5 Simple Ways to Refresh Your Home for the Jewish New Year

The Jewish new year arrives just as summer begins to give way to fall. For me, that feels like the perfect invitation to refresh and be refreshed. The evenings gradually become cooler, and the pleasant breeze we waited for throughout the hot summer days finally begins to blow at night, at least in Jerusalem.

The Jewish calendar also gives us a reason to pause, reflect, and begin again. The Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a particularly meaningful time for teshuvah. The Rambam writes that teshuvah during these days is “especially beautiful and accepted immediately.”

And if we are already thinking about renewal from within, why not look at our homes with loving eyes, too, and give them a little refresh?

Amid all the errands, shopping, and preparations for the new year, take a moment to ask yourself: Do I love the space I live in? Does it feel good to walk through the door at the end of the day? Does my home reflect me, calm me, and make me happy?

There is no right or wrong answer. Whatever comes to mind is okay, and there are always small things we can change.

The space around us can affect how we feel. When our home is tidy, pleasant, and decorated in a way we love, it can bring a little more calm and joy into everyday life. And you do not need a major renovation to achieve that. Start with these five small changes you can make today.

1. Refresh Just One Corner

Start by choosing one corner. Not several corners. Just one.

Pick that spot that has been patiently waiting for your attention for months, the one you know will remain boring and tired unless you finally give it a little color and care.

First, clear away the clutter and give the area a quick clean. Then look at the empty space before deciding what to put back.

Why start with an empty space? Because sometimes emptiness gives us the inspiration to create something new. Suddenly, that clean corner of the living room might seem perfect for storing board games. Or perhaps the opposite happens and you realize it looks best left almost completely empty, with nothing more than a large green plant.

Either way, make a decision and go with it. Congratulations, you have a new corner.

2. Decorate With Pomegranates

At this time of year, one of the most beautiful decorative accessories can be found right in the produce section of your local supermarket.

The pomegranate is one of the Seven Species for which the Land of Israel is praised, and it appears in the Bible as a symbol of beauty and abundance. A few pomegranates arranged in a light ceramic bowl can instantly turn your dining table into an eye-catching focal point.

Try placing three pomegranates on a wooden tray and adding a few olive branches or simple green leaves. In minutes, you have a beautiful seasonal centerpiece with almost no effort.

3. No Pomegranates? Try Apples

Green apples create a fresh, clean look, while red apples bring warmth. I did not say it. Color theory did.

A wide bowl filled with apples can sit in the center of the kitchen table, on an island, or on a sideboard in the dining area. The biggest advantage? This is decor you can eat.

Just remember to restock once everyone does.

4. Bring in Warm Textiles

If you want your home to truly feel as though it has entered a new season, textiles are one of the easiest places to start.

Our grandmothers’ homes were filled with them: cotton and lace napkins, substantial fabric tablecloths, and cozy wool blankets. Whether they realized it or not, our grandmothers embraced a warm, homey style that has made a major comeback.

Design trends change from year to year, but warm and inviting interiors have increasingly offered an alternative to stark, all-white minimalism.

You do not need to replace your furniture to achieve the look. One pillow in brown, olive, caramel, or dusty pink can change the appearance of a sofa, even one that has seen better days. Add a couple of cream-colored macramé pillows and a cotton throw draped over the arm of a chair, and suddenly you have an autumnal space that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a book.

5. Let There Be Light

As the days become shorter, lighting inside the home takes on greater importance.

During the summer, we may be able to rely on the Israeli sun to flood the living room with bright natural light, assuming we are lucky enough to live on the right side of the building. As fall arrives, however, a few supporting players can make all the difference.

Try placing a table lamp in a corner of the living room or a floor lamp beside your favorite armchair. Choose a warm-light bulb to create a softer, cozier atmosphere.

Perhaps that is also one of the ideas worth carrying with us into the new year: create a home around you that feels good for the soul. It does not need to be perfect or completely redesigned. A few thoughtful changes can make it feel warmer, calmer, and more like your own.

May we begin the year, and continue it, with a little more calm, happiness, and wholeness. Shanah tovah!

Orit Gruskot is a home stylist and a graduate of Bezalel.