There’s a chill in the air and it’s time to hibernate at home. Gabrielle Fagan hunts the hottest buys (and bargains) to warm up rooms
Our homes really need to be snug sanctuaries at this time of year, so we can retreat, relax and escape the cold. So, shake up your style to suit the season, splurge on a few treats and you’ll banish the winter decor blues and create a haven where you can rest in comfort.
1. GO PALE BUT INTERESTING
Chilled out Scandi-style, with its neutral palette, endures because its classic good looks never date and it’s easy to add subtle new touches to suit a new season.
The addition of a sheepskin rug (pampering for the toes), a throw, and plenty of cushions covered in tactile fabrics like velvet or wool, are all that’s needed to create a cosseting winter sanctuary.
2. HARVEST SOME STYLE
Treat yourself (and a room) to accessories that are all about chic comfort, which you can move around to suit your mood and the temperature. Think furry pouffes and fluffy beanbags.
3. BE COST-CONSCIOUS AND COSY
It’s all about setting the scene with a cosy focal point at this time of year. If you’re lucky enough to own a fireplace, this is the perfect time to take advantage of it and enjoy that beautiful wood smoke smell and orange glow - it’s pure autumn joy.
Raid Nature’s Colour Palette Paloma Orange Knitted Cotton Throw, £45, Habitat.
Add Some Va-Va Velvet Langham Saxony Carpet in Storm, £27.99m2, Carpetright; Wall painted in off black, Farrow & Ball www.farrow-ball.com.
An empty hearth can be made just as appealing with a little imagination. Simply decorate with a cluster of pine cones and add a collection of candles for flickering light.
4. BAG A HIGH-STREET HERO
Supermarket homeware ranges are such a high standard now (and trend led) that you’re missing a decor trick if you don’t check them out. A trolley full of purse-friendly bargains can refresh a room without breaking the bank.
5. ADD SOME VA-VA-VELVET
Velvets are one of the biggest ongoing trends in interiors. Pair their touchme textures with a rich colour orange and green are this
season’s front runners - for a winning winter combination.
6. RAID NATURE’S COLOUR PALETTE
Embrace the warmth of the autumn colours as an antidote to the creeping chill in the air. Rich reds and russets star on the hedgerows and trees, and adding those hues in accessories will have the same effect in a room.
7. CHANGE THE VIEW
There’s nothing like a bleak, boring view to lower the spirits, especially in winter, but window film or blinds can work wonders on that outlook. Both
Harvest Some Style ICON Siberia Faux Fur Bean Bag, Snow Leopard, £99.99, Bean Bag Bazaar.
can make a feature out of an otherwise dull window and ensure you feel boosted, even on dark days.
8. LIGHTEN THE MOOD
Lighting is key in the dark, winter months, and table lamps illuminating focal points and areas in a room will make it look interesting and inviting. Show off your playful side and introduce quirky lights, which will make you smile and turn a neglected surface into a feature.
9. TELL A TEXTURE STORY
You don’t have to abandon
Raid Nature’s Colour Palette Casper Charcoal & Orange Geometric Shaggy Pile Cushion, currently reduced to £35 from £70, Habitat.
glamour in the bedroom when the temperature drops - instead, layer with soft fabrics, from fluffy sheepskin cushions to silky throws. They won’t just be a visual treat, and are essential in a muted scheme, decorated in neutrals that could otherwise look bland. They’ll also add a sexy, sensual cosiness.
10. ADD SOME FUR-FABULOUS ACCESSORIES
Go wild with faux fur, but keep it feminine with a blushing pink theme. It looks fabulous on moody black or blue bed linen, or go for a full-on icemaiden effect with a snowy white set.
Fur-Fabulous Accessories George Home Pink Faux Fur Throw, £16, Asda.
Bag A High Street Hero Morrisons Ochre Country Checked Throw, £18.