10 ways to prep your home for autumn
The arrival of the autumn months heralds shorter days, crisp weather, crunchy golden leaves, pumpkin-spice flavours on the menu, Bonfire Night, and Halloween celebrations. In the home, it's all about transitioning from summer and making the living space feel warm and cosy.
Going by the meteorological calendar, autumn always begins on 1st September and ends on 30th November, but astronomical autumn differs, beginning on 23rd September 2024 and ending on 22nd December 2024.
From preparing your outdoor space to deep cleaning the house and making seasonal autumn decor updates, there are lots of little jobs to do to get your home in tip-top shape before the arrival of winter and Christmas. These autumn home ideas will help as the nights get shorter.
1. Deep clean the house
Forget the spring clean: autumn is the perfect time for deep cleaning your home just in time for Christmas.
Wipe down skirting boards and dust commonly forgotten areas like lampshades and the top of cupboards and shelves. Start with the living room and work your way around the house. It's also a good idea to give your windows, and window treatment (curtains, blinds, shutters etc) a little love.
If you're planning on using your fireplace this autumn, line the area with newspaper and remove loose ashes and dust with a shovel and broom. Then, use a wire brush to clean off the soot from the brick, and use baking soda and warm water on a sponge to clean the remaining soot and dust.
Don't forget to deep clean your oven and fridge too, as well as kitchen surfaces and on top of cupboards.
2. Declutter and streamline your living space
Next, declutter and streamline your living space. Donate unwanted furniture, homeware and electrical items, plus clothes and shoes to charity, and have a good clear out of your kitchen cupboards.
You can donate all your in-date but unwanted food to food banks, where those in need can make use of them. You should end up with an uncluttered, streamlined home, giving you more space to enjoy the calm, cosy surroundings that the autumn season brings.
3. Insulate the home
'A well-insulated house can help to significantly reduce your energy bill, especially during autumn and winter. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to make your home more energy-efficient is to insulate and draught-proof your external doors,' says Marc Husband, purchasing director at Leader Doors.
Meanwhile, a brush strip draught excluder will prevent heat from leaving, and the cold from coming into your home, whilst if you have gaps between the door and its frame, fill it with fit foam, a brush strip draught excluder or wiper strips.
Autumn is also a great season to arrange your annual boiler service to ensure it is operating safely and efficiently. Don't forget to also bleed your radiators to get any excess trapped air out of the system. This will mean the water can circulate more efficiently and you are not wasting energy usage.
4. Choose warm lighting
Layered lighting should always be a key consideration in the home, but especially with longer nights on the horizon, focus on warm lighting for that cosy feeling.
Change to warmer LED bulbs and place more floor and table lights around your living room. Dimmable lighting is also a great option as it offers significant benefits in terms of energy and cost savings. As well as decreasing the brightness in a room (and making your space feel more cosy), dimmable bulbs minimise energy consumption and prolong the life of your bulbs.
The experts at Tapi also suggest fairy lights: 'Opt for fairy lights with warmer tones to add the perfect, warming feel to any room. Additionally, if they're solar-powered, they can be recharged in the light near a window during the day – an inexpensive addition to your home.'
5. Layer soft furnishings
Layering is a brilliant styling device for your bed and it's essential come autumn. There's nothing better than curling up under a throw when it's chilly outside and layering with cushions and chunky wool blankets.
Choose autumnal-themed soft furnishings or go with brighter colours to offset the drabness of outside. And instead of buying new cushions, just invest in cushion covers so you can easily switch the look at very little cost (H&M do a great range). Similarly, a new bedspread can change the look of a room and perk you up if you're tired of seeing the same sheets every night.
6. Add a fresh lick of paint (or transform with wallpaper)
Since we're likely to spend more time indoors during autumn and winter, it's a good idea to give your rooms a fresh lick of paint (if you haven't already done so).
Whether it's your home office or bedroom, giving your walls a new lease of life, even with wallpaper, a wall mural or perhaps new artwork, will brighten the space and be more pleasing to the eye.
7. Prepare the garden
Remember, autumn is one of the most important seasons for gardening. Cut back perennials that have died down, divide herbaceous perennials, make leaf mould, move tender plants into a greenhouse or conservatory, and harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts.
8. Don't forget the gutters
Next, move on to your gutters. Checking for falling leaves and twigs will help to avoid water not being able to flow correctly.
'Set up your ladder, secure your bucket, collect debris, and give them a rinse. Make sure to add a gutter guard to keep debris out of your gutters, ensuring proper drainage and preventing clogs,' says Laura Nicholson, B&Q's Head of Tools & Hardware Buying.
'Cleaning your gutters can seem like a tedious and time-consuming task, but this small maintenance job helps prevent any bigger problems further down the line.'
9. Create a cosy outdoor living space
There's no reason why you have to stay indoors and neglect the garden just because it's getting a little chillier outside. In fact, in our previous Big Gardening Poll, 56 per cent of House Beautiful readers said they plan to use their garden all year round.
'The days are starting to get shorter and chiller, so picnics and alfresco dining are soon to become a distant memory. To ensure you can enjoy the great outdoors and all the seasons have to offer despite the cooler weather, I'd recommend creating a lounge area in a garden room or greenhouse,' says garden stylist Selina Lake, who worked with Alitex to dress its Ickworth greenhouse at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021.
'To keep it compact opt for two armchairs and a coffee table to set the scene. A wood burner, or if you have access to electricity, an electric stove, adds warmth – in terms of both ambience and temperature! Once you’ve arranged the furniture, add some accessories – a vintage standing lamp, a basket filled with rolled blankets ready to cosy up with and some cushions to add colour to plain fabric chairs.'
10. Prioritise garden security
Getting your front door ready for autumn? Keep security front of mind and ensure that trees, bushes and overgrown shrubbery are trimmed, and invest in security lighting to brighten up your garden when motion is detected.
The security experts at Yale stress the importance of robust fencing during the autumn season too. The harsh British weather can cause havoc with fence panels, which can give burglars an easy route into your garden. Check to see if any panels need repairing or replacing, ensuring that your garden offers the best protection for your home, along with good gate security.
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