A snuggle of a blanket, warm spiced scents floating on the air and ambient lighting to get you through the dark nights. It’s almost enough to wish winter was here already!
It’s true, homes don’t move with trends and seasons in the same way that fashion does. But that’s not to say that there aren’t some practical and stylish ways to make your home feel a little more cosy and inviting come this autumn / winter.
Here are my five tips to embrace the colder months…
1. Embrace autumnal foliage
Jungle style botanicals were big this summer and I don’t see that trend letting up anytime soon, but to make this trend a little more suitable for autumn try looking for plants, foliage and leaves that are naturally found at this time of year. Things tend to be a bit more rustic and dry, and colours are a little more muted. You can make some really cool displays using dried branches or pine cones painted in funky colours. You don’t necessarily need to stick to an autumnal colour palette, but look to instead bring the autumn feel with objects that have a rustic texture.
2. Spice up your home fragrance
In the summer we want to feel refreshed and uplifted. Autumn and winter is more about being cosy and warm. Home fragrance is the perfect way to create this type of environment without having to change anything visually. Look for scented candles or room sprays that have notes of spice, herbs, leathers and natural scents. I love True Grace’s Manor House collection, which contains scents such as ‘bonfire’ and ‘library’. Gorgeous!
3. Create ambience through lighting
Any good designer knows that a room should have at least eight different courses of light. Yes, I know you’re probably gasping but yes, eight! Why? Having a variety of lighting options means that you can create custom ambient moods dependent on time of the year or occasion. This autumn and winter invest in some ambient lighting. This could take the form of table lamps, floor lights or even warm LEDs (steer clear of the cool white ones). Switch off your overheads and try out different combinations of lighting sources to create something really moody and atmospheric.
4. Layer up cosy textures
In the warmer months the idea of having furry or warm soft blankets can be a bit much. But when the weather takes a turn, get them out of storage and layer, layer, layer! Think along the lines of microfibres fleece, faux animal furs, velvet, wools and knitted pieces. You can find cosy cushions and throws for your sofa at really affordable prices from high street stores such as H&M home and IKEA.
5. Create warm and intriguing displays
Vignettes are little displays of your collections around the home that are purely for aesthetic purposes. These could be collections of art, framed photographs, candles, decorative objects or vases. Creating a vignette for autumn or winter may include using seasonal objects like dried flowers, candles and tactile materials like leather. Use different heights and contrasting textures of objects to make it really come to life!
As you can see it doesn’t cost a lot or take much time to create a lovely winter feel to your home. Keep all of your more summery objects and fabrics stored away for next year and rotate as the seasons change to always have a suitable atmosphere for the time of year.
So all that leaves me to ask is…. Are you excited for winter yet?!
Sarah Akwisombe
Sarah Akwisombe is an interior designer and stylist. An expert in home improvement, Sarah’s mantra is to bring out an individual’s style and personality at home through fashion and art influences.
For more inspiration from Sarah Akwisombe, visit her Pinterest here
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