We’re officially into the swing of early sunsets, chunky blankets, and cosy nights tucked inside.
Autumn is the season to channel your inner homebody — and there’s no better time to make your space feel even snugger. Whether you’re renting your first flat or you’ve just got the keys to your first home, these easy interior trends will turn staying in into an event in itself.
Take time for terracotta
The colour that everyone had in their home in the early 2000s (usually paired with a questionable shade of turquoise) is back - minus the turquoise, thankfully. Instead of defaulting to pale almonds and bright whites to make a space feel bigger, more people are leaning into bolder, warmer tones to tap into that cosy, autumn feel. And terracotta is the perfect way to do it. It’s a grounded way to be bold, warm, full of personality, but still calm and comforting. Pair it with textures like dark wood, clay pots, rattan, or linen, and you get that layered, earthy look that makes a home feel lived in (in a good way). We’re even seeing terracotta tiles making a comeback in kitchens and bathrooms - a nostalgic nod to those rustic, family-filled country homes, but reimagined in a much more modern, minimalist way.
Bay window benches
There’s something undeniably comforting about watching the autumn rain tap against the window while you’re tucked away with a book and a brew. And if you’ve bagged a home with a big bay window then even better, you’ve got the best seat for watching the seasons change. Bay windows are often seen as the perfect spot for a dining table, but instead of four dining chairs, we’re seeing more homeowners go for a cosy booth-style setup with a built-in bench. It makes the space feel warm and inviting, and also helps visually separate the dining zone from the rest of the room, especially useful in open-plan flats. And it’s not just about aesthetics. These benches can double as clever storage - think hidden compartments for blankets, Christmas crockery, or that ever-growing pile of tangled chargers. Some even have drawers built in, making it a functional win too. Whether you’re drawn to the cosy vibe, or in it for the storage - there’s no doubt that a pillowed bench design makes the perfect spot for a coffee and a book on a rainy autumn evening.
Low lighting luxury
Autumn is all about ambience - and in period homes, where tall ceilings and ornate coving already add character, bringing the lighting lower helps tie the room together. Think table lamps with warm-toned fabric shades, frosted glass globes, vintage floor lamps. We’ve heard it said that lighting is the jewellery of the home, and we couldn’t agree more. If you’ve got open shelving, try tucking in a small mushroom lamp or orb light between your books. It’s a subtle way to layer lighting and instantly makes the room feel more inviting. A favourite of ours? A minimalist arched floor lamp - modern, elegant, and the perfect warm statement piece for any living space. And if you’re renting and can’t swap out the big light, layered lighting is your secret weapon. It lets you create that cosy glow without changing a single fitting.
Top tip: Choose warm-toned bulbs (anywhere between 2200K–2700K) — they cast a softer, golden light that’s perfect for darker evenings.
Velvet everything
Similar to our good friend terracotta, velvet’s had a bit of a rebrand, too. Once seen as borderline over the top or try hard, it’s now everywhere in warm, muted tones that feel much more earthy and grounded, think colours like burnt orange, deep navy or mustard. If you’re trying to tap into your period home style era, and you’re lucky enough to have original fireplaces or wooden floors, velvet adds just the right amount of texture and elegance without feeling too modern. A velvet accent chair on one side of the fireplace? Beautiful. A pile of velvet cushions on your chesterfield sofa? Gorgeous. It’s that plush, cosy-but-considered feel that makes velvet such an autumn staple.
Now the best part of these trends, although positioned to you in a seasonal blog, is that they’re not completely seasonal. Instead, they’re more about creating a warm, layered, cosy space - something you’ll appreciate long after the leaves have fallen. Whether you’re going bold with terracotta or looking for clever storage solutions that don’t compromise on cosiness, these are the design touches that’ll help you get there.
Beyond velvet cushions? We’ve got you.
Speak to our refurb team for smart, stylish updates that make your space feel like yours.
