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As holiday sparkle fades and the demands of work and school return, sustaining the momentum of New Year’s resolutions becomes increasingly difficult. The fitness tracking app Strava even dubbed the second Friday of the year “Quitter’s Day” after noticing a marked decline in user activity come mid-January. But if your 2026 aspirations include revamping your home, interior designer and home stager Elisha Niebuhr has a strategy for keeping your goals on track: the $100 Saturday Refresh. Just one day and a crisp Benjamin Franklin are all that’s required to make small changes that have a big impact, Niebuhr says.
“Coming off the holidays, a lot of us are in a state of decision fatigue and spending fatigue,” says Niebuhr, who owns Colorado Springs–based Modern Interior Company. “But what usually happens is you get a little motivated to make your house feel fresh and you end up buying a bunch of random things that weren’t really intentional. These refreshes are not just about the dopamine hit of the shopping experience; it’s about creating intentional moments and focal points that make your home feel complete.”
Here, Niebuhr shares seven ways to make your home look more polished—without polishing off your bank account. An added bonus? These small upgrades can lead to a long-lasting serotonin boost. “It’s similar to clothes: When you put on your favorite sweater and you look good and feel good, you project differently,” she says. “That same kind of experience happens with interiors.”
1. Spruce up your entryway.
If you’re a true Denverite and keep your Christmas lights up until the National Western Stock Show ends later this month, chances are your home’s exterior still looks ready to greet Santa. But come February, your front stoop may need some TLC. A new welcome mat and a wreath can help make a good first impression—for you and your guests. “It changes the way you feel when you walk up to the door every day,” Niebuhr says. Choose a mat with neutral tones and a faux, evergreen wreath so that the combo lasts until the next holiday season.
Niebuhr’s picks: Seeded Green Leaf Wreath ($35) and ‘Hello’ Stripe Border Coir Doormat ($13), available at Target
2. Choose a signature scent.
Lighting a candle is a simple way to shift the energy of a space. “You want the scent to give you the feeling you want to embody,” Niebuhr says. “So this time of year, I’m replacing the cozy pine scents that I had out for Christmas with something that feels fresh and invigorating for January.” For continuity, choose one scent to use throughout the home’s main living areas. “You don’t want the scents to clash, and using scents that are botanical or nature-oriented are going to be able to fit those different mulitpurpose spaces.”
Niebuhr’s picks: Fleur de Sel, White Gardenia, and Rosemary Eucalyptus candles ($25), available at Williams Sonoma
3. Change out your throw pillows.
Before you kick your tired sofa to the curb, Niebuhr recommends refreshing its accessories first. “Changing your throw pillows and blankets is one of the easiest, most gratifying ways to spruce up your living room,” Niebuhr says. Her recipe for a put-together look? Two square pillows, one oblong lumbar pillow for dimension, and a cozy throw draped over the back of the couch. For commitment-phobes, look for pillows with removable covers that can be swapped out with the seasons. “Bringing patterns into a space on a large scale is expensive,” Niebuhr says. “But with pillows and blankets, you can have a lot of fun and express your personality without the investment.”
Niebuhr’s picks: Square Cotton Woven Stripe Throw Pillows ($20 for a two-pack), Tufted Geo Lumbar Throw Pillow ($25), Scalloped Edge Throw ($35), available at Target
4. Restyle your coffee table
Stick to odd numbers when styling your coffee table, Niebuhr says, “ideally groupings of three or five items to make it feel complete.” Niebuhr’s formula includes a short, squat vase filled with artificial stems (fake flowers tend to look too fake, so go for greenery instead) and a decorative object stacked on top of a hefty coffee table book. Each piece delivers height and dimension while maintaining enough open space to kick up your feet or, you know, set your coffee mug.
Niebuhr’s picks:Large White Ceramic Vase ($40, Amazon), Artificial Olive Stem Leaf Sprays ($12, Target), Call It Home by Amber Lewis ($22, Amazon), Cast Metal Links ($20, Target)
5. Eliminate kitchen clutter.
Counter space is precious in most kitchens, so it’s important to put your money toward beautiful pieces that are also functional. Clear off a corner and group together a cookbook display for quick access to recipes (and beautiful food photography), matching salt and pepper mills, and either a fruit bowl or a live herb plant. “These groupings tend to create more visual impact than if the items were spread out,” Niebuhr says. But the most design impact in a kitchen might come from what’s not seen: “Make sure there’s negative space; everything shouldn’t be out on your countertops. If you can, hide your toaster oven in an appliance garage or store the rice cooker in your lower cabinets. Getting rid of clutter can create a lot of peace in your layout.”
Niebuhr’s picks: I Love You: Recipes From The Heart by Pamela Anderson ($16), Bamboo Book Stand ($16), Rae Dunn Salt and Pepper Grinders ($28), available at Amazon
6. Get a matching shower curtain and bath mat.
“You’re getting ready for your day in the bathroom,” Niebuhr says, “so it can really affect how you feel and set the tone for your mindset.” Swapping out the shower curtain and bath mat for a coordinating set is an easy and affordable way to add a cohesive burst of color and pattern. “We’re not talking a full $30,000 bathroom remodel, but it’s going to feel much more pulled together.”
Niebuhr’s picks: Swirl Shower Curtain ($49), Square Ribbed Bath Mat ($45), available at West Elm
7. Upgrade your bedding.
To create a calm, inviting bedscape, sometimes less is more. “We have hundreds of pillows in our design studio inventory. I basically went into this industry to buy pillows,” Niebuhr says. “But just having one accent pillow on a bed is so nice because it doesn’t take up a lot of space—you don’t need extra storage for your thousands of pillows.” The trick? Choose a long oblong lumbar pillow to counterbalance the visual weight of the bed. And when Niebuhr is designing a vacation home or guest house, where her clients typically have a tighter budget, her go-to move for bedding is a fresh duvet set in a soft earth tone. “This one from Target is similar to higher end brands like Parachute for a lot less,” she says.
Niebuhr’s picks: Cotton Linen Chambray Duvet Cover & Sham Set ($69), Large Oblong Pillow ($35), available at Target
