After a long, hot summer, the autumn chill is creeping in and, according to social media, that means one thing: cosy season. I’m all for a blanket, a candle and those gorgeous amber and russet shades, but I’m less convinced that welcoming autumn requires turning your home into Sleepy Hollow.
Pumpkins, faux foliage and Jack Skellington-shaped everything might be some people’s idea of heaven, but I’d rather bring in the season without needing to overhaul my lounge by December. As interior designer Lia Gold, winner of BBC’s Interior Design Masters, puts it: “There are so many ways to make your home feel cosier without it having to smell like pumpkin spice.”
Layer Up with Throws and Cushions
The “easiest and most affordable way” to welcome autumn is to change the colours of your cushions and throws, says Gold. She also recommends leaning towards fabrics such as wool in a herringbone weave, which feels particularly cosy. This John Lewis blanket ticks all the boxes, especially in autumnal burnt orange.
One of my favourite rituals when the weather turns is retreating to the sofa and cocooning in a blanket. I was given this Dunelm teddy fleece blanket one Christmas, and it’s so soft that, thanks to its versatile neutral shade, it’s stayed in my lounge year-round.
Colour is undoubtedly a defining part of the season. Tash Bradley, director of interior design at home decor brand Lick, describes autumn’s palette as “almost like opening your spice cupboard: saffron, turmeric, cinnamon and paprika”.
But don’t go overboard. “I think it’s important that an autumn palette doesn’t simply look like you’ve recreated an autumnal walk inside your house,” says Bradley. That’s where colours such as teal and blue can offer a welcome contrast. “They bring a different energy to those earthy shades,” she says, “evoking the sea, an open sky, a favourite coastal walk or somewhere they’ve travelled.”
Cushions are an easy way to introduce new tones, and I love M&S’s affordable velvet options in shades of spice, chestnut and caramel, alongside a pretty, dusty blue.
Mix cushion sizes and shapes, says Gold. “I recommend odd numbers, so think threes or fives. Start with a larger cushion at the back, like a 50cm by 50cm, then work towards the centre with smaller rectangles and a lumbar cushion to top it off.”
If you prefer a little more pattern, this art nouveau botanical cushion introduces rich colour with a subtle nod to changing foliage. The velvet and intricate print feel suitably sophisticated, rather than tipping into kitsch. Of course, at £195, it’s an investment, but this is the kind of cushion you can keep for years and make the centrepiece of a display. Pair it with brighter hues in summer, then swap for deeper tones come autumn and winter.
Create Warmth and Texture
I bought a Zara Home rug last year, and it immediately made my living room feel cosier. This vintage-effect cotton-blend design has an ornamental pattern, earthy tones, and comes in several sizes to suit all kinds of rooms.
“Patterned rugs are practical, too – they are more forgiving than something pale and plain,” says Bradley. Size is another important consideration. “Go larger than you think you need. A rug should help zone a space and bring all of the furniture together, rather than feeling like a separate little island in the middle of the room.” In living rooms and bedrooms, she recommends having furniture sit on the rug (not around it) to keep the room grounded and connected.
Texture can add warmth to a room, but don’t feel limited to blankets or rugs. “Sheepskins are brilliant because they’re so tactile,” says Bradley. “Place one beside the bed so it’s the first thing your feet touch in the morning or throw one over a dining chair or bench.” Sheepskins can also add a lovely layer of texture to a sofa, draped over the arm or back. Ikea’s £45 sheepskin is a versatile option that won’t break the bank.
Is there anything more inviting as the cold weather sets in than your bed? Piglet in Bed’s breathable cotton percale bedding works year-round – pair it with a 13.5 tog winter duvet for extra insulation. I’d choose this fig and blush pink gingham for its toasty tones.
Shine a Light and Add Seasonal Scents
As nights draw in, a good table lamp becomes essential. Habitat’s mango wood base has beautiful natural grain, while its sculptural shape gives a hint of quiet luxury, despite being just £50.
It may sound like a small detail, but the right lightbulb can make all the difference to a room’s atmosphere. Gold recommends swapping in spiral or straight LED filament bulbs for a softer, less glaring glow. She also suggests looking for one around 2,200K (kelvins). Kelvins measure the colour temperature of a bulb, and this rating provides a warm, amber-toned light that should feel inviting as those darker evenings arrive.
Switching the lampshade can quickly bring deeper tones into a room. I particularly love this red silk design from Morris & Co and Pooky. The heritage print was first produced in 1876 and nods subtly to foliage but doesn’t feel overly tied to the time of year.
One of my favourite candle brands this time of year is Bath & Body Works. I tend to avoid the usual pumpkin spice, so I love its more unusual scents, particularly Leaves, inspired by falling foliage with hints of red apple and golden nectar.
Candlesticks have been enjoying a revival in recent years. As well as providing the glow of candlelight, they make decorative accents in their own right, whether arranged on a dining table, sideboard or shelf. I particularly like the oxblood colour of this Heal’s + Aylesford hand-thrown holder, which works now but is versatile year-round.
Have a bit of fun with the colour of the tapered candles, switching them up as your decorating mood changes. Ferm Living sells packs of four in various colour combinations for £15, and the Whimsical set of cream, maroon, pale pink and pale blue would work particularly well with the oxblood holder.
If scented candles aren’t your thing, an oil burner is another way to bring seasonal scents home. I like this hand-thrown one by Rebecca Proctor, made in Cornwall as part of a small batch. Its ochre glaze and simple design work year-round.
A diffuser can also introduce scent into a room without lighting a candle. “I start gravitating towards muskier scents, such as bergamot and cedarwood,” says Gold. I like the simple glass vessel of this White Company diffuser as it would happily sit with any decor.
Style Your Surfaces and Bring the Room to Life
Vases are essentials in my house, and deeper-toned glass can shift a room’s mood. I like this chunky, textured design for its 70s-inspired shape and colour palette that doesn’t veer into seasonal schmaltz. It’s made from 30% recycled glass.
The rich colours would look lovely with a seasonal arrangement, too. “Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to simply go outside and gather branches, twigs and foliage and arrange them in a big vase to create something sculptural,” says Bradley.
If you prefer something with more purpose, this hand-thrown slipware jug by Penzance-based potter Mollie Milton would work beautifully on the kitchen table, with or without flowers. The terracotta and cream pattern feels warm, and the wonky handmade finish makes it look more like something you’ve collected than simply bought to fill a space.
“There’s something incredibly cosy about dark wood glowing in candlelight,” says Gold. This mango wood tray from Habitat has rounded edges and makes a subtle statement on a coffee or dressing table while doubling as a useful catch-all.
Coffee-table books can add colour and dimension, as well as something to flick through over a cuppa. This cottagecore book pairs gorgeous photography with stories from charming homes, whisking you away to the quiet of the countryside.
One little treat I like to buy myself, whatever the time of year, is flowers, which can instantly brighten a room. Gold recommends sticking to seasonal blooms such as protea, amaranthus and eucalyptus. While supermarkets have plenty of affordable options, M&S is one of my go-tos for occasions or last-minute deliveries, even if it’s simply a gift for yourself, with nominated and next-day delivery available. The protea and eucalyptus bouquet is a particularly lovely option, plus the flowers can be dried and kept for weeks or even months.
Swapping artwork can provide a quick refresh, and I particularly like Desenio for affordable pieces you can rotate without guilt. This Paris-inspired canvas brings depth through brown, red and beige, with hints of green and blue, yet would feel just as right in summer.
Serve Up the Season and Add a Softer Touch
A good casserole dish is an autumn essential. Opt for Le Creuset’s classic cast-iron round casserole in forest green: a subtle nod to the time of year that won’t look out of place come spring. As Gold says: “Green gives you so much without ever feeling like a fleeting trend.”
Plenty more affordable alternatives that capture the same look are also available. Habitat has a 6.7-litre cast-iron pot in forest green for £56, suitable for all hob types as well as hot plates. ProCook’s 4.7-litre cast-iron casserole is another option at £65 in a thyme green shade. It’s suitable for all hobs, including induction, and oven-safe to 260C.
H&M Home is one of my go-tos for affordable pieces with a Scandinavian feel. I love this footed rattan bowl, which keeps those deeper wood tones while adding texture with its woven finish. It would make a lovely fruit bowl, but could just as easily work as a centrepiece or bread basket when friends come over for dinner.
As the temperature drops, my tea consumption rises, so I’m considering Emma Bridgewater’s splatter-effect mug. Its playful glaze doesn’t steer into the cutesy witches of the Halloween range, and would look good on a shelf, too.
One of the easiest ways to bring the season into your bathroom is to swap your towels for a new colour. M&S is great for soft, long-lasting towels, and these Egyptian cotton ones come in shades including chestnut, fern, amber and burgundy.
A friend of mine has a Tekla bath mat, and I’ve lusted after it every time I’ve visited – not just because it looks good, but because it feels so lovely underfoot, too. I love the red-brown stripes of this terry mat, which feel made for autumn but won’t look out of place when spring rolls around.
