cleanliness, space, and a fresh start. Good luck and Happy New Year!!