The richness of autumn comes as such a pleasure after summer’s heat. This is our moment to embrace more sumptuous fabrics, a palette of warm tones, that feel open and modern, and create a sense of wellbeing at home.
 
Highly tactile, textural fabrics, such as the softest open-weave throws, and nubby wool cushions will certainly usher in that sense of cosiness, while an extra bedspread can be layered over cotton bed linen to add weight and warmth. Plus, these are the pieces that can be easily stored away during the summer months.

Likewise, shorter days become the best excuse to up the lighting at home. There’s charm and autumnal ambience to be had by adding occasional lamps placed at varying heights in living rooms and bedrooms, they’ll create little pockets of warmth as focal points. Set the tone from the moment you open the front door by adding a compact table lamp to an entrance hall console – it’ll feel like an instant welcome home for you, and the nicest invitation for guests. Similarly, think of lighting candles to offer glowing pools of light and emit warming, luxurious scents to conjure up the joy of lazy weekends with comforting cups of tea, a good book and hours spent in a sumptuous armchair, feet up on a snug pouffe.

No matter how spacious or bijou your bedroom is, it should offer a sense of calm and intimacy when it’s time for rest. For some of us, that means creating a sense of order. Returning to a perfectly made bed will give you untold joy after a long day. Store away the things that remind you of your busy day and most definitely change into soft, unstructured loungewear and cashmere socks – your whole body will thank you.

Becky Sunshine is a freelance design, interiors and travel writer. She is the author of Lee Broom: Fashioning Design (Rizzoli).