Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Fall in love with your interiors
Want to channel an autumn glow at home? Wellbeing and styling guru Liz Earle shares her top tips with SAM WYLIE-HARRIS
The leaves are crisp and golden, and dappled sunshine is filtering through the windows, so it’s the perfect time to embrace nature and bring a touch of autumnal charm indoors.
If you’re looking for inspiration as to how to channel the colours and warm glow of the season – think rich reds, deep orange and soft yellows and pinks – who better to turn to than wellbeing and styling guru Liz Earle?
A natural pro when it comes to harvesting the ideal setting for a rustic feast, autumn is one of her favourite times of the year.
She’s a fan of outdoor entertaining during this cool, crisp season too.
“The end of summer doesn’t have to mean the end of al-fresco eating” says Liz. “Autumn can be the ideal time to enjoy nature at her finest, eating with friends in the golden light of the evening.
“I like to capture the magic of autumn by spreading my table with the natural splendour of foraged finds – and this works brilliantly inside or out.”
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for outdoors or inside, take a leaf out of Liz’s library of styling tips.
Here’s how to let autumn’s shades and foliage inspire your decor and dining settings...
1 DECORATE YOUR TABLE WITH FORAGED FINDS
“This is my favourite time of year for foraging, and the perfect moment to decorate your table with nature’s bounty. I love using apples to make tea light holders, and decorating table runners with leaves and dried seed pods and berries,” says Liz.
2 CREATE A CENTREPIECE
“Every party table needs a centrepiece, and one of my top tips for a real show-stopping impact is to hollow out a pumpkin and fill it with seasonal flowers. Chrysanthemums and dalias look particularly sensational, creating a centerpiece that is bound to be a talking point for weeks to come,” says Liz.
3 DESIGN A WARMING SEASONAL MENU
“I enjoy serving guests a menu inspired by autumn shades, and given the abundance of red, orange and yellow vegetables at this time of year, this is easily achieved,”
says Liz “Many of my favourite autumn recipes can be found at lizearlewellbeing.com, including roasted pumpkin soup, lamb tagine with butternut squash, and caramelized apple and walnut lattice pie. All seasonal, local fare that’s easy to prepare in advance, so I can spend more time chatting to guests.”
4 LIGHT UP THE DARKNESS
“As night-time falls, whether you’re eating inside or out, tin-can lanterns can make the perfect backdrop to any feast. With pretty ornamental details, they are especially atmospheric in a darkened room and I love the way the light dances around as the candles flicker, like a campfire.”
For more of Liz Earle’s tips, visit LizEarleWellbeing.com Alternatively, try these fun lights without the fuss of having to hunt down a box of matches. Lighting up a glass bell jar (a lovely decorative addition on its own), a string of 50 warm white micro fairy lights channel a soft, diffused glow, which works especially well with copper effect dining accessories.