Spruce Things Up This Autumn

Bring instant joy to autumn decor with our style tips for indoors and out

Autumn is the season for blasts of fresh air and activity outside, followed by cosying up and hunkering down inside. We have a few simple tips to spruce things up and make autumn gardens and homes as welcoming and functional as possible.

Start with doorstep décor and think about updating door hardware, which is often overlooked. Inspired by vintage bells that once would have been used to call children and farm workers back to the house for meals, we have some wonderful new doorbells that add interest and personality, and always raise a smile. Choose from a classic decorative design or Cow Head Doorbell with a wonderful aged iron finish and rustic rope to ring it with. Our new bird-shaped door knocker is inspired by traditional hardware and adds a great vintage vibe too. 

Planters look wonderful throughout the year and can be used singly, in groups of three, or either side of a door - each way has its own impact; base your decision on the size and style of the planter. If you have a windowsill, our zinc-plated Steel Window Box is a stylish setting for a seasonal outdoor display.

From boots to hooks – a place for everything

We are entering boot weather territory, so think about trays to store muddy footwear and the addition of a boot scraper. Our Rubber Boot Tray has room for three pairs of wellies, which helps keep floors and hallways clean and clear.Galvanised Wire Scraper Doormats look great, and tackle mud and dirt with ease, while our vintage-style Dachshund Boot Scraper always makes us happy and is easy to hose clean. Equally unique is our Beetle Boot Jack, which is perfect for getting muddy boots off without getting hands dirty.

Keeping potting sheds, boot rooms or hallways functional yet looking good can be a challenge, but you can keep things tidy with hooks for everything. Our new cast-iron Stag Head Coat Hooks are perfect for a hat, jacket, or tools at the end of the day. And for dog lovers, our Fergus Dog & Bone Hook is ideal for leads, towels, and canine coats, as well as yours. 

Indoors it is time to get cosy, which immediately suggests firesides. If you have a woodburner or real fire, rattan baskets are a lovely way to store logs, kindling and firelighters, while we have fantastic new Waxed Canvas Log Carriers made from waxed canvas.

The comfort of cottagecore

Cottagecore styling is perfect for autumn interiors. The design trend embraces a simpler style, one that is harmonious with nature and a sustainable lifestyle, with a focus on natural materials and traditional craft. Rattan baskets are a wonderful example, so even if you don’t have logs to store, fill them with spare candles and keep matches to hand, or fill with books, magazines, and newspapers you hope to catch up on when you find the time. 

Helping hand for feathered friends

Thoughts often turn to garden wildlife and our feathered friends at this time of year. Nesters are a great addition to outdoor spaces, offering garden birds shelter from harsh weather. Our Natural Nest Pocket is made from reeds and grasses, and is ideal for small birds such as robins, wrens, and blue tits. The woven shell blends in to its surroundings and can be attached to branches or concealed in foliage.

The colourful, teardrop-shaped, Tahera Bird Nester is ideal for small garden birds who roost alone. Position it in a sheltered space, in a bush, tree or hedge, to provide a protected roosting space. Slightly larger, the Shesali Bird Nester suits small birds who roost alone or in pairs.  

Consider adding a bird table or feeder to help birds through the winter. Our Hanging Bird Table is particularly eye-catching with a copper roof and moss-green paintwork, and, with its low roof and arches, is designed as a safe feeding space for small birds. The bird table’s base has a removable, washable, plastic tray, which helps prevent the spread of disease. The Hanging Bird Feeder is crafted in metal with a pretty grey wash finish and two decorative birds perched beneath the roof. Practical help for bird life, it looks lovely as garden decor too.  

We hope you enjoy embracing autumn, with its wonderful colours and chilly, but hopefully sunny, days. Remember, you can pop into our Melrose shop for seasonal inspiration or contact us directly if you are looking for something special for your garden or home – we also run a very popular sourcing service.