Cosy Autumn Ideas From Laura and Nora's Beautiful Homes

I have heard that Autumn is fairly late around the Northern Hemisphere this year, is this the case where you are? In Sweden, it has hit us with full force! Think blustery gusts sending golden leaves spiralling through the chilly October air and dark candlelit days. It's definitely time to update the home to embrace the golden season to the full! 

I have been following Laura and Nora for many years and never tire of the beautiful inspiration they share. Famous for their recipes, the pair live in Germany (although once flirted with a summerhouse in Southern Sweden) and love to share snapshots of their apartment in Berlin and country home. Here are some Autumnal (that's 'fall' for you guys across the pond!) touches from their living spaces (including several tablescapes!) to get us into the spirit and fill us with ideas for the new season ahead. 

Nothing says Autumn like an artisan teapot* and a steaming cuppa to warm the cockles! 

A little side table in their outhouse can be pulled out at dinnertime. At this time of year, small items foraged from the great outdoors help to bring nature in. Why not create a simple bowl of acorns, conquers and other items for an instant display. 

Blankets are your best friend in Autumn and winter - add them to sofas, armchairs and beds so that you can curl up, get cosy and keep the chill at bay! 

Cosy sheepskins add to the cosiness of the season. This Danish-made Little Petra chair is a favourite of mine, but simply draping sheepskins* on furniture can make a difference! 

A thick rug (by Cappelen Dimyr) and branches with berries help to add a cosy in-season touch to their cosy sitting room. 

A simple vase of foraged branches with golden leaves looks so pretty on the dining table. 

Or if you'd like to go all out, hang branches from the ceiling for an autumn dining table with wow factor! 

Edible berries and fallen leaves make a charming touch to the table setting. 

I couldn't resist sharing a snapshot from their powder room. Although tiny, it packs a punch thanks to the textured wall, pretty tiles and linen towel. 

Extend the season outdoors by adding string lights, candles and plenty of cushions and blankets! 

Pumpkins make a really lovely touch to the autumn table. I've noticed that  green pumpkins are particularly popular this season! 

Rustic linen in tones of brown add to the texture of the season and a bouquet of Autumn flowers ensures a burst of colour. 

Don't forget to wrap up warm in cosy knits to keep the chill at bay! 

Trust Nora and Laura to create such beautiful autumn table scapes - great inspiration for the coming months, don't you think?

Is there a particular way you like to update your home in Autumn? if so, I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. 

In the meantime, here is a little more Autumn inspiration for the weekend: 

11 Autumn updates to steal from a Danish home

5 mysiga autumn ideas from a Swedish country home

5 cosy Autumn trends, Scandinavian style

Have a cosy weekend! 

Niki

Photography: Our Food Stories, shared with kind permission

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11 Inspiring Autumn Updates To Steal From A Hyggelige Danish Home

When everyone else zigs, zag. That is exactly what Sus of lifestyle blog Sus Living has done in her cosy,  eclectic home in Copenhagen. Sharing the house with husband Daniel and daughters Noelle and Noami, Sus tells me "my style has been influenced by everything and everywhere: outdoor terraces, old houses, people's outfits. I see things I like and try to put it together in a new way in my home." The white, blue or light grey tones we often see in Danish homes have been shunned in favour of cushions, blankets, curtains and candles in rusty red, maroon, burgundy and ochre. The look is cosy, rustic, and bohemian with a wonderful exotic touch. The home is beautiful all year round but comes into its own in the autumn when the leaves turn a fiery red outside. If you're looking for ways to update your home for the new season, here are a few ideas (big and small!). 

1. Dried flowers: fresh flowers may be fading along with the summer sun but hold onto them and they'll become golden displays which will last all winter long!

2.  Fill your home with the fragrances of the season: roll up your sleeves and enjoy an afternoon in the kitchen making scrummy comfort foods such as pumpkin soup and homemade Danish pastry (a little trivia for you - Danes call them 'Vienna pastries', I always think that's so funny, like no one wants to own up to them!)  - not only will they fill your home with a delicious fragrance, you get to stay out of the cold and tuck in! 

3. Curl up in a deep sofa in soft autumn colours: The Mr Big sofa from Bolia is amazingly deep (I know, my friend has one and I often get stuck there for hours - nothing to do with the wine, honest!). Sus has covered her Mr Big in a beautiful golden ochre velvet which is perfect for autumn! Now, I'm not suggesting you go out and buy a new sofa especially for autumn - but you can easily update the one you have with blankets and cushions in burgundy and ochre  - or if you'd like to go a step further and happen to have an IKEA sofa, try Bemz who do a similar cover in velvet which you can slip on over your existing one! 

4. Bring in autumn colours: obviously a wall in rich rust red or muted brown shades is nice to have, but again,  re-painting walls each season might not be very practical, even if these colours are bang on trend right now (and I have to say,  I do love my 'blushing peach' bedroom wall - it works well all year round!). But how about adding a load of accessories? "Darker shades can be included by using cushions, blankets, candles and ceramics," suggests Sus. 

5. Create a cosy nook that feels like you're outdoors: as the temperature drops outside it's natural to start to withdraw indoors (by the time it gets to January in Sweden I have to be pretty much dragged kicking and screaming to the front door!). Why not create a cosy nook in the window like this one in Sus's house where you can relax and soak up the autumn sunshine from the comfort of your home?!

6. Coloured candles: where would a Scandinavian home tour be without candles? And at this time of the year they really come into their own. Candles in rich autumn colours placed in vintage brass candleholders* are perfect for dialling up the hygge! 

7. Turn your bed into a cosy cocoon: With the days slowly getting shorter it's so nice to snuggle up in bed and feel all toasty under the covers, don't you think? Sus has updated her bed with brown linen bedding (source similar here*) and a canopy for a super cosy sleep! 

8. Create a 'bed den' for your kids! I love Sus's idea of stretching a canopy (this one is similar) over twin beds so little ones can natter away into the night feeling all snug! 

9. Get your bathroom autumn ready! It might be the British in me, but I do love a bath when it's cold outside, how about you? This wooden bath is the stuff of dreams! But I also like that Sus has stocked up on some lovely accessories to be able to fully indulge the season! 

10. Get gowned up! Linen dressing gowns are all well and good but when it gets a little colder, how nice is it to slip into a fluffy robe and even fluffier slippers? And when they're not in use they'll ramp up the hygge feel in your bathroom too! After sunset, I love placing a candle by the sink too! 

Speaking of which, how fab is that zinc bucket sink?

11. Update your backyard / balcony: The plants and flowers might be slowly fading but the leaves will reward us with a final display of fiery reds, orange and yellows. Don your favourite chunky knit sweater and head out into the autumn sunlight. Simple cushions in this season's tones and string lights will give your balcony / backyard a lovely, warm glow that will last until spring!

I hope Sus's wonderful house has given you a few ideas for your own home!

You can see more pics over on her fab instagram and lifestyle blog Sus Living.  

It would be rude not to share a few other autumn links for the weekend too, don't you think?

Layering up my bedroom for a super cosy Autumn

A Swedish home with a hint of Autumn

A dreamy home from home in Australia with lovely autumn touches

How do you like to update your home for Autumn? If you've got any simple tips, I'd love to hear about them in the comments below. 

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

Niki

Photography: Sus Living shared with kind permission

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5 Mysiga Autumn Ideas To Steal From a Mid-century Swedish Home

Tjena! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We've been enjoying an Indian summer here in southern Sweden - yesterday it was a balmy 23 degrees celsius! The girls and I headed off to play disc golf (AKA golf with a frisbee) in the sun (have you played it before?! We were rubbish and spend more time in the woods searching for our frisbees than actually playing but it was so much fun!). We also knew that we were on borrowed time, and that the temperature could plummet any day. I believe everyone has a season (mine is summer, what's yours?) - but by simply embracing the new season in your home, you can really enjoy each and every season to the full, what do you reckon? Fellow Malmö resident and landscape architect Magdalena has done exactly that in her Funkis (functionalist) apartment. Her beautiful, calm home is full of mid-century finds, Scandinavian design and beautiful warm Autumn tones. I spotted 5 simple ideas we can steal to turn our home into a mysigt (cosy) haven too! 

1. Bring out the blankets: Dig out all your blankets and drape them over the sofa and the backs of chairs, even if you have the best central heating system in the world, covering your feet with something soft and warm and softening up hard chairs makes a world of difference! This waffle one from Granit is now out of stock, but you can source a similar one here*. 

3. Fire and candlelight: One of the best things about the temperature falling is that you get to light a fire. Don't have a fireplace, or the one you have is out of action? Candles help to add a beautiful warm glow and a little warmth. 

3. Autumn blooms: Dahlias, Sunflowers and other autumn flowers add a wonderful burst of colour. Dried flowers are also ideal for this time of the year since they're low maintenance and embrace the tones of the season. But this autumn it's all about the vase - opt for a ceramic vase with a beautiful rough texture. I love Magdalena's Pillar vase from Swedish brand Cooee (seen below) and I've also been in love with Aura vases ever since I spotted them in this Berlin home! 

4. Invest in velvet cushions in golden tones: add a pair of ochre velvet pillows* to your bed, for a cosy autumn lie-in!

5. Get crafting: Why not set aside an afternoon or evening and make some 'Snöblomma' (snow flowers) in brown, grey and cream tones. 

I hope this has given you a few ideas for your home this Autumn (for those of you in the Southern hemisphere - a post to archive and come back to in six month's time!). 

There's something incredibly calm about Magdalena's home, don't you think? I can totally see myself plucking a book from her immense library and cosying up on the sofa under a blanket.

Can we magic ourselves to the weekend?! 

Also, let's take a moment to admire every single Scandinavian mid-century item. So many beautifully crafted pieces in one place. You can see more corners of Magdalena's home over at @mittfunkis. 

Looking for more Autumn ideas? How about: 

11 hyggeligt ideas to steal from a Danish home

12 budget friendly way to transform your living room into an autumn / winter haven 

Beautiful wall inspiration for Autumn

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week! 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Magdalena / @mittfunkis

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5 Cosy Autumn Trends, Scandinavian Style

With the temperatures set to drop to a high of 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) here in Sweden next week, it's time to make the home extra cosy. Here are some of the key Autumn trends from this part of the world. Think plenty of texture, warm and inviting hues and wonderfully tactile materials - with a few shapes thrown in! 

1. Earthy tones: think a neutral base with warm brown accents and plenty of texture.

2. Wood: tables, chairs, lamps, bowls, picture frames. mid-to dark wood is exceptionally popular right now and fits beautifully with the earthy tones while adding warmth. 

3. Fluffy rugs with contrast: get toasty with shag-pile rugs on the floors and walls!

4. Triangles: think lamps, vases and chair legs.

5. Arches and soft, round edges: the interior world's gone soft. Update your home with arched shape mirrors and rugs or furniture with rounded edges for a contemporary look. 

What do you think? Will you be adopting any of these trends in your home this Autumn? 

I love the earthy walls (check out my bedroom make-over post to see how to achieve the patina look), arched mirrors and fluffy rugs! Cosiness and natural light in one: just what we need here in Sweden this autumn. 

For more Autumn inspiration check out: 

11 autumn update ideas to steal from a Danish home

5 'mysiga' autumn styling tricks, Swedish style 

How to turn your outdoor space into a cosy autumn / winter haven

Here's to cosy times ahead. Unless of course, you're in the Southern hemisphere in which case, welcome to the joys of spring! 

Niki

Photography credits: 1. The Österlen home of Ellen Dixdotter taken by Petra Tungården 2. Linda Haglund 3. Anna Malmberg 4. Ellen Dixdotter with rug demo Cappelendymr 5. Sedsel Roug 6. @scandinavian.interior

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