With the whisper of a September heatwave, people are divided into two distinct camps. In one, you’ve got those who are still adamantly clinging onto summer, BBQ tongs at the ready. In the other, you’ll find people putting their scented candles and knitted jumpers back in the cupboard with a heavy sigh, dreaming of crisp dewy mornings and cosy nights in. Whichever camp you’re in, there’s no denying that a change in the season is just around the corner and that your interior will soon become your sanctuary once again. 

 In the spirit of preparing for all-things autumn, we’ve put together a quick cosy season styling guide that will help you pull together a space so inviting and snug, you won’t ever want to leave.

Five styling tips for the A/W period

The quick tips below have been put together by our interior experts here at Where Saints Go, using techniques employed by interior designers. Whether you tick off all five or just make use of one, it’s guaranteed to bring that enchanting ‘fall weather’ feeling to your space. 

Statement armchair

Every environment has a statement or central piece. This is usually what your eye is naturally drawn to, like a dining table in the centre of a room, or an oversized art piece hung above your bed. In your living room, we’d suggest using a statement armchair as your focal point and styling the room around that. After all, when the days get shorter and the nights get longer, the only place we really all want to be is curled up atop our favourite seat with a warm drink and a good book (or a scary film and copious amounts of sweets). 

 Our collection of Accent Chairs has something to suit all tastes, and that can be appropriately styled to suit any season. After all, a chair is for life, not just for autumn. For a cosy, inviting accent armchair, our Girona is the perfect contemporary option, with a sculptural shape and tactile boucle texture. The Lorenzo is a perfect reading chair, with padded armrests and a wonderful forest green shade that would work beautifully alongside deep, polished woods like teak or acacia. In another autumnal colour, the Sacramento is a large swivel armchair in a rich golden brown colour. 

 However, our ultimate cosy season chair is perhaps the Eskimo, a fur accent chair with solid oak armrests and an irresistably fluffy texture. Any one of these stunning armchairs will bring a statement feature to your living room that is attractive in any season.

Textured accessories

Layering is a technique used by every single interior designer in the world, unless they’re of the hyper-minimalist variety. By choosing just the right amount of elevated accessories to layer with, you’ll give a space a subtle theme and make it look more expensive. For example, a coffee table topped with a statement tray and an art book looks much more refined than just a coffee table alone, but if you over-do it, it becomes cluttered and confusing. 

For a few on-theme accessories, we suggest the Rafael, Tarida and Eivissa Cushions, which are all neutral in colour but have different textures thanks to their different compositions of boucle and cotton. Vases are another greay way to add considered layers, and our Geri Vase is just perfect for emphasising the golden autumn light during the day. 

Ambient lighting 

Speaking of golden light, that brings us nicely onto the next styling tip. Ambient lighting. What makes an environment truly cosy is how it is lit - too bright and it feels like an alien invasion, too dark and it feels like Medieval England (and not in a good, fairytale Shrek kind of way.) 

Generally speaking, overhead lighting kills ambience. This is not only because it’s usually too bright and cold, but because it directs the light downwards onto people, furniture and things in the room, which can create a sunken, depressing feel. It’s also only directed from one source, which does little to create layers and depth. In short, ambient lighting requires more nuance - which means you need more than one source. 

So, the trick is to mix it up. Have a table lamp on the end table or atop the console, illuminate the corner of the room with a floor lamp and consider adding some hidden, warm-white LED strips along the rear of your TV unit or any bookshelves. Sconce lighting is also favourable to overhead, and when used properly can evoke the feeling of a romantic library or gallery. The final touch, of course, is to add candles for that inimitable flicker and glow. 

Inviting Rug 

When people want to transform a room on a modest budget, they often forget the impact that a rug can have. By adding one feature that won’t require you to sell, throw or buy any major pieces of furniture, you can create a completely different feel. 

For a rug that moves well between the different seasons, we’d recommend opting for something slightly boho and neutral, as these are the easiest to sit alongside your existing furniture and feel. For all-out texture, the Dindori Rug has the longest, shaggiest feel, while the Eluru is the most contemporary, with a tighter weave and checkerboard pattern.

Entertaining Essentials 

Finally, for the season of staying in, you can’t be without your entertaining essentials. A statement drinks trolley is a must for that empty space and will allow you to host effortless cocktail evenings, going hand-in-hand with gorgeous glassware, like the Willow Green Martini Glasses and ombre Bee Tumblers. 

If you’re the host who likes to cook (and is welcoming back roast dinner weather with open arms) you might want to consider giving your crockery an autumnal upgrade with the rich brown Rustica Plates, too.