AUTUMN GLORIES
Enjoy everything the season has to offer, indoors and out
You can tell the moment autumn properly arrives. It’s not just that nip in the air and the turning of the leaves; there’s also a distinct shift in energy. Lazy languid summer has packed its bags and a crisp clarity takes its place. The days may be shorter and the weather colder, but taking the time to appreciate the seasonal transition can do wonders for our wellbeing. Whether you’re cosying up indoors or wrapped up snug in the garden or park, embracing the freshness that autumn brings offers a whole host of benefits. Our ancestors watched the natural world and learned that every season possesses a different energy. They discovered that, if we want to stay healthy and happy, it’s smart to adapt our lives according to where we are in the calendar. So let’s look at ways to embrace the season and make the most of this magical time of year.
GET ACTIVE OUTSIDE
Mists shroud the hills and float low over the fields, giving a ghostly feel to early morning walks. Spiders’ webs are miracles touched by dew or frost. Leaves dance in the breeze and rustle in drifts along banks and pavements… Kicking through crunchy leaf piles while out on a walk (add children or an over-excited dog for extra delight) is great exercise, as is raking up leaves. For sweeping up leaf fall, check out the traditional hazel and birch twig besom broom, cut from Grown in Britain certified woodland (from £12; threecopse.co.uk). Picnics and barbecues aren’t just for summer. Fill a trio of flasks with warming soup, silky hot chocolate and spicy-sweet glühwein, passing them mitten to mitten. Use insulated food pots (chillysbottles.com) for stews or warm grain salads. Grab a waterproof picnic rug – the Fusion woven picnic rug from John Lewis & Partners has a pleasing forest vibe (£30; johnlewis.com) and, if you can, cosy up around a barbecue or firepit. Wrap up warm – dig out your favourite scarf, bobble hat and mittens. And don’t forget your feet – they need to be kept toasty warm in waterproof boots or shoes. Sorel (sorelfootwear.co.uk) absolutely nails cabin chic.
COSY UP INDOORS
There’s something so beguiling about the contrast between the crisp cold outside and a snug, cosy home, and now’s the time to usher extra warmth into your space. You don’t need to go for a decoration or furnishing overhaul – simply switch in some cosier elements and feelgood textures. Whisk away the cool cottons and spread woollen throws and blankets over chairs and sofas. Welsh woollen blankets in autumn leaf colours (from £149; melintregwynt.co.uk), or delicious monochrome designs with Uist Wool’s heirloom blankets (£195; uistwool.com) are instant mood-shifters. Flannel sheets and brushed-cotton duvet covers are a bedtime cuddle – pack away the pale shades of summer and opt for snug tartan, paisley or woodland patterns. If you lack the bliss of an open fire or woodburner, introduce the fire element into your home with candles. Chase & Wonder candles spread the season through your space. The Enchanted Forest (cedarwood, smoked oak, birch and moss) is autumn encapsulated, while The Library (amber, pepper, pomegranate) sets the mood for snuggling up with a good book (from £34; chaseandwonder.com). Bring the outside in: create a beautiful display of autumnal foliage, berries and flowers. Use pumpkins and squashes as seasonal table decorations. Create a quirky flower vase using a hollowed-out pumpkin with a jam jar of water inside and fill with blooms. Make an autumn wreath using your favourite leaves interspersed with mini gourds and berries secured in place with florist’s wire.
AUTUMN RESET
While most of us think of spring as when we give our homes a good blitz, in days gone by the autumn equinox was traditionally