Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Very.co.uk, but as always, all opinions are my own.
It can be hard to wave goodbye to summer, especially when you feel you’ve been shortchanged. But autumn is still one of my favourite times of the year, there’s just something so magical about it. The soft glow of pumpkin spice scented candles, long walks through fiery fallen leaves, cosy layered outfits, and hearty home-cooked meals ready to warm you up after a day exploring outdoors. It’s the season for slowing down, layering up, and leaning into everything cosy before the mad rush of Christmas begins.
Very have everything you need to make your home feel cosy this autumn, so when they asked if I’d like to share my favourite autumn rituals and how I make our home extra snug and cosy for autumn, I jumped at the chance. It might only be October, but I’m already onto my third autumnal candle (currently burning Spiced Vanilla Pumpkin Cheesecake) which is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, and it smells incredible!
My Autumn Cosy at Home Essentials
For me, autumn is all about creating a comforting space at home, wearing soft pyjamas, flickering pumpkin-spice scented candles, hearty slow-cooked food and a few simple touches of seasonal décor to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. Here’s how I’m making our home feel warm, welcoming and wonderfully autumnal this year.
In this article...
Decorating The Fireplace For Autumn
Building our false chimney breast is still one of my favourite DIY projects that we’ve done in our new-build home. It completely transformed our blank living room and added so much character to what was once a very bleak room. Now that I have a beautiful oak mantle to style, I love switching up the décor to match the festivities or particular time of year. Whether thats something like cute speckled-egg bunting at Easter, a blue spruce and mistletoe garland at Christmas, or a rich autumn foliage and berry garland for autumn.
Garlands are such a simple and effective way to inject a season into any room of your home (they don’t just have to be used on a fireplace either, they look great as a table setting or wrapped around a headboard too) The burnt-orange berries and transitional tones of mixed foliage mimic the changing colours outside and instantly make the room feel warmer and more inviting with the added layer of interest.
Add a few pumpkin ornaments (or even the real deal) and a scattering of flickering candles, get the fire on, and suddenly the heart of your home feels ready for those long, dark, cosy autumn evenings.
Enjoying Slow-Cooked Comfort Food After An Autumnal Walk
Is there any better feeling than coming home from a crisp autumn walk to a warm kitchen filled with the smell of something delicious bubbling away? We love our slow cooker and use it all year round, but it especially earns its keep during this time of year.
The recipes we cook naturally shift with the season. Spicy summer fajitas and lighter dishes give way to things like creamy Marry Me Chicken, and rich beef and red wine stew, served with chunky door-wedge slices of buttered bread. Just writing that makes me hungry!
Popping all the ingredients in before heading out to work or on one of your favourite Somerset walks, and returning home to a hearty meal ready and waiting, will forever be one of my favourite autumn rituals. It’s cosy, warms you from the inside out and is effortlessly easy for any of your favourite midweek autumn recipes. Mine is the Morphy Richards 6.5L slow-cooker in Titanium, but you can find an entire selection of slow cookers on Very.co.uk to suit your kitchen aesthetic.
Luxurious Hot Chocolates – But Make it Special
If you’ve never tried making hot chocolate in your slow cooker, you must give it a whirl. It’s an indulgent treat that’s perfect for warming up after a chilly autumnal walk, or serving to guests when you’re hosting a get-together at home. It’s rich, creamy, and the easiest treat to enjoy on a cold evening.
Just pour your choice of milk and chopped-up chocolate bar into the slow cooker, set it on low for a couple of hours, and give it a stir halfway through. Once it’s hot and silky smooth, ladle into cute mugs (bonus points if they’re pumpkin-shaped!) Then keep the slow cooker on low for easy top-ups.
To make it extra special and autumnal, I like to set out little pumpkin shaped bowls of toppings. Marshmallows, sprinkles, even crushed biscuits work well, then everyone can create their own ultimate hot chocolate. Don’t forget the swirl of whipped cream to finish, no hot chocolate is complete without it!
Creating a Cosy Movie Night at Home
Friday night movie nights are a firm favourite in our house, it’s a little treat that I look forward to all week. Especially as the evenings draw in and knowing there’s no alarm, school run, football practice, or morning commute waiting for us the next day. There’s something so special about everyone snuggling up together on the sofa as a family, wrapped in pyjamas under a pile of knitted blankets and scatter cushions. With the soft glow of a candle flickering away, It just feels like pure autumn to me and creates core family memories.
To make autumn movie nights extra fun and special, I like to bring out our seasonal plates for our movie snacks, which is usually some warm, freshly-popped popcorn and pick ‘n’ mix selection. Naturally, they’re ghost or pumpkin shaped this time of year! It’s funny how the small touches, something as simple as themed dishes, can make an ordinary Friday movie night feel extra magical and seasonal.
Snuggle Up in Chelsea Peers Pyjamas
As soon as I get home, the first thing I do is swap out of my jeans into my comfortable pyjamas, because soft, snuggly fabrics instantly make you feel relaxed and cosy at home.
These Chelsea Peers pyjamas are genuinely the comfiest I’ve ever owned. Being 5ft 7, I often struggle to find pairs that are long enough in the leg, but these are perfect. They’re incredibly soft, beautifully made, and come in so many fun prints and fabrics (I’ve got my eye on another pair already!).
If you’re on the hunt for new autumn pyjamas that feel as good as they look, have a browse through the Chelsea Peers collection. You might want to make yourself a cuppa first as there are so many designs to choose from! Mine are the Moon Print set and I absolutely love them.
Final Thoughts
However you like to spend your evenings this autumn, whether it’s tucking into your favourite slow-cooked meal, watching movies in your cosiest pyjamas as the rain taps against the window, or simply lighting a candle and unwinding. Autumn is the perfect time to slow down and savour the little moments that make home feel so comforting. And with a little help from Very.co.uk, you can do it all in style.
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