Velvet Shaw's Seasonal Home Guide

AUTUMN READY HOME

November is upon us – as always far too soon it seems for those that love summer!

In the UK we are lucky to have our seasons and autumn is our gentle journey to winter with the sun rising later and setting earlier as time goes on and with it we need some seasonal tweaks to make the most of the transition and here are some suggestions for you to consider:

Looking to market your property now – planting some pansies or cyclamen will offer curb appeal into the cooler months and now is the last chance to plant those bulbs ready to make spring colourful

Hallway / Porch / Garage / Car Boot

Footwear deserves a bit of thought here as we may well be needing to dust off those boots & wellies – check them over and give a little tlc where needed; a clean, a nice leather treatment or a full on revive via the Ugg style kit! Dig your slippers out all ready to get cosy when the temperature drops.

Autumn is a perfect time for some serious foraging – keep a basket / bag  / bucket and scissors handy for collecting those wild berries, apples, grasses and flowers to press or dry or a few pine cones you may come across on a walk. Hydrangeas and lavender dry easily and keep their shape well

Heat

Fires - Time to sweep the chimney, fill that log basket and stock up on firelighters.

Test artificial fires and heating before we get the first cold snap – does anything need attention? 

Bathrooms

Switching back to fluffy bath towels for warmth and comfort once October hits and look forward to hot baths with nourishing oils to feed the skin and the mind

Bedrooms

A thicker throw, blanket and / or quilt will stave off the changing of the summer duvet until December o- ften – as with clothing layering works best in the changing weather during these transitional times

A scented candle on your bedside can make the darker evening seem easier to enjoy along with the treat of something new to read, a fresh podcast, a different meditation to try out along with a face mask and make the most of any down time you get in complete comfort

Sitting Room

Switching up the cushions for some more seasonal fabrics, textures and colours – velvets of course but still mixed with linens. Cottons cleaned and packed away and introducing some light wools pleases me along with those blankets and throws handy for sofa time

Throwing a sheep skin over the back of the sofa or a chair can instantly change the scene in your living room, I’m also a fan of layering up my rugs – for one it helps with the storage significantly but come autumn my lighter rag rugs that I favour in my sitting room need some boosting for insulation and layering can look good and provide practical purpose too

Thicker curtains that keep the draughts out are now perfect to install and clean and store any cottons & linens that you may have had during the summer months

Who doesn’t love a scented candle or a diffuser – I find myself leaning towards bolder fragrances to reflect the season while relaxing on my sofa in the autumn evenings and I like to buy a new candle to signify the change and help me say goodbye to summer for another year

Being a big fan of silk flowers, creating a seasonal display also helps me transition into a new phase – perhaps a seasonal wreath on the front door or just some simple pine cones in a glass vase.

Kitchen

If you like sloe gin now is the time to find them hiding in the hedgerow and make your stash – it’s an easy and rewarding one to make:

• Sloes 500g / 1 lb
• Sugar 250g / 9oz
• Gin 70cl

Pick sloes and freeze to mimic the 1^st frost (its splits the skins and release the juice) 

Add sloes, sugar and gin to a large, clean, airtight jar or bottle, place in a dark place and leave for one week, take out and shake then leave for a good few weeks for the sugar to dissolve and some say that it should be left for 3 months before drinking but you decide…

Autumn has a ‘new chapter’ feel for us all and now is the time to look at your home and decide what interior projects you want to accomplish over the winter or indeed what you intend to spend the darker, colder months doing – is it time to learn a new skill, read those books, learn a language, plan your next box set binge, teach yourself to crochet, make that photobook because it will soon be Christmas!