Warm up your home for autumn

Autumn and winter generally mean more time at home for many of us. So whether you’re looking to update your home’s style with some cosy additions or want it to look great before selling, here are some helpful ideas. We’ve also rounded up new design books and local shops to visit for inspiration.

Introduce more colour

Escape the dreary autumn weather outside and brighten up your home with rich autumn colours. We’re talking about earthy tones resembling falling leaves, like bright red, golden yellow, burnt orange, coral and deep chocolate brown. You can introduce colour slowly with a throw pillow here or a plush rug there. Otherwise, go big with a feature wall in an office or bedroom. 

If you want a little extra help, check out Colour is Home, an interior design book by Australian designer Charlotte Coote. She’s known for her confidence in colour, texture and pattern pairings, and can help you embrace colour in your home.

Another way to brighten up your interiors is via IKEA’s new BASTUA collection with the renowned Finnish brand, Marimekko. It includes bold decor, warm wood furniture and unique glassware.

Add texture 

Add texture to your home with a new rug. We recommend shag rugs in low-traffic areas like your living room or bedroom. Then you’ll want a more durable flatweave rug for heavy-traffic areas such as hallways. Stick to the aforementioned autumn colour palette, opt for a bold pattern or go more subtle. The choice is yours.

If you’re ready to start shopping…

• Miss Amara offers affordable rugs and free styling advice from interior designers. Their range is extensive, but we think the Blake Orange Rainbow Rug screams autumn.
• Koskela is a local North Sydney shop featuring luxurious artisan rugs. Each rug is handmade, which the price tag reflects.

Another easy way to add warmth and texture to your living spaces is introducing new thick blankets in faux fur, wool, chunky knit or velvet. This has the added bonus of keeping energy bills down. Target and Kmart also both have affordable plush cushions in autumn colours in store right now. 

Soften your lighting

Soft lighting is all about making rooms feel more inviting through artificial lights. This might include dimmable wall lights, low-hanging pendant lights, candles, floor lamps or table lamps. You might also want to swap cool for warm lightbulbs. If you’re feeling fancy, Coco Republic in neighbouring Crows Nest has stylish pendant lights and floor lamps available. As for candles, why not beat those autumn blues and make your own using this tutorial?

Smell like autumn

Speaking of candles, change up your home’s scent in autumn by picking different candles or switching up your diffuser oils. Think warm spices and earthy notes, like sandalwood, bergamot, cinnamon or vanilla. 

Don’t forget the outdoors

Yes, really! You can still enjoy the outdoors in your Neutral Bay home this autumn with a few cosy tricks. Plus, if you’re hoping for a winter sale, you’ll want to keep your outdoor space looking spick and span.

Here are our outdoor decor tips:

• Install a cosy firepit and pretend you’re on holiday by roasting marshmallows by the campfire with a glass of red in hand. Bunnings has very affordable options, but Fire Pits Direct is a Melbourne-based online business with an extensive range.
• Surround the fireplace with outdoor furniture piled high with comfortable cushions and durable throws. You can even place the firepit on a stylish outdoor rug. 

Thinking of selling? 

Whether you’re simply styling your home for the season or updating the decor in time for a winter home sale, we hope these tips help – give us a call if you’re thinking of selling this winter and would like an update on the market in Neutral Bay and surrounding areas.