It’s the end of January and winter is in full swing with the “polar vortex”  having made another round through the east, both north and south! It’s enough to give you the blues or make you want to pull the covers over your head and stay in bed. But we all need to move through our day … and our wardrobe needs to support us.

Does your closet inspire you or is it experiencing a deep freeze, too? With most stores offering deep discounts during clearance sales, it’s tempting to run out and buy something new … and risk dipping into your clothing budget on something you don’t need (save it for spring additions!). Better to shop in your own closet to wake up your wardrobe.

Here’s a four-step process to help you refresh your winter basics:

1.  Get inspired – Flip through magazines and catalogs or surf the Internet. It won’t cost you anything to do a little research and see how items similar to those you own are put together to create various looks.

2.  Mix up your pieces – If you’ve been wearing your clothes in the same combinations over and over, now’s the time to look at each piece differently. Lay different tops and bottoms out on your bed and start putting together new combinations – dressy tops with tailored pants and a jacket for work, or with a sweater and a pair of jeans for the weekend. Think out of the box: combine different textures and colors than you’ve done in the past. Create “scarecrows” of new looks, then take a picture so you don’t forget them.

3. Add Color – especially if you’ve been living in dark colors or black since the fall. If you’ve had your colors done, know that nearly any two colors in your palette can be used together so don’t hold back. (For those unexpected color mixes, a scarf or a piece of jewelry with both colors in it will link them together … and give you comfort that it works!)

I had great fun going into my closet and discovering that a favorite jacket in regal purple from my corporate days, teamed with a yellow t-shirt and my basic black jeans gave me an emotional lift – and gave my jacket renewed purpose in my now much more casual lifestyle. (Purple + Yellow = an attention-getting contrast color scheme.)

4. Scarves … tie them on! Great for adding a pop of color and/or a print or pattern, scarves multiply the way you can wear your basics. My dark colored pants & matching turtlenecks can be energized with a different scarf each day. And a print scarf can link a more colorful top with my neutral brown pants. (My dark orange scarf + teal blue sweater = another contrast color scheme … much more imaginative than brown + beige!)

So when you’re tempted to reach for those dark neutrals, take yourself out of the winter blahs – dig deeper into your closet, and go from drab to fab without busting the bank!