Updating your home for autumn
As the crisp air of autumn rolls in, I start feeling that urge to embrace the season’s warmth and comfort within my home. Here in the Welsh marches of Herefordshire, I’m surrounded by fields of hay bales, harvesting apples and plums from the garden, and watching the landscape turn from green to a kaleidoscope of reds and golds.
Like most working mums, I don’t have time for wholesome, hand crafted, creative projects. Nonetheless, you don’t need to spend a lot of time or a fortune to transform your home into a snug retreat that welcomes in the colder months.
1. Layer Up with Textiles
One of the easiest ways to bring warmth into your home is by layering textiles. Think throws, cushions and rugs. Swap out your light summer cushions and bedding for heavier materials like wool, velvet and bouclé. Draping a throw over the arm of your sofa instantly make your living room feel more inviting; my kids love snuggling up with me under a blanket for co-regulation and family tv time.
Layering up different textures works with any style of interior to add depth and cosiness – just keep your fabrics within the same visual palette (i.e. all luxurious textures, or all rustic, natural textures). I’ll also be hanging the door curtains back up in my kitchen, primarily to keep draughts out, but it also adds to the atmosphere of seasonal change.
2. Warm Up Your Lighting
As the days grow shorter, lighting becomes even more crucial for setting the mood. Good lighting is the difference between your home feeling miserable on a grey day, or feeling like a snug retreat from which you can appreciate the majesty of the weather in comfort! Lamps aren’t just for bedside tables, one of my favourite places for a table lamp is the kitchen worktop – it turns what can be a practical, clinical space into an inviting, elevated space.
Don’t be afraid of adding low-light bulbs (i.e. 2-3 watts) simply to create a cosy vibe – light doesn’t have to be purely practical. I’m getting excited about all the rechargeable wall lights and picture lights coming onto the market, such as this one from Pooky. Candlelight is another fantastic way to introduce an inviting ambiance. Place them on your dining table, mantel piece, or coffee table to enjoy their soft flicker in the evening.
3. Introduce Autumnal Colours
Autumn is all about rich, warm hues. Incorporate shades of burnt orange, deep reds, mustard yellows, and earthy browns into your decor. If you’re swapping a lightweight blanket in the bedroom for a thicker eiderdown, consider choosing a deeper version of the same colour for a cosier vibe.
Adding autumnal colours doesn’t mean you need to repaint your walls; instead, look to consumable decor such as candles or flowers for an inexpensive way to change the vibe of a room. Autumn is a time of harvest and nature's abundance, so use this to your advantage by bringing natural elements into your home. A bowl of seasonal fruits like apples, figs, or pomegranates can serve as a beautiful, edible centrepiece. And of course there’s pumpkins...
Refreshing your home for autumn doesn’t require a massive budget or extensive effort. By making a few thoughtful changes, you can create a cosy, warm environment which celebrates the beauty of the season. Embrace the textures, colours, and scents of autumn, and enjoy your newly transformed space as the air becomes cooler and the days grow shorter.
If you’d like tips on how to keep your home warm without needing a second mortgage to pay for your heating bill, check out this blog from last year about Interior Design Tricks to Save Money This Winter.