The clocks are going back this Sunday, October 27, and it's fair to say a lot of us are having trouble with the concept. After the lighter (albeit equally rainy) days of summer, the arrival of autumn with its dark nights is a bit hard to stomach. But it's not all doom and gloom, we've decided it's time to embrace cosiness and maximise comfort to keep ourselves entertained through those long dark evenings.
There are plenty of projects at home you can undertake without breaking the bank, and that will make an enormous difference to how you feel at home. Why not try painting a room in a warm, autumnal colour; our guide to Farrow & Ball colours will help you see how these shades look in real rooms. Meanwhile, Rita Konig, an acknowledged expert in making rooms feel comfortable and cosy, has some advice on how to create lovely scenes at home – that tempting drinks tray for example, or a side table to display all your favourite bath products.
While you're at it, it's time to turn some serious attention to physical cosiness. Your sofa should be a sanctuary right now, so treat it to some new cushions and perhaps a pretty quilt to drape over the back for chilly moments. The same goes for beds – consider buying some new bedding to make it as lovely a place as you can to curl up at night. A pre-bedtime ritual makes it all the more likely you'll get a good night's sleep, and we think there's no better way than a perfectly prepared bath.
If there is one thing we can't get enough of at the moment, it's candles. Their twinkling light is the perfect remedy for bleak, gloomy days, instantly imparting a sense of cheer. Scented candles are wonderful, of course, but why not take your candle game up a notch with some beautiful wall sconces. These are lovely additions to your walls at any time of year, but really come into their own when you want to do everything by candlelight. Generally, lighting is key at the moment: now might be the time to do some more decorating with fairy lights, as well as making sure your rooms are well lit with all the most stylish table lamps and task lamps.
Boredom is a risk during the winter months, so avoid idle hands and their proverbial consequence and get busy with some craft projects. The hydrangeas are still blooming and provide a great opportunity to find out how to dry flowers, and you can make some truly lovely decorations with them, like Willow Crossley's pretty hydrangea pompoms. This also feels like a good time to try some traditional crafts like embroidering. We're huge fans of The Fabled Thread's beautiful embroidery kits, which guide you through pieces you'll want to frame on your walls. If you're looking for something quick and easy, try Lora Avedian's guide to embroidering a simple oak leaf.
Speaking of leaves, there is still plenty to do in the garden if you're lucky enough to have one. Our garden editor has a full calendar of what to do in your garden each month – right about now you should probably be checking off jobs to do in November. Partly you need to start protecting any tender plants from the ravages of winter (and this includes lifting or mulching your dahlia tubers) and partly it's about getting started on spring planting. Now is the time to get your tulip bulbs in to ensure a lovely display in spring.
Yes, yes, we know it's early, but October is the time when we inevitably turn our minds to Christmas. All that indulgence and cheer is just what we need right now to remember why shorter days and longer nights aren't so bad after all. Start soaking the fruit for your Christmas cake, choose some Christmas gifts for your loved ones, and order a Christmas hamper - it's something to look forward to!
Soups, pies, and cakes seem like the order of the day at this time of the year for extra cosiness. Try our collection of warming autumn recipes to start with, and have a look through our round-up of the best cookbooks of all time for endless inspiration. And yes, we should probably cut down a bit on drinking, but nevertheless, we're still contemplating a wine subscription to keep us topped up, and stocking up on the best bottles for a home cocktail bar.
Once you've been productive in all of the above ways, it's time to accept that the darker nights do inevitably bring with them more sofa time, so you will need something really good to watch. If you haven't already, make a beeline for Disney+ and their new adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals. It's a rollicking watch, and without being too crass, it will certainly keep you warm on a winter's night. Now is also a good time to watch TV shows and movies that make you feel good about autumn: You've Got Mail immediately springs to mind, with its celebration of New York in the fall. Stepmom, though certainly in the weepie category, has some utterly lovely autumn landscapes, and with the year's creepiest holiday around the corner, our list of the best Halloween movies to stream will surely be invaluable.
Feeling more cerebral? Reading provides a necessary escape from the world, better, really, than TV. The House & Garden team has been reading some brilliant books this year, and we've put together a handy piece on them if you're looking for recommendations. Alternatively, we've got an absorbing round-up of the best travel books for escapist reading that will transport you to the far-off places you wish you could be in. Books themselves can be a form of decoration, so once you've gathered all the books you intend to read this autumn, have a look at our design ideas for bookshelves.
