Cosy Up Your Home

As the seasons change, small updates can make your home feel warmer and more inviting. From bespoke soft furnishings to fresh colour and cosy accessories, shopping local is a great place to start.

Soft furnishings are one of the quickest ways to change how a room feels, especially as the weather turns colder. Adding a rug, a couple of cushions or a throw introduces warmth and texture without the need for a full makeover. Mixing materials such as wool, velvet, boucle and brushed cotton gives a room more depth, while warmer tones such as rust, olive, ochre, clay and deep berry can make a space feel instantly more inviting.

Window dressings are worth thinking about too. Curtains and Roman blinds do more than frame a window; they soften a room, add colour and pattern and can help create a more cocooning feel in the evenings. Choosing something made to measure also means the proportions work properly with the room rather than feeling like an afterthought. Plymouth-based By Me Designz, run by Mary Elder, creates bespoke curtains, blinds, cushions, throws, headboards and footstools, so it is a good example of how locally made pieces can be used to add character as well as comfort.

Lighting can make just as much difference as fabric. A bright ceiling light can feel harsh on a dark evening, so try using several softer light sources instead. Table lamps, floor lamps and wall lights create smaller pools of light and make a room feel calmer and more relaxed. Warm-white bulbs usually work better than cooler tones, and candles are an easy way to add another layer of atmosphere.

Colour is another simple way to make a room feel warmer, and it does not always mean painting all four walls. A single feature wall, chimney breast or alcove can be enough to shift the mood of a space. Deep greens, warm taupes, muted reds and terracotta shades all work well through autumn and winter but are versatile enough to live with all year round. If the walls are looking tired, good preparation is often just as important as the colour itself. Paintwave Decorating works across Plymouth and the surrounding area, and offers everything from smaller room refreshes to full redecorations.

Underfoot, a rug can help soften hard flooring and make a seating area feel more complete. In a living room, a larger rug that sits beneath the front legs of the sofa and chairs usually looks more considered than a small one floating in the middle of the floor. Runners can work well in hallways and beside beds, while natural materials such as wood, rattan and woven baskets help add warmth without making a room feel overly styled.

It is also worth working with what you already have. Moving furniture slightly closer together can create a more intimate seating area, while baskets can keep throws close to hand and books, ceramics and framed pictures can make a room feel more personal. Even changing a few cushion covers, swapping in a warmer lampshade or adding a textured throw can make a familiar space feel different.

Finally, think about the atmosphere as a whole. Scent can play a surprisingly big part in how cosy a room feels, with fragrances such as sandalwood, amber, cinnamon, cedar or fig working particularly well at this time of year. Add soft lighting, layered textures and a few personal touches, and a room can feel warmer and more inviting without a major spend. With a little inspiration and a few carefully chosen finds from local businesses, creating a home you’ll love spending time in this season can be surprisingly simple.