These 5 Tweaks Will Get Your Home Ready For Autumn In One Afternoon

We’ve officially gone past the first day of autumn (September 23rd in case you’re wondering). And as we leave behind the excitement of Love Island and Aperol Spritz’s and slip into the warm embrace of the Great British Bake Off and a Pumpkin Spiced Latte, there are some changes you can make at home to create that feeling of hygge as it gets colder.

New research by Homesense found that 86% of Brits make changes to their home exclusively for the autumnal months, with almost half of Brits admitting they update their homes to make themselves feel happier.

We’re not talking about installing a new roof or insulating all the walls in the house here, although if you have the spare cash that’s not a bad idea, we’re talking about small changes that don’t take long and won’t cost the earth, but make your space feel that little bit more cozy – no matter how big it is.

Most of these changes can be done in an afternoon or less, let’s start with something practical.

Put Your Summer Clothes In Storage

Duh! It sounds basic but actually rifling through 12 bikinis and a sarong to get to your favourite turtleneck sweater in the morning gets annoying pretty quickly. if you have packing boxes from when you moved in, or some clear plastic boxes, these are perfect for storing summer clothes – just make sure the boxes are clearly labelled.

If you don’t have much space, a suitcase is the perfect place to store summer clothes, and if you’re travelling you can always empty clothes into bin bags until you’re back home.

You might want to leave some summer clothes out for transitional dressing though, for example a silk slip skirt you can pair with a cashmere jumper and boots until it gets much colder.

Storage Containers For Off-Season Clothes

Swap Light Summer Bedding For Something More Substantial

Locate your winter bedding; electric blankets, throws and heavy duvets and swap out what you currently have on the bed. You might want to store away lighter duvets and sheets you used in the summer until next year, in some of the boxes above, and bring out some heavier blankets like the ones below.

Wash Your Blankets And Winter Coats

Now it’s time to put a wash on (or maybe several depending on how many coats you have). First, put all your winter coats and blankets in a pile on your bed Marie Kondo style, and edit them.

Make a pile of coats and blankets it’s time to part ways with – you can donate them to the charity shop or sell them on eBay later, then wash all the blankets and coats you’re keeping so they’re ready to go when the cold strikes.

The Best Blankets For Autumn/Winter - Grazia

Swap Your Scents

It’s time to store or use up the last of your summer scents; from Febreeze sprays, Zoflora disinfectants, hand soaps, body washes and air fresheners to candles, perfumes and hand creams. Out with the fresh fruity smells of summer, and in with the spicy scents that instantly make homes feel cozy.

Autumn Fragrances For The Home

Check Your Fire Alarms

Sorry to be that person, but as we start burning candles more often and making big pots of stew that bubble over, it’s a good idea to make sure we’re fire safe. Check your fire alarms, and carbon monoxide monitors and get new batteries ASAP if you need them.