A strong contender for my favourite season, autumn is the perfect time to stay at home and indulge before the bitter cold of winter arrives. Here’s what I’ll be doing to get my home ready for the second most wonderful time of the year 

By Laura Dweck

Lead image: Waterlily Lake wallpaper by Estelle Home

1 Library nook

A cliché it may be, but with the exception of the annual beach read that sees four novels devoured, autumn makes me want to have a self-imposed digital detox, light a candle and immerse myself in a book. That’s why a reading nook is top of my list to carve out in existing living space. You don’t need a huge library to create this look – utilise space above a door for an enveloping feeling, add an armchair wide enough to curl up in and a side table for that all-important candle and tipple of choice. 

For those without a large joinery budget, take a look at the well-known Ikea hacks – creating a high-end, considered finish with the additions of coving, trims and unifying with paint. For those without the patience for custom joinery but a generous budget, have a look at Alfred Newall’s beautiful bobbin shelves. Just add swing-armed wall lights to the upstands for an atmospheric glow. 

Alfred Newall’s beautiful bobbin shelves

2 Pantry updates 

There’s something about that back-to-school feeling in September that makes me want to get the label maker out and organise. Where better to start than in the pantry? Decanting and consolidating is a satisfying exercise, if that is your thing. I opt for clear containers and unify them with the same label. Aside from being left with an aesthetically pleasing line-up of jars, the organisation process also serves to remind you of the ingredients needed for all those hearty pies and bakes that autumn commands. 

Why stop at organisation? Go one stage further with your update by adding pattern, colour and warmth in the form of under cabinet curtains and indulge in a marble offcut for a cold storage surface. 

Audrey armchair from Atkin & Thyme

3 Seasonal foliage

Introducing cut flowers and foliage seems the natural way to ring in seasonal changes, but unlike spring with its bounty of bulbs, autumn needs a little more thought. You could lean into the golden colour palette of leaves turning red and burnt umber by bringing in wax-dipped leaves and seedheads. I like to have an oversized vase and a single branch on a hallway table for dramatic impact. Don’t forget dried hydrangea heads snipped from the garden at the end of the summer when they turn brown.  

4 Rechargeable lamps

Most people are already aware of the beauty of these additions, in either wall light or table light form. Look for bulbs that are rechargeable or you’ll be buying batteries like a toddler’s parent at Christmas. Don’t be afraid to upgrade shades and really shop around if plain shades don’t cut it. Pooky continues to lead the way with their selection – I’m a fan of the Ellen Merchant designs. 

Edward Bulmer paint in ‘London Brown’

5 Darker palette

I would never suggest redecorating a room seasonally for both practical and sustainable reasons. The season might, however, inspire you to entertain a darker colour palette than what you’d choose during a heatwave. The trick is to get a shade that works across all seasons. Take a look at dark velvety browns like Edward Bulmer’s ‘London Brown’ or even the dark plaster-pink colours like Farrow & Ball ‘Sulking Room Pink.’

6 Boot room

There’s no doubt that the change in weather brings extra layers to store. Instead of resenting the search for a stray glove or umbrella, I try to pre-emptively organise. Add crates on wheels for each member of the family, stored away beneath a bench and hooks at child height to prevent the excuses of not reaching coats. My hardworking boot room/ utility/laundry room has rows of shelves with baskets for paraphernalia – from forest school trousers to snorkels. 

7 Wallpapered shelving

Media units – with their promise of streamlined storage – are becoming increasingly popular. They’re a good alternative if there’s a lack of focal point in a room, but left to their own devices they can dominate a space or leave you staring at empty nooks where you once had aspirations of beautifully curated decor. An easy fix to not only integrate them into a room but add colour and pattern is to wallpaper the shelf nooks. A small scale pattern will do the space justice – think block prints, paisleys, stripes or even a trailing ditsy floral print. If it’s just texture you want to add, a grass cloth in a contrasting colour will add depth to the shelves – just avoid large scale repeating patterns which might feel disjointed once shelves are styled.