Create a reading nook

Reading is something that a lot of us only make time for at bedtime. It's time to break that nightly ritual and make a bit of space for you to enjoy reading at anytime. Making your own little reading nook is as simple as finding a small unused space and claiming it as your own. Find a small bookcase, book trough or side table to store your favourite books or new reads on, find a comfy chair, and get reading! Grab some cushions or a blanket, perhaps a table lamp or a few candles to make it a luxurious, comfortable space. Make a reading list and work your way through it. Busy modern life often means that we don't spend enough time on ourselves, and as we all know, keeping a healthy mind helps us in every aspect of life.

Be kitchen ready

With the colder weather, feeding our bodies with some traditional, homely meals is a must. Have a look through some old recipe books and find your favourite meals, perhaps you have some childhood favourites to recreate - there's nothing better to get that warm feeling than a bit of nostalgia! Dust off the slow cooker, buy some produce from your local farm shop, and get a stew or casserole bubbling away for later that day. Slow cookers are wonderful time savers for busy families. Casserole dishes and pans are a great addition to have cooking away on the stove if you're at home and prefer to add as you go! Keep a few extra herbs and spices in the cupboard or on the window sill to add flavour.

Entertaining friends

Get ready for welcoming friends by restocking the booze cabinet and glassware. Here in Cornwall we have some wonderful Gin distilleries, such as Tarquins and Caspyn that we're a bit partial to! For those friends who prefer to have a hot cuppa, make sure you have tea and coffee to hand, and hot chocolate for children (or grown ups of course). Grab a glass jar and fill with marshmallows for that extra sweet surprise. Jars of marshmallows also look great in the kitchen. Rainy Sunday afternoons are made for hot chocolate and luxury biscuits in front of the television, especially if you've just got back from a muddy trek in the woods. 

Soft lighting

Counter the darkness with pockets of light across a room. Floor lamps and table lamps are lovely for this time of year as they emit a soft glow from various spots in the room. The right lighting really helps when creating a cosy atmosphere, as does having the right shade on a lamp. It isn't all about the wattage of the bulb, changing a lampshade for a different colour or fabric can make a lot of difference to the light it throws out into the room.

Using colour

The Autumnal landscape is full of wonderful colours, and you can capture that autumn warmth to see you through winter, by bringing those colours indoors. Look to the leaves for inspiration, you'll find deep reds, burnt orange, dark greens, pair these with teals and plum shades for a real depth of colour. A simple way to bring colour into your home is by using cushions and blankets. Look for sumptuous fabrics in a variety of textures, such as velvets and chenilles. Drape blankets over the arms or back of sofas and chairs, and layer cushions to create a luxurious, welcoming atmosphere.

Light a fire

There's nothing cosier than a real fire on a cold day. If you're lucky enough to have an open fireplace or a wood burner, stocking up on logs or coal, kindling and firelighters is a must.  We like to make our own Pine Cone Firelighters with beeswax [these also make lovely homemade, rustic gifts for anyone with a real fire]. We've included how to make them below! Make sure you have the fire tools sitting next to your hearth in case you need them. We love antique fireside accessories!

Make your own Pine Cone Firelighters

These rustic pine cone fire starters are a lovely item to make at home.  If you have children, get them out in the woods collecting pine cones, and leave them somewhere warm to dry out completely. You can find them in craft shops, if you can't get to the woods. If you use beeswax candles, save the stumps throughout the year - you could use these for the wax to make your firelighters. They make beautiful, practical Christmas gifts to give to family and friends with a fire or log burner. No-one can resist a handmade Christmas present!

You will need: