As summer days drift away with the arrival of lower temperatures and stunning red and gold leaves my thoughts are turning to creating a cosy home in preparation for the long, dark evenings of autumn and winter. In the words of L. M. Montgomery (Anne Of Green Gables), “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”.
Autumn and winter are my favourite times of the year. I love to spend autumn planning and creating the perfect cosy vibe at home so I thought I'd share these three simple ways with you:-
1. Candles & Scent
A quick and simple way to transform your space is to introduce scented candles and wax melts. The magical glow of a candle flame combined with a seasonal fragrance will help you fall gently into autumn by creating that familiar, comforting feeling of cosiness.
When choosing a candle consider the fragrance and design of the jar; how will the candle vessel fit in with your style at home? What kind of scent will suit your space?
When considering vessels think about opting for a vessel that can be refilled or repurposed. Approximately 35 million candle containers are sent to landfills every year with only 8% being recycled so selecting a refillable jar or repurposing your current jar will reduce the number of jars going to landfills and offer you better value for money. I’m very mindful of the impact my business has on the environment and to reduce impact I now offer a refill option on the Blue range meaning you can reuse your jars.
Do you prefer a minimalistic style of jar or something more creative? Glass vessels will fit into any setting and come in many colours. Ceramic vessels are usually more decorative and can be a design feature in the room. I’ve been drawn to glass until now but, after coming across a very talented potter recently, plans are in the pipeline to convert my blue range from glass jars to ceramic jars. Watch this space...
Always try opting for a jar lid. There are a few reasons for this; apart from being decorative, using a lid preserves the candle lifespan by protecting the scent when not lit (also known as 'cold throw’). A lid also keeps your candle clean by protecting it against dust collecting on the top. A dust cover is also helpful if your vessel doesn't come with a lid.
When it comes to fragrance consider which room your candle will be used in and the activities that happen there. For example, you would not want a scented candle in the dining room whilst eating because the scent will interfere with the taste of the food which is why taper candles are used.
However, you may want a fresh, clean scent in the bathroom or something earthy in the lounge.
I've always tried to bring the outdoors indoors and it's why seasons are influential in my scent choice; floral and fresh scents for spring and summer and fruity and woody scents for autumn and winter. As well as creating the perfect vibe, changing scent categories each season gives you something to look forward to, a way of marking change. Each season brings changes in the home to decor and activities, it’s ritualistic because it's an important part of creating a cosy and comfortable living space.
To help create an autumnal ambience at home with candles consider planned family and local events. This adds a fun element by choosing a scent based on the event theme. For example, if you have Halloween plans then consider candles with a pumpkin or apple spice scent. This is the perfect fragrance to return home to after trick or treating with the kids. Attending a local bonfire? Then Fireside is the ideal scent for snuggling up to with a hot chocolate and seasonal movie after standing out in the cold all evening. My recommended Winter Wick scent picks for instant autumn vibes are:-
Pumpkin Patch (introduced at the suggestion of a friend and is very popular)
Top notes: Seared Pumpkin
Mid notes: Cloves and Nutmeg
Base notes: Vanilla and Plum
Fireside (a gorgeous new fragrance added to my Blue range)
Top notes: Tobacco and Honey
Mid notes: Citrus and Sandalwood
Base notes: Amber, Tonka Bean and Patchouli
Wanderlust (my all-time favourite scent of any candle ever made)
Top notes: White Thyme
Mid notes: Bergamot
Base notes: Pink Pepper
If wax melts are your preference then Mocha is a great choice. With top notes of sweet creamy coconut, floral, fruity, buttery mid notes and base notes of musk, vanilla and caramel it's a wonderful fragrance if you love coffee on a rainy day!
2. Flowers and Colour
Flowers are a beautiful way of adding an instant pop of colour to any space in your home. I have flowers wherever I can for all sorts of occasions, and moving into autumn and winter is no different, it’s a time to get creative!
I've recently discovered the trend of dried flowers. It is the perfect option for decorating your home with flowers during autumn and winter. I purchased some beautiful dried flowers from Bud and Flower in Kirdford, West Sussex, an award-winning florist with a lovely, talented team.
A uniquely curated arrangement of different stems and colours now sits in my hallway creating a stylish, homely, cosy ambience. I don't have to change them out as often as fresh flowers which is perfect when the weather is so wet and windy that I don’t want to leave the house. An on-trend combination of texture and colour brings instant autumn vibes and I'll be adding more dried flower arrangements to recreate the ambience in other rooms of the house.
If you're feeling crafty you can dry your flowers using the traditional air-drying method. Just follow these 3 simple steps:-
When your vase of flowers starts to go over remove unwanted foliage and stems.
Tie the stems together in small bunches using string or elastic bands and hang them upside down on a coat hanger in a warm space like the utility room or airing cupboard. Avoiding direct sunlight will retain more colour.
After 2-3 weeks the flowers should be dry. There should be no dampness and the flowers will feel papery. Trim the stems to the required length and arrange them in a vase.
Flower suggestions that are good options for drying include Craspedia, Statice, Eucalyptus and Astilby. If you prefer to purchase flowers already dried then you will find some beautiful options at Bud & Flower where Chrissy and her team will happily help you in person or over the phone.
3. Music
I love music, it’s a staple feature in my home. I have an eclectic taste in music, thanks to my dad who loved a huge range of music including Jimi Hendrix, Gerry Rafferty and The Beatles, to name a few. I always manage to find the right music for the right moment at home and it is a great way of enhancing the atmosphere whether relaxing or partying.
Taking time to curate an autumn playlist is great preparation for those days when you're in the house, pottering around and enjoying some downtime. Play it in the background to create an ambient backdrop to whatever you're doing, whether baking cinnamon whirls, cooking up a stew or something more strenuous like reorganising the furniture in the lounge!
Below is a recent playlist I've been listening to that may inspire you:-
The Shining - Badly Drawn Boy
Stormy Weather - Ella James
These Days - Nico
One Of These Things First - Nick Drake
Into The Mystic - Van Morrison (<------Be still my beating heart - love this song!)
Holocene - Bon Iver
September Gurls - Big Star
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Georgia On My Mind - Willie Nelson
Like The Weather - 10,000 Maniacs
Harvest Moon - Neil Young
Autumn Leaves - Ed Sheeran
Stick Season - Noah Kahan
Call me Devil - Friends In Tokyo
Season Of The Witch - Lana Del Ray
Running Up That Hill - Kate Bush
The Sorcerer's Apprentice - The Philidelphia Orchestra
Spellbound - Siouxsie & The Banshees
Boy - The Killers
Bonfire Heart - James Blunt
So, as you can see, candles, flowers and music are three easy ways of creating a cosy ambience at home for autumn and winter, but there is more you can do. Use your imagination whilst leaning into what makes you feel snug and curate your space in a way that works for you and yours. The elements of candles, flowers and music may be the same, however, the specifics of scent, colour, texture, and sound are all individual to you and your style!
Love,
Deborah.
xx
With Thanks To Deborah Malschuk of Winter Wick Soy Candles for a wonderful article.
If you would like to learn a new craft of candle making visit her website at winterwick.co.uk.
Some of Deborah's products can also be found in 'Rosie' our onsite shop.
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