Rather than lament the passing of Summer, embrace the new season with cosy Autumnal inspiration and ideas to spark joy at home. By Rosalind Sack
(L TO R) THE COTSWOLDS HOME OF INTERIOR DESIGNER CLARE NASH. IMAGE: RACHEL WHITING; MUSHROOM AND PARMESAN SOUP BY HÉLOÏSE BRION. IMAGE: CHRISTOPHE ROUÉ
There’s something reassuring about the changing of the seasons and the familiarity and comfort of Autumn… Even if it does feel like Summer barely got started! While we hope it’s still some time before we are pulling on our chunky knitted socks and lighting the fire, a few small changes and inexpensive updates at home can serve to gently ease us into the new season. Whether that’s treating yourself to new lighting and accessories indoors (all under £100), planting and preparing outdoors, taking time over a hearty recipe or getting crafty, read on for our cosy Autumnal tips and ideas to bring into your home.
Focus on Lighting
As the evenings draw in, bringing light into your home is hugely important, from both a wellbeing perspective and an aesthetic one. Transform unused, dark corners into cosy reading nooks with plug in or cordless wall lights or clip on lamps. Invest in a rechargeable wireless lamp which you can move around the house where you need a burst of light; from the mantlepiece to the kitchen island. And place a table or floor lamp in the hallway on a timer, so you can arrive home to a soft, welcoming glow.
(L TO R) TWINKY RECHARGEABLE WALL LIGHT, £100, POOKY; ANTIQUE BRASS CLIP-ON LAMP, £49, GRAHAM AND GREEN; BATTERY-POWERED MUSHROOM GLASS TABLE LAMP, £22, URBAN OUTFITTERS
Upgrade Window Coverings
Window coverings in weighty fabrics not only keep your home feeling cosy, they are also great for insulation. But we all know that the cost of made-to-measure curtains and blinds can be astronomical. So get crafty with some reasonably-priced plain corduroy or velvet from eBay, hooks and rails from your DIY store and a needle and thread, such as here. Or buy inexpensive ready-made curtains like these and fit them to your windows by adding panels of simple ticking stripe fabric from Etsy, personalising with a decorative trim, or making them more draught-proof by adding a lining. We have inspiration aplenty here.
Freshen up the Fireplace
As our lives gradually move indoors again over the coming weeks and months, the fireplace becomes a treasured focal point again. Give it a refresh with new candles and holders, reframed photographs or Autumnal foliage on the mantelpiece, or a new log basket or fire screen to sit on the hearth. And rearrange your furniture to position seating and side tables closer to the fireplace, creating a spot for cosy conversation and a warming drink. And if you have a real fire, don’t forget to get it swept at least once a year.
(L TO R) IVY MONOCHROME PHOTO FRAME, £32, OLIVER BONAS; LELAND WALL CANDLE HOLDER, £38, ROWEN AND WREN; COHEN LOG HOLDER, £30, ABIGAIL AHERN
Rustle up Something Hearty
We always find that Autumn provides an excuse to linger over our cooking and indulge a little more. Of course, we have plenty of wonderful recipes to see you through the season, from a hearty Winter salad to a deliciously warming soup, a comforting apple tart and fruity crumble to a classic fish pie. Pull on your slippers, light candles, play music and take time to enjoy the process as much as the outcome.
Go for Peak Cosiness
Resurrect your softest cushions and blankets so they’re to hand for an evening on the sofa. And think about adding textiles for texture and warmth in more unexpected places too, such as seat pads at the dining table, washable rugs in the kitchen, cushions in your home office and a deep-piled bathmat in the bathroom.
(L TO R) ISLA CUSHION COVER, £60, OKA; BUTTERSCOTCH SHEEPSKIN SEAT PAD, £35, GRAHAM AND GREEN; PURE COTTON TEXTURED RUNNER-STYLE BATH MAT, £25, M&S x FIRED EARTH
Get your Garden Ready
Naturally, we spend less time in our gardens as Summer rolls into Autumn but that doesn’t mean that we can’t still enjoy them from indoors. Move your pots so they are visible from the house and for instant gratification, plant up with Winter bedding plants like Pansies and Violas and shrubs for Autumn colour. We have lots of ideas here. Now’s also the time to prepare for Spring by clearing Summer flowering crops from the garden and sowing hardy annuals, planting bulbs and dividing perennials. Quiet Sundays in Autumn are also the perfect time to tidy and reorganise your shed and ensure your garden furniture is covered or protected from colder weather.
(L TO R) BRASS TABLE PLANTER, £68, ROWEN AND WREN; SPLATTER ENAMEL BOWL, £35, TOAST; EDEN TERRACOTTA POT, £34, ROWEN AND WREN
Bring the Outside In
Just head outside for a world of foraged treasures to bring home that not only look beautiful but smell delicious too; think pine cones, rose hips, eucalyptus, hawthorn and hydrangeas. And of course the likes of apples, wild raspberries, elderberries and sloes (best picked after the first frost) are all ideal for crumbles, pies, jams and gins. Plants last longer than cut flowers, so fill troughs, enamel bowls and rustic pots with Cyclamen, Oxalis and Hellebores for colour and interest.
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