Spring cleaning shouldn't be reserved for spring. Refreshing your home at the start of each new season can help maximise your space, restore a sense of order and create an atmosphere that feels in tune with the new season.
Autumn is one of the most atmospheric seasons, signalling a shift towards darker, slower evenings and comforting rituals, with homes that feel ready for cosy nights in and dinner by candlelight.
While the autumn equinox doesn't take place until the 23rd, September marks the beginning of that back-to-school feeling when summer holidays are done, the air is a little crisper, and we start looking ahead to the colder months.
Even just a few small changes can make our spaces feel more prepared for the season ahead. We asked six interior designers about the subtle styling changes they make to help their homes feel calmer, more comfortable and ready for autumn.
1. Create cosier 'zones' with furniture
Switching up your spaces can require little to no financial investment if you're able to move around your existing pieces to suit a new season. 'As we move towards September, one of the biggest shifts we encourage is rethinking furniture layouts,' Magdalena Gierasinska, head of product & displays at Barker and Stonehouse tells House Beautiful. 'During summer, rooms are often arranged to feel open and airy, but as we spend more time indoors, creating more intimate seating zones makes a home feel instantly warmer and more inviting.
'Even moving a sofa slightly closer to a coffee table, or repositioning an armchair beside a floor lamp, can make a living space feel far more comfortable. Mid to late August is the ideal time to make these adjustments because you're preparing your home for the change in routines before the busier autumn season begins.'
2. Swap in heavier textures
'Seasonal updates don't have to mean a complete redesign,' says Shelley Cochrane, accessories buyer at Furniture Village. 'I recommend swapping lighter textures, such as linen cushions and cotton throws, for richer materials like boucle, wool or velvet as autumn approaches.
'These subtle changes add visual warmth and make furniture feel more comfortable without replacing key pieces. Combined with softer lighting and a careful edit of decorative accessories, the room feels calmer and more layered. Making these updates before September allows homeowners to transition gradually, rather than waiting until the weather changes overnight.'
3. Add in atmospheric lighting with candles and fairy lights
'In the darker months, especially in the evening, the goal isn’t to have the home lit up to the max, but rather to simulate or enhance a naturally soft and cosy glow,' begins Catharina Björkman, Scandi interiors expert at Contura.
'Candles are a staple of the Swedish home, especially in the autumn and winter months. It’s common in Sweden to have a candle (or three!) flickering in every room or window. Electric candles can look just as effective, and many Swedish households use electric candoliers. In areas used to gather, such as a living room, snug or playroom, you can also use fairy lights for another subtle and inviting layer of illumination.'
4. Swap in textured lampshades and bases
'Swapping lamps and lampshades around is a key task before September,' interior designer Benji Lewis tells us. 'I like a rustic urn-type lamp base with a pretty gathering for summer and then a lamp base with a bit of glam to it for autumn and winter, with a plain smart linen or silk shade.
'I gear up for darker days by moving my favourite armchair to orientate best for natural light, reintroducing a neat floor light beside the chair so when daylight fades I have readily available ambient light.'
5. Introduce warmer colours
Bringing colour into the home for autumn could mean swapping out cushion covers, introducing accessories or layering textures in bolder hues. 'Colours with warm undertones, such as golden yellow, pumpkin orange and rose red, are a popular choice for adding an autumnal spice to your interiors,' Catharina explains. 'Such colours can be utilised to the same effect as the calming hues of nature – to make your home a place you love and feel better for spending time in as the cooler months draw in.
'The Swedish philosophy of lagom can be put to good use here. Meaning "not too much, not too little", it encourages balance and moderation in all aspects of life. So, to mitigate the risk of overpowering a room with too much bright colour, simply start by adding a splash of it – such as a funky cushion, a chic lamp or a statement vase – first.'
But 'be mindful with the positioning and combination of colours', warns Catharina, to ensure that no colour interrupts the overall sense of calm and balance in each room.
6. Refresh your plants
'I like to give my houseplants an overhaul before September,' interior designer Rowan Giles tells us. 'During the summer, everyone is so busy enjoying their garden that indoor plants can get neglected. And they’re often a bit parched if the weather’s been hot.
'Before September, I go round all my houseplants – and I have a lot – repotting and repositioning, getting rid of any dead leaves, fertilising and watering. I’ll buy a few new plants for the autumn and get rid of any that didn’t survive the summer. Devil’s Ivy is my absolute favourite. It trails like a dream and thrives on neglect!'
7. Reset the dining table
As the weather starts to cool and we naturally gravitate indoors, longer, lingering dinners around the dining table come back into their own. 'I always reset the dining table arrangement so it's more suited to longer dinners and time spent indoors,' Estelle Tomlin of boutique interior design studio Amica Studio explains.
A simple seasonal reset could mean introducing tapered candles in elegant holders, swapping in new placemats and investing in tableware made for comforting stews and pasta dishes. A warm-toned table runner will add another layer of colour and texture, instantly making the space feel cosier.
'It's lovely to have an autumn-toned floral arrangement there too to keep the botanical themes going as long as possible, now the garden florals are starting to dim down.'
The Cosy Edit
