The late-summer glow fades, painting leaves in sunset colours. Morning mist lingers and darkness prolongs its touch. We feel nature’s seasonal shift, signalling the arrival of autumn harvest.
Harvest reminds us to appreciate nature’s bounty. It’s a time to gather the family together ready for foraging from berry-laden hedgerows and baking sugary treats – cue a fail-safe, five-step crumble! And when you’re done, take a moment to slow down, savour and share the season’s offering.
Coming together for a fun-filled harvest festival also coincides with the moment we start to transform our homes into places that cosset us – and our guests – from cooler climes. So, here at G&G, we’re ringing the changes by celebrating harvest’s long-standing legacy and bringing you our absolute favourite tips on how to make your home cosy for autumn.
The history of harvest
Harvest has been celebrated for centuries. The Romans had their Ludi Cereales, which was a feast in honour of the goddess Ceres who represented agriculture and grain crops. The Druids celebrated their harvest on November 1. There’s Oktoberfest in Germany, the Mid-Autumn Festival in China and Mehregan in Iran. Around the world, many cultures have retained the harvest festival tradition. But no matter where you’re celebrating, harvest means bringing your friends and family together to share nature’s offering.
Bring harvest to the table
There are many traditions attached to harvest, and one custom is to create an altar using nature’s yield. You can do this on your kitchen table, windowsill, fireplace – wherever! But if your homage to this centuries-old tradition is in the dining area, then bring harvest table decor ideas to life with furnishings made from rustic materials such as linen accessories, seagrass placemats and organically-shaped tableware.
Once the table is set, add an arrangement of fresh or dried flowers along with the fruits of harvest, such as apples, pinecones, squash and root vegetables to create a centrepiece. To finish, add scented candles to give the scene a delicious aroma, too.
Style your home with natural textures
Though we’re certainly fans of a mighty food festival at G&G, appreciating harvest’s offering needn’t only be limited to the obligatory feast and tablescaping. Show your gratitude by embracing eco-friendly, natural home accessories elsewhere in the house, too. Use woven wicker and rattan furnishings, recycled cork accessories and sustainably sourced timber.
Use cosy autumn home accessories
As the chill of the dark months set in, harvest time prompts us to revamp our houses with warm and cosy autumn home decor, too. In the bedroom and living room, swap cotton rugs for thick woollen hand-knotted versions and sheepskins, then bring in plenty of snug fur throws and cushions to layer up on your bed and sofa.
Create ambience with lighting
Whether your guests are celebrating harvest at the dining table or are gathered around a crackling living room fire, creating a relaxed, cosy atmosphere will transition your home from summer to autumn. As well as glowing pillar and dinner candles, use floor lamps with fabric shades to softly diffuse a wide spill of light, and position table lamps at opposite ends of the room to balance the ambience. Always try to use lightbulbs that cast a warm glow to prevent the room feeling cold and clinical.
For more ways to achieve that cosy, cossetting feel with harvest and autumn home ideas, take a look at our moody-hued decor.