5 ways to make your home cosy this autumn
As much as we complain about the Scottish weather, there are some benefits. Unlike some of our warmer neighbours across the seas, we get to enjoy the changing of the seasons and the feelings those shifts invoke in us and in our homes.
Autumn brings with it one of the most dramatic changes of the year. Green leaves turn golden, the temperatures drop and the nights draw in, providing the perfect excuse to hunker down indoors as well as still being able to enjoy the bright-skied, red-hued crisp outdoors.
Here are 5 easy ways to prepare your home for those autumn days and nights.
1. Get your lighting right
After months of managing without many lights, autumn’s darker nights will have us reaching for the switches. To create a cosy, characterful atmosphere, opt for a mix of ambient lighting at different heights and include floor lamps, table lamps and smaller portable USB charged lights on shelving. Candles provide a beautiful glow too. Avoid using the ‘big lights’ where possible and go for bulbs that give warm light (yellows) rather than cool light (whites or blues).
2. Reach for the throws
Rugs, throws and cushions are a wonderful way to add texture and create a cosy vibe with minimal effort. Natural materials such as wool and sheepskin styles provide plenty of depth to a room as well as being natural, breathable insulators. Drape throws over the back of sofas, armchairs and even kitchen chairs. Change up cushions to include more tactile fabrics such as boucles and velvets.
3. Nature’s colour palette
If you’re looking to introduce colours to a room this season, follow nature’s lead and go for hues that you can see outside. Orangey russets and deep greens are a beautiful combination, especially when paired with neutrals to keep the scheme looking fresh and clean. Don’t be afraid to introduce different but complimentary patterns to add interest, too.
4. Bring the outdoors in
The great outdoors is at its most beautiful in autumn so bring some of that goodness into your home. Rich, chestnut-coloured conkers in a small stoneware bowl can act as a lovely table or shelf display. Foliage and small fallen branches look great in vases. Dried flowers like hydrangea and cow’s parsley, as well as sea grass, provide the perfect grain-coloured displays that remind us of autumn’s haybales and harvest. Go for vases that are made of natural materials like stone, ceramics, terracotta or wood for an earthy, cosy look.
5. Scents for the season
Our surroundings affect our mood and wellbeing and it’s our senses that tell us about the spaces around us. What we can see, what we can touch, and what we can smell all affect how we feel in our homes. Essential oils and aromatherapy are a great way to bring natural scents into your home. Choose naturally scented (and natural wax) candles or room mists, or try using essential oils in a diffuser which allows you to change the scent depending on how you’re feeling! Ginger, juniper and orange are all uplifting, fresh scents for autumn.
To chat about any home styling or design projects, whatever the season, get in touch!