Getting Our Home A/W Ready
It’s that time of year where it gets dark really quickly and you have to remember where all the light switches are.The blogger buzzword for autumn seems to be ‘hygge’, and I think it's because it's a concept everyone can get fully on board with. Who doesn't love cosiness, soft light, blankets and love? It's clearly a word we've been lacking in our own dictionary.Now I'm thinking about getting our home all ready for Autumn/Winter, I'm not exactly following the Hygge rulebook - largely because I've not chosen the book I want to buy yet. These are the things that I am naturally drawn to in this nesting time - an English Hygge.
Textiles
I’m kind of obsessed with texture. I’m very tactile, so love things you can stroke and that feel lovely and soft next to the skin. Plus, when you rent, layering up fabrics is one of the best things you can do to personalise and cosy up your space.I’ve been using some light Ikea blankets for summer and to protect our stone-coloured sofa against muddy paws. For Autumn/Winter though I’m looking to refresh our blanket situation with thicker materials and chunky knits.Kicking us off is this blanket from Koeka which I found in our showroom at work. Even though it’s designed for children it just about covers me (and I’m not exactly petite) and has a lovely fleecey lining - plus it is completely dog claw proof.
Greenery
As lovely as autumn is, this is the time of year where the natural world dies off and goes to sleep. I have natural things (pebbles, driftwood) in the house anyway, but as the outside becomes more bleak I like to bring something living into my home.I have evergreen (and crucially, easy to care for) succulents to add low maintenance pops of green and life, and recently invested in a pot of heather for the mantlepiece. As much as I love cut flowers, they are a pricey habit and many are cut outside of their natural seasons. My lovely heather feels rustic and autumnal and brings life to my home.
Smells
During the summer we have all the windows and doors open for about 20 hours of the day, so we get a constant flow of fresh air and the scents of the summer breeze. Now it’s chilling off the windows are clamped shut and the air inside can grow stale.The obligatory candles have come back out, with some being Christmas gifts I hadn’t got round to burning. I also hate ‘wasting’ candles so I have quite a few dotted around with little black wicks, half full with wax. I’ve also got a fresh-smelling plug in by the back door so we can waft the smell through without it overpowering the living room. Come December 1st I shall also be sticking a lovely Christmassy scent in there too.
Going outside
Cosy nests filled with red wine and the smells of cinnamon-y baking are 100% better when you're coming back to them from a chilly Autumnal walk. What is more English than tramping through the rain in wellies with hair stuck to your face and a huge smile? What is more Hygge than coming home, shedding layers and curling up under a blanket with a bowl of soup while your socks steam on the radiator?