Shorter days, cold weather, heavy coats - it must be Autumn! Time to start turning the heating on (sensibly), pull out the blankets (see here how to style one throw three ways), lay the heavier duvets on the beds and bring out the recipes for winter stews.

We love getting our home updated between seasons. October is the perfect month to start the nesting process: blankets on beds, throws on the sofa arm, candles on coffee tables and an extra dose of hot chocolate powder on standby. Read on to find out how to get your home ready for the colder months ahead.

1/ Wooly Throws

If you are watching the Bake Off and the heating is off, you might want to have a handy throw or wooly blanket nearby. We love blankets of all colours and designs - and some of the loveliest ones I have picked up were from National Trust stores and in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The collection below is all current - which one would you pick?

During Chelsea Flower Show a few years ago I came across a brand, So Cosy. Their story began on a market stall in Spitalfields. You will love their beautiful, luxurious blankets made only from the finest alpaca, merino and sheep wools, and feel like you're being cuddled.

Behind the brand you will find fashion designer and pattern cutter, Rimsky with a keen eye for design, textiles and colour. Vilija also comes from an artistic background and together their knowledge allows them to design and create beautiful throws and blankets, both traditional and modern, to complement all interiors.

2/ The Blanket Ladder

What a perfect way to style and display your throws (as well as tidy them up after use). The blanket ladder can also be placed in rooms for displaying or styling clothes and accessories, as well as in the bathroom for holding your towels. It's a multi functioning item and this winter it can take pride of place in your living room.

Places where you can find blanket or towel ladders include (just use their search function):

• Garden Trading

• Next and

• The White Company. Or if you want to build your own ladder, follow the tutorial by Joyfully Growing Blog, featuring in the photo below.

3/ Baskets

There is no way you do not already own one (or more) baskets in your home. They are another multi-purpose product that we have over the time used for storing blankets, magazines and even loo rolls.

If you want to create a more cocooning feeling in Autumn you should hide hard reflective surfaces (metals and glazed ceramics) and add texture. So as shown above, for example, you can place a plastic/metal or glazed planter inside a tall seagrass basket.

Alternatively you can use the basket by the fireplace if you have one and decorate it with cut birch logs and decorate with fresh foliage or a blanket as shown by Setting for four blog.

4/ Candles all around

Whether you prefer a classic single candle or lots of candles on candlesticks over a mantel, one thing remains true: the flame on a candle can make everything feel so cosy. It can help you relax while you're in the bathtub and it can make your dinner a little more special too.

And let's not forget, that a candle need only be lit for a little while to make a room smell so much better.

Try the Booze and Burn Dark Honey and Tobacco - Soy Wine Bottle Candle. An intoxicating aroma of honey flower, crushed tobacco, warm amber, tonka bean and sandalwood. Combined with hints of patchouli, leather and bourbon on the rocks.

Miller Harris - Mandarin | PLUM AND ASHBY - Seaweed & Samphire scented candle | BOY SMELLS Hackney Garden | MALIN + GOETZ Cannabis candle

5/ Pumpkins

It's not really Autumn unless there are pumpkins, right? So go to your local market and pick up different sizes to decorate throughout your home.

Keep small ones on the table and large ones outside your home. And if you want some ideas about painting them try this 10+1 Elegant Pumpkin Designs round up with some of my personal favourite!

6/ Textured Cushions

This is the perfect time in the year to layer your sofa and bed with cuddly cushions in your favourite colour and texture.

Cosy cushions are perfect for styling a contrast coloured chair or to pair with a monochrome or new neutral space. You may want to have a look at the John Lewis cushions range - my personal favourite is the John Lewis Hew cushion that comes in black, red or yellow and has a beautiful texture.

It can be easy to overlook where small decorative bits and bobs like cushions come from, so you might like to know that these cushions are filled at Herbert Parkinson – the John Lewis textile factory in Darwen, Lancashire. Part of the John Lewis Partnership since 1953, Herbert Parkinson is a thriving example of UK design, quality and craftsmanship, with Partners taking pride in the business they co-own.

Employing over 240 Partners, Herbert Parkinson is a significant workplace in the local community. It's also a family affair full of familiar faces, with many Partners having a relative as a colleague and over three Partners achieving over 40 years of service there. Their passion and hard work is evident in everything they produce, from massive Emperor duvets to the humble but oh-so-comfy cushion.

7/ Autumn Foliage

If you love flowers, then Fall is a good tie to start introducing more foliage and less blooms (they also last longer!). Use real or faux greenery to create pockets of interest and character around your home.

Don't only use 'winter' specific greens but mix them up. Add them in ceramic vases rather than glass vases and arrange them in different heights.

Eucalyptus is always a safe option to have around a console table, mantlepiece or in a vase and if you opt for a wreath it will be a welcoming sign every time you come back home.

8/ Ceramics in warm colours and winter themes

You can introduce warmer wintery colours through cushions, throws, foliage but also through ceramics.

Amber, terracotta, pewter, toffee, as well as jewel colours like emerald and amethyst all help create a cosier interior decor especially when they take the form of something that reminds us of winter, like these cute hedgehogs, perfect for chestnuts.

Do not try to make big changes. It's all about creating beautiful small vignettes around your home. Small changes can really go a long way.

HM Home

9/ Rugs

If you are tired of walking on a cold floor, then it's time to invest in a new runner or area rug. Consider this as a key investment as it can cover a large area and revive your decor without having to spend too much. Opt for natural fibre vs polystyrene.

Add a natural element to your home with a Striped Runner crafted from hardwearing seagrass with a striped pattern in a palette of beautiful earth tones. For a bohemian feel, or to bring texture to a neutral theme, this runner will bring interest to any interior.

How to choose your rug?

Wool - it is durable and resistant to wear and tear. Wool rugs are prone to light shedding in the first few months of use. Wool is a natural fibre with a matte finish, which adds warmth to a room and feels soft underfoot.

Hide: A natural hide rug will add a truly unique addition to your home. The hide is hand cut and stitched, and has a multi-tonal finish which varies from piece to piece.

Sheepskin: Made from natural sheepskin and batch dyed to achieve the desired tone, each sheepskin is a unique and natural product. There may be tonal variation from piece to piece, and there may also be a 5% variation in size.

Viscose: Similar to silk in look and feel, viscose has a soft sheen to the finish and can be multi-tonal, appearing a different shade from different angles. Viscose rugs are unsuitable for areas of high footfall and the fibres are easily soiled and tricky to clean.

10/ Interiors Books

Now that you have the whole scene set for Autumn, relax in your sofa, with your textured cushions and with a throw draped over you to read your favourite interiors books, which will also make for great coffee table decor after you have read them.

New interior books out in 2022 include House London by Ellie and Anna Stathaki. Anna is an interiors photographer who has shot some of the most gorgeous places around London and these are included in this book. Great present for Christmas too if you ask me!

11/ A tray for breakfast in bed

Is there anything better than waking up to the smell of coffee and someone else delivering breakfast for you in bed? We don't think so. This mango tray is perfect for the job.

And that's it, you're ready for Autumn my friends!