There’s no denying it, try as we may: shorter, colder days are just around the corner. For many of us, the shift in weather means spending a little bit more time curled up at home reading a book or gazing through the window at tumultuous skies. And, when you live in the airy Upper East Side residences at The Kent, staying in definitely isn’t a negative thing. The dramatic views are enough entertainment to fill an afternoon. Still, before the snow flies, it’s a good idea to get your home looking and feeling just the way you like it. Decorating doesn’t have to be a complicated, time-consuming project. In fact, a few small touches can go a long way toward incorporating your unique personality into your space.

First, get in touch with your literary side. You don’t have to showcase an entire library, but a few well-placed books can certainly add visual interest. It could be a short row of colorful spines, perhaps your favorite detective novels, or a casual stack of oversized art books on the side table. When it comes to displaying books, one often-overlooked room is the kitchen. Cookbooks can be works of art themselves, brimming with vivid photography or striking graphic design. We’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend a trip to Kitchen Arts & Letters to refresh your collection. The store is a beloved neighborhood institution that counts among its first customers luminaries like Julia Child. There’s a massive, well-curated selection of new releases like Baco: Vivid Recipes from the Heart of Los Angeles by Josef Centeno and Betty Hallock, as well as out-of-print editions and rare titles. If you’re not sure where to start, just ask the staff. Their notoriously good suggestions may lead you somewhere unexpected.

Second, it may seem obvious, but never underestimate the power of fresh flowers. A stunning floral arrangement, when done correctly, can transform a room. The doldrums of winter can feel very real, but seasonal blues are no match for a dozen fresh peonies, heavy with pink and white blooms, or a tangle of irises and garden roses, cascading delicately down from the vase. When it comes to fresh, dramatic flowers, no one in the neighborhood is more practiced than local expert Richard Salome Flowers. Salome and his wife have been in business for over 40 years, offering everything from succulents to trees to baskets of champagne and roses. Luckily for residents of The Kent, this flower shop is only a five-minute walk away, and they keep a wide selection of flowers ready for pick-up. But if you’re settled on the couch under your softest blanket and you’d prefer to stay that way, that’s fine, too; Richard Salome Flowers will deliver an arrangement (or two!) right to your door. Keeping a bit of spring blooming in your home is a simple, yet surefire way to add a splash of vitality and character.