Add cosy style with these vintage updates

It’s that time of year, as the nights get longer and the days shorter, when we want to wrap ourselves in cosiness and gather the best of the season indoors.

Mix simple, rustic pottery with natural linens to bring the colours and spirit of outside in, and try making a wreath with autumnal hedgerow finds.

Rustic Pottery
Collect old stoneware pottery and ceramics in muted tones, for a simple, curated collection. Line them up on a mantelpiece or shelf and display seed heads or dried hydrangeas in them, to create a charming seasonal display.

Sourcebook
Etsy has a vast array of well-priced rustic pottery
Also try there for vintage postcards.

Autumn Table
Preparing a dinner to eat with good friends and plenty of flickering candlelight is a favourite ritual in the colder months. Layer up buttery soft linens with rustic pottery for a tactile dining experience. Old stoneware jugs not only look beautiful, but are useful as an alternative for storing cutlery or displaying flowers. Blend colours and patterns for an eclectic look, and mix heights to add interest.

Sourcebook
Antique French linen sheets (used as a tablecloth) or try Secret Linen Store for a gorgeous frilled tablecloth.
Pottery: Try Anta for some interesting pieces.
Cutlery: See Etsy

Outside In
It seems such a shame to leave treasured vintage garden furniture outside for the winter. To prolong the life of your reclaimed pieces, either put them under cover, or bring them inside for a quirky, elegant display. Layer with wool blankets and sheepskin rugs for added comfort and warmth, and use tables for displaying candles and simple nature finds.

Sourcebook
Table: Find similar at nikkipageantiques.com
Green metal chair: loosesemporium.co.uk
Antique French metal chair: Find similar at sohohome.com
Vintage grainsacks: Etsy have a beautiful collection.
Blank stretched canvas : canvas-store.co.uk, which I painted with blackboard paint.

Shutter Moodboard
Make a simple rustic wreath from hedgerow finds, berries and ivy. Use twine to hang from an old shutter to create a beautiful autumnal moodboard, displaying favourite postcards, letters and other mementos.

Sourcebook
Vintage French shutter: Find similar at vintagefrench.com
Vintage postcards: etsy.com
White leather leaves: theoldhaberdashery.com
Urn: Etsy

Wreath ‘how to’

• Search for long, pliable twigs, so they can bend easily to form a circle without snapping.  You might have to use quite a few pieces for this.
• Use florists’ wire to fix twigs together as you work round to make a circle.
• It doesn’t need to be perfect, the more uneven it looks, the better!
• Add dried seed heads, pine cones, or even feathers as I have with mine.
• Hang your wreath with a piece of ribbon or twine. You can change what you decorate it with depending on the season – dried hydrangea heads make beautiful wreaths in the winter, in the spring try moss and grape hyacinths to welcome spring into your home.