By: Merilee Kern, MBA
The start of a new year has a way of sharpening our instincts toward less clutter and more clarity. We want our routines to feel lighter, our spaces to feel calmer, and our everyday essentials to work harder so we do not have to. A true refresh is not about reinvention for the sake of it, but about choosing thoughtful upgrades that quietly improve the way you live, move, and rest. This curated selection of finds by The Luxe List is designed to help you reset with intention and step into the year feeling more pulled together and in control.
A new year reset often begins with the simplest category of all, which is what you put on your body. Jewelry can be a small decision that changes the whole mood of an outfit, such as the Pavé Vertical Floating Diamond Necklace by Diamond Dots. This piece feels modern and magic in its minimalism, featuring a row of micro pavé diamonds set in 14K gold that appears to hover against the skin. Crafted with lab-grown diamonds, it aligns with the desire to pair beauty with conscious choices. If your style refresh leans more classic, Patricia Nash Designs offers a vintage sensibility with a polished edge. Their Floret Charm Collection hoops and hammered doorknocker earrings provide architectural statements that do not demand a special occasion, turning an ordinary day into a styled one. There is also a growing category of jewelry that is emotionally supportive, such as the spinner rings from The Honest Jeweler. Engraved with affirmations, these pieces offer a calming, grounding motion to help you self-regulate.
The new year also tends to inspire a wardrobe audit, and with it comes the realization that comfort should not require looking like you gave up. Midnighties’ Tuxedo-Striped Lounge Set fits squarely into this era of elevated loungewear. Made from breathable bamboo with satin trim, it moves easily from the couch to a travel day. Footwear is another area where people are deciding to do things differently. Antonia Saint NY’s heels are engineered with invisible comfort technology meant to feel closer to sneakers than stilettos. The Tina Party Heel pairs a stable block heel with a clean silhouette that works for any schedule. Even downtime footwear is getting an upgrade. Fleks Footwear’s San Ysidro Slide offers a plush feel with a sustainability story, as the brand embraces B-grade materials to turn minor imperfections into character details rather than waste.
Home is where the new year refresh becomes most visible through friction-reducing decisions. EyeVac Air is a perfect example, combining a touchless stationary vacuum with air purification. It is designed for those everyday messes that make a home feel perpetually behind, allowing you to sweep debris toward a sensor and watch it disappear. For a refresh that is more aesthetic than functional, preserved rose arrangements from Lasting Brilliance deliver visual impact without ongoing maintenance. These real roses are preserved to stay beautiful for years, offering a reminder that beauty can be practical. A bedroom reset might be the most underrated upgrade because sleep affects every other goal. Threadmill Home Linen’s Supima cotton sheets offer an immediate luxury, and pairing them with an iSense FlexiCool adjustable pillow can make the sleep environment more supportive. Scent is another powerful lever for change, and the ScenTrio Petite Ceramic Wax Warmer by Belle Aroma brings fragrance into the home in a controlled, customizable way.
The new year reset often includes the relationships we care for, including our pets. Trot Pets’ Complete Bowl Set with Mat makes feeding cleaner while providing digestion support through a puzzle slow feeder. Tech and gear are where doing things differently can be most literal. A portable solar generator like the 4Patriots Patriot Power Solar Generator 1200 brings peace of mind in a world where people are more aware of the value of being prepared. Travel gear also makes the refresh list as the new year inspires more movement. Level8’s Adventurer Check-in Suitcase offers thoughtful engineering for organization, and JisuLife’s personal fans solve the simple problem of hot commutes or power outages.
Self-care in a new year context is less about indulgence and more about tools that support consistency. LED Esthetics’ Glotech devices represent the at-home medspa category that continues to grow because people want results without scheduling appointments. Meaningful Beauty’s Skin Renewing Facial Tool adds a ritual element that makes skincare feel like a reset rather than a task. For mental wellness, Moonbird acts as a handheld breathing coach, offering a screen-free way to guide nervous system downshifting in real time. Wellness can also be emotional and relational. Owen Marcus’ book, Grow Up: A Man’s Guide to Masculine Emotional Intelligence, meets a rising interest in emotional maturity as a learnable skill that improves how one shows up at work and in relationships.
Food and beverage upgrades focus on elevating everyday nourishment. A bottle like the Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon or a standout from Penfolds can mark meaningful moments with quality and intention. This extends to award-winning Israeli wines that reflect modern terroir and kitchen essentials from Woodenhouse that make cooking feel more beautiful. Some of the most refreshing upgrades make you more capable in the kitchen, such as Dorot Gardens’ pre-portioned frozen garlic and herb packs which reduce prep time without sacrificing flavor. Craize crackers modernize snacking with clean ingredients, and Wonder Juice cold-pressed blends can be part of a simple reset routine. Finally, for those thinking bigger, a home upgrade can be the ultimate reset. Backyard ADUs, guided by resources like MaxableSpace.com, are becoming a way homeowners reimagine space and multigenerational living. A new year refresh does not require a grand transformation, as it is often built through small, smart choices that make daily life feel more intentional.
A new year refresh does not require a grand transformation. It is often built through a series of small, smart choices that reduce stress, elevate comfort, and make daily life feel more intentional. The best finds are not the ones that simply look good in a moment. They are the ones that keep earning their place, day after day, long after the calendar changes.
About the Author
Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. As Founder, Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee is a prolific business, lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker. She keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / Twitter www.Twitter.com/MerileeKern / Facebook www.Facebook.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.
