Autumn: the season to reset

For me, September has always felt like the real new year. Once the children are back at school and the summer chaos has eased, I find myself looking around the house with fresh eyes. The mornings are cooler, the evenings a little darker, and home suddenly shifts from being somewhere we pass through between days out to the place we want to feel cosy and welcoming.

It’s a natural pause point, a chance to reset before the rush of winter and Christmas begins. And I think it’s the perfect time to tackle a few small, practical jobs that make home life run more smoothly and feel a bit more comforting as the season changes! I thought i'd share what I tend to do this time of year around the home:

1. Book the chimney sweep

   If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace or wood burner, now is the time to get it serviced and swept. Nothing beats the first fire of the season, and you’ll enjoy it so much more knowing it’s safe and ready.

2. Service the heating and oven

   Boilers and ovens both work harder in the autumn and winter so a quick service now means fewer surprises later (and peace of mind when you’re roasting your first Sunday Roast).

3. Check your lighting

   The darker evenings creep up fast. Swap in warmer bulbs, add a lamp or two, and think about creating areas of light to make your rooms feel inviting rather than gloomy.

4. Give the kitchen some love

   Autumn always draws us back into cooking - hearty soups, roasts, apple crumbles. Take a moment to check your kitchen layout works for how you really cook and gather.

5. Freshen up storage by the front door

   The return of coats, boots, and school bags has a way of reminding us how little space we seem to have. Hooks, shelves, or a sturdy basket or two can make all the difference!

6. Clear out the garden and gutters

   Leaves, moss, and the last straggles of summer growth can cause problems if left. A tidy-up now keeps everything looking good and avoids winter headaches.

7. Bring in warmth with textiles

   Throws, rugs, cushions, you name it. Layering textures makes home feel instantly cosier. It doesn’t have to mean buying new; even swapping lightweight summer fabrics for chunkier knits changes the mood.

8. Maximise natural light

   Clean windows, trim back overgrown branches, and keep ledges uncluttered. Natural light feels precious at this time of year, and small tweaks can make a big difference.

9. Declutter with the season shift

   As the jumpers come out, wardrobes change so it’s the perfect time for a clear-out or packing up your summer clothes, which will make for calmer wardrobes, evenings and less fraught mornings.

10. Plan for winter projects

    If you’ve been mulling over bigger changes (from a new extension to simply rethinking a room layout) now is the moment to dream and plan. Get ideas down before the busy-ness of December arrives, so you’re ready to start strong in the new year.

So that’s where my head goes every September: little things that make a big difference. A handful of thoughtful tweaks can shift the whole mood of a house. For me, it’s about easing into autumn with a sense of calm and making sure home is somewhere we only want to be and hunker down when the nights draw in.