There’s a moment every autumn when the clocks go back, the evenings suddenly feel very long, and all I want to do is light a candle, grab a blanket and hibernate. Our home becomes our sanctuary for the colder months, so I like to spend a little time making it feel as warm and welcoming as possible.
The good news? Making your home cosy doesn’t mean spending a fortune. Many of these ideas are completely free, and the rest are small, affordable swaps that make a big difference.
Cosy up with textiles
1. Layer throws and blankets
Nothing says cosy like a basket of blankets by the sofa. Layer throws in different textures, such as chunky knits, faux fur and soft fleece, and drape them over the sofa, armchairs and the end of the bed. Mixing textures makes a room feel instantly warmer.
2. Swap your cushion covers, not your cushions
Rather than buying new cushions, just change the covers. Switch summery linens and brights for autumn tones like rust, mustard, forest green and cream, in velvet, cord or knitted fabrics. Covers are far cheaper and easier to store.
3. Add a rug (or layer one)
Hard floors feel cold underfoot in autumn. A rug instantly warms a room up, both visually and literally. If you already have one, try layering a smaller textured rug on top for extra cosiness. Charity shops and Facebook Marketplace are great for finding them cheaply.
4. Hang heavier curtains
Thermal or lined curtains help keep the heat in and the draughts out, and close them as soon as it gets dark to trap the warmth. If new curtains aren’t in the budget, adding a thermal lining to your existing ones is a cheaper alternative.
Get the lighting right
5. Swap to warm white bulbs
Harsh, bright white lighting is the enemy of cosy. Look for “warm white” bulbs (the box will say around 2700K) for living rooms and bedrooms. It’s a small, cheap change that transforms the whole feel of a room.
6. Use lamps instead of the big light
Switch off the ceiling light in the evenings and use lamps at different heights instead: a floor lamp, a table lamp and something low. Pools of soft light make a room feel far cosier.
7. Fairy lights aren’t just for Christmas
String fairy lights along a shelf, in a jar, around a mirror or over the headboard. Battery-powered ones with a timer are brilliant, as they come on at dusk without you having to remember.
8. Candles (real or LED)
Candlelight is the ultimate in cosy. If you have young children or pets, LED candles are a safer option and look surprisingly realistic, especially the flickering ones. Grouping a few together on a tray makes a lovely centrepiece.
Bring autumn indoors (for free)
9. Forage your decorations
Some of the best autumn decor is free! Collect pine cones, conkers, fallen branches, acorns and colourful leaves on your walks, and display them in bowls, jars and vases. (Our free Autumn Adventure Pack is perfect for getting the kids to help with the collecting.)
10. Make a simmer pot
For a home that smells like autumn without buying candles or diffusers, pop some orange peel, a cinnamon stick, a few cloves and a splash of vanilla in a pan of water and let it simmer gently on the hob. Just keep an eye on the water level, and never leave it unattended.
11. Rearrange the furniture
In summer our furniture points towards the garden; in autumn we turn it inwards. Angle your sofa and chairs towards a focal point like the fireplace or a cosy corner, and pull them a little closer together. It costs nothing and makes a room feel more intimate.
Keep the warmth in
12. Tackle the draughts
Draughts make even the cosiest room feel chilly. A draught excluder at the bottom of doors, self-adhesive strips around windows and a cover for the letterbox are cheap fixes that can make a noticeable difference to your heating bills too.
13. Warm up the person, not the house
Hot water bottles, cosy socks, slippers and a good dressing gown can mean you’re comfortable with the heating on a little lower. Many families also swear by heated throws for evenings on the sofa.
Create cosy moments
14. Make a cosy corner
Carve out a little nook that’s just for relaxing: a comfy chair, a throw, a lamp, a side table for your cuppa and a pile of books or magazines. It doesn’t need to be big; even the end of a sofa can become your cosy spot.
15. Start a cosy evening ritual
Cosiness is as much about how you spend your time as how your home looks. A weekly film night in PJs, a board game after tea or a hot chocolate before bed turn autumn evenings into something to look forward to.
Your budget-friendly cosy home checklist
- Layer throws and blankets in mixed textures
- Swap cushion covers to autumn tones
- Add or layer a rug
- Switch to warm white bulbs and lamps
- Bring the outdoors in with foraged decor
- Draught-proof doors, windows and letterboxes
- Create a cosy corner just for you
What’s your favourite way to make your home cosy for autumn? Share your tips in the comments!
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