EMBRACE THE SEASON Cosy up your home for autumn
As the owner of candle and lifestyle company JOGB Living, Jo Glanville-Blackburn knows all about making the most of the winter months indoors
Ah, home: that sensual space that has the potential to make us feel calm and relaxed the moment we walk through the door. From a welcoming aroma that seduces the senses, to the comfort of accessories that swiftly transform the way we feel, now more than ever, we all crave that cosy feeling. Me? I’m an autumn gal, a russet redhead forever romanticising the notion of conkers and the beautiful cycle of Mother Nature changing her mood. Hence, I have a serious love of all things autumnal, burnt, cocooning and cavernous – from crackling fires to candles.
With the days beginning to darken, and research revealing that we spend over 90 per cent of our lives indoors (albeit half of that is at work), it’s apparent that we still underestimate the positive impact our home environment can have on our emotional wellbeing – from providing a sense of belonging, to offering security and a calm environment. Now is the time to use this change in the seasons as an opportunity to embrace feeling cosy and being more relaxed in your home.
1 LIGHT THE WAY
Darker mornings and longer nights can make us feel a bit like we’re hibernating and this can negatively affect our mood like ‘a portable black cloud’ according to mental health charity, Mind. And the effects of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, are said to kick in this month just before the clocks go back. To combat the impact of SAD, invest in a Lumie Desklamp, £144, which mimics daylight to lift your spirits, while still helping to create a warm, cosy haven. ‘Overdose on lighting,’ says interior guru Abigail Ahern (@abigailahern). ‘With shorter daylight hours, we need to make our inside spaces cosier than ever and lighting is one of the quickest ways to do this. There’s a light on every table in my house, so I get these incredible pockets of glow.’
DO ‘Go OTT on candles,’ advises interior stylist and creative director Sally Denning (sallydenning.com). ‘I never have enough. When all the jobs are done, the house dims and it is only lamps, candles and firelight that light the space.’
‘With shorter daylight hours, we need to make our inside spaces cosier than ever and lighting is one of the quickest ways to do this’
2 PLAYING GAMES
Appeal to your playful side and laugh more. I grew up as the youngest of four and, with my own children, there is nothing more relaxing than genuine laughter. I love the joy that emanates from the walls as I lose, time after time, at a game of backgammon, cards and family favourites, Cluedo, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit. Life is just a bit too serious otherwise, isn’t it?
DO Invite friends over for a games night. It’s the new alternative to book club, it takes less commitment and is much more entertaining.
3 INTRODUCE COLOUR
We have an instinctive, though subconscious, response to colour that we can tap into to make ourselves feel truly at home. The current passion for cavernous dark spaces allows us to style up with cushions, throws and curtains in luxurious jewel tones of russet, purple, red, mustard and green.
CONSIDER Even if you love neutral decor, introducing a few splashes of autumnal colour is all it takes to warm things up. Think of it as bringing the leaves of a cascading Virginia creeper into your home.
4 NOURISH YOUR BODY
The moment the air chills, get creative with all things oven-baked. Load up with warming stews, casseroles and curries using herbs and spices such as thyme, ginger, sage and onion – all of which help to boost the immune system. ‘I love nothing better than curling up with a stoked log burner, glass of wine and dinner on lap,’ says Ian Haste, author of The 7-Day Basket, a family cookbook that creates seven recipes from one shopping basket. ‘My giant toad-in-the-hole served with lots of kale is a favourite. We have an Aga, which is amazing in the colder months. It cooks so differently to a conventional oven: jacket potatoes with rosemary salt are incredible, and a slow cooked, six-hour beef rendang is a dream.’ For interior inspiration check out @hastehouse and for family recipes, go to @hasteskitchen.
DO Dig out comfort food recipes, invest in a slow cooker and make the most of plentiful autumnal fruits for crumbles and desserts.
5 RELISH TEXTURE
Touch: the ultimate feel-good sense. Snuggle up with cosy blankets and cushions, warm throws and fleecy rugs in luxurious, tactile velvets, chenille, alpaca and cashmere. ‘Our house is full of texture: cushions, blankets, soft Moroccan Beni Ourain rugs, linens and sheepskins,’ says Sally Denning. ‘It’s the key to creating a warm and relaxing home. And you can never over-do it, so don’t be afraid to layer lots of different textiles together. I have sofas piled high with cushions and sheepskins, perfect for curling up under with the family. And come winter, I cover the beds with incredible Welsh blankets by Melin Tregwynt – they’re so warm and come in gorgeous patterns and colours too.’
CHECK OUT Beni Ourain, trendcarpet.co.uk;
Melin Tregwynt melintregwynt.co.uk.
6 ADD SOME SOUND
Never underestimate the positive effect that a bit of noise in the home can have on your subconscious. Silence is almost impossible to sustain, even with earphones, as we’re quick to recognise the angst from the likes of that single dripping tap… So, why not ‘up the volume’ with more soothing, vibrational sounds that resonate deep within? After all, music works like perfume on the psyche: it’s powerful and very individual.
DO Create your own autumnal playlist that instantly makes you want to curl up; I’m thinking Ella Fitzgerald and Otis Redding. Become more aware of music played when you’re out and about. Ask yourself: what makes you feel good? Whether it’s pan pipes or Sam Smith, the brain remembers and the body responds. For me, the ultimate cocooning music is Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No.3, which I played over and over again when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter – she’s now 24 and it still works magic on us both.
7 BE INSPIRED BY NATURE
Bringing nature inside is another great way to create an intimate feel – twigs, stones and logs instantly provide that modern Scandi-cabin feel. ‘I’m a bit of a forager,’ says Sally . ‘At this time of year, I like to add a single copper beech branch or a pine frond stem – rather than a bunch of flowers –to a vase or oversized jug to create an autumnal statement.’ Lifestyle blogger Reena Simon (@hygge_for_home) is also passionate about bringing the outside in. ‘Hard materials, such as chrome, just aren’t relaxing in the home,’ she says. ‘We opted for wood throughout our house as it just feels more inviting. I also recommend investing in as much glass as possible. The views and that instant connection to the changing seasons outdoors has been one of the most important factors in creating harmony and a sense of wellness.’
DO Decorate with autumn foliage and flowers like Sally.
8 TREAT YOURSELF
Take some time for yourself and read in the bath. Dim the lights to add to the soporific atmosphere, pop in a scoop of therapeutic Himalayan salts (Beauty Kitchen’s 100 per cent Himalayan Bath Salts, £5.99 for 1kg, available from Holland & Barrett, are a lovely option) and light a relaxing candle.
DO Indulge in luxury. My company JOGB Living’s Slojo Relaxing candle, £65, burns only clean plant waxes and pure essential oils including geranium, lavender, labdanum and cedarwood.
9 LOVE FRAGRANCE
There’s nothing better than guests walking through the door and saying your home smells amazing. I always use natural cleaning products, as many sprays can affect breathing. I also like to diffuse pure essential oils in hot water near a radiator, or in an electronic diffuser: frankincense to unwind, sage to energise and geranium to make me smile. Aromatherapy Associates’ award-winning essential oil blends – the De-Stress collection, from £18, is my favourite.
EXPERIMENT As you would with perfume, make a point of tracking down a signature scent for your home. Woody, earthy, smokey fragrances work particularly well for this time of year.
‘Our house is full of textures - it’s the key to creating a warm and relaxing home’
10 SLEEP WELL
Did you know the healthiest people get to bed earlier? The hours between 10pm and 2am are known as our ‘healing time’ – when the body is most at rest and instinctively works to repair all the trauma we’ve put it through in the day.
DO If you find it hard to wind down and get some good-quality zzzs, try switching your evening regime. For two weeks, try eating earlier, have a soothing soak, and switch off the TV and phone, and grab a book instead. According to Sussex University, just six minutes of reading reduces stress by 68 per cent.
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