As autumn undeniably starts to creep in, so too does that familiar feeling of wanting to make our homes a little cosier and more inviting. It seems only a few weeks ago we were embracing the outdoors, experiencing Mediterranean-type heat and pining for air con! Now the seasonal shift naturally turns our attention back inside to somewhere we can retreat and settle into as the evenings draw in and, inevitably, Christmas starts making its way into conversation.
As an interior designer, I think creating a welcoming, autumnal home is more about making your home feel warm and comforting than making it look obviously themed with pumpkin décor. Our homes can have a real effect on how we feel, particularly at this time of year, and when the days get shorter and life is busy, having somewhere that not only looks lovely but feels personal, homely and easy to live in is important.
Autumn interior design mood board
Create warmth through colour, texture and pattern
Cosiness can be created by layering texture, colour and pattern.
Think natural materials such as wood, aged brass, leather and ceramics, alongside tactile fabrics and softer textures. Linen, although we often associate it with summer, can be a gorgeous foil to richer, fluffier and heavier textures. It adds softness without making a room feel too heavy, and shows how some of the things we bring into our homes for autumn can work beautifully through other seasons too.
Colour can add warmth to a room. You might introduce richer, more cocooning shades through cushions, throws or artwork, or simply bring in some deeper autumnal tones alongside the colours you already have.
Pattern, whether that’s checks, florals, stripes or something more abstract, is also a great way to add interest and character.
Look for inspiration around you
Autumn is a brilliant source of inspiration for colour and texture. Look outside and you’ll find beautiful combinations of chocolatey browns, burgundy, plum, softer blues and greens, alongside the changing leaves, grasses and branches. Bringing some natural foliage indoors can add texture, colour and a lovely seasonal feel without making your home feel themed.
Just one or two colours from nature can be enough to give a room a subtle seasonal shift.
We’re also seeing a revival of some of the warmth and character of 1970s interiors, with terracotta, rust, earthy greens, dark woods and tactile fabrics all making their way back into homes. Interestingly, many of these influences are showing up in fashion too, with rich burgundy, tweed, checks and countryside-inspired pieces featuring strongly in the shops this autumn.
So, if you want your interiors to feel as chic as your wardrobe, a little nod to relaxed country-house style can work beautifully. Think a checked cushion, houndstooth blanket or touch of tweed to bring warmth and character.
You don’t have to embrace any of these looks wholesale. Pick and choose the elements that appeal to you and use them to create the feeling you want in your own home.
Don’t underestimate the power of lighting
Lighting makes such a difference to how a room feels, particularly as the evenings draw in. If you’re anything like me, I hate a shadowy corner for fear of an uninvited lurking spider, or perhaps because of some lingering childhood fear of the bogeyman. So, think about creating lovely layers of light around the room to soften those darker corners and create a warmer, more inviting atmosphere.
I’m not talking about lighting the room up like a spaceship, but using table lamps, floor lamps and wall lights at different levels to create softer pools of light around the room. And please, don’t just rely on the central ceiling light. It can create harsh, unflattering light and is pretty much the opposite of cosy!
There is something lovely about the romance and tranquillity of candlelight at this time of year. That warm, flickering glow can completely change the atmosphere of a room and make it feel instantly relaxing.
Think about how you want the room to feel and function
It’s also worth thinking about what you actually want your room to encourage you to do. Perhaps you want to gather around the fire and chat, curl up with a book, settle down for a film or simply relax with a glass of wine at the end of the day.
The way a room is arranged can make a real difference to this. Arranging seating so that it faces each other can encourage conversation, while creating a comfortable corner with a good light can make reading or relaxing feel more inviting. Good layout isn’t just about how a room looks. It can make everyday life feel easier too.
Cosiness means something different to everyone, so think about what it means to you and let that guide the way you arrange and decorate your space. Sometimes, simply having a rejig of things you already own can be enough to see a room in a fresh light.
Make your home work for you
This is really at the heart of how I approach interior design at Hester Short Interiors.
I want to understand how you live, what works, what doesn’t and how you want your home to feel, then bring all of those things together. Good design isn’t just about making a room look beautiful. It’s about creating a home that works for everyday life, feels personal and brings all the things that matter to you together.
Getting the main elements of a room right for how you live is important, and I believe it’s worth investing in things that will last. Smaller details can then be changed and adapted as the seasons change and life evolves.
Ultimately, that’s what I think a home should be: somewhere that works for you, reflects you and feels good to come home to.
Thinking about your own home?
If your home isn’t quite working as you’d like, or you’re not sure where to start, a Clarity Consultation is a chance to step back, talk through what’s working, what isn’t, and explore what could be possible.
Hester Short Interiors offers a range of interior design services, from a £250 Clarity Consultation through to bespoke interior design projects. I work across Monmouthshire and South Powys and the surrounding areas within South Wales, and also offer a Virtual Interior Design service for clients who live further afield.