Prepare your Home for Cosy Autumn (and Weather Extremes)

Autumn is coming. Usually, that sentence makes me happy. I love autumn colours, cooler evenings, the first lightning of a candle after summer, and the moment when staying indoors suddenly feels like a very good idea. However, this year, autumn started rather bumpy.

Summer 2026 and it is beastly hot and our watery delta, the Netherlands, suffered drought. How happy we were when the rain finally came. After a long, hot and very dry summer, rain felt like a blessing. The garden needed it. The trees needed it. Nature needed it. We were honestly grateful to see Rembrandt's, Vermeer's, and Ruysdael's famous huge clouds, fluffy white and deep grey. The heavens opened. Not in the gentle, traditional autumn way. No soft rain falling against the windows. No long days of fine drizzle. We got a small weather drama.

When the rain comes all at once

The drains could not cope. Sewer covers started overflowing, and at our neighbours' house, the kitchen ended up under water. Suddenly, we were no longer thinking about cosy autumn interiors. We were thinking about towels. Lots of towels.

There were towels everywhere. Towels on the floor, towels being carried from one place to another, towels that had to be washed, dried and used again. And, of course, we helped our neighbours with the mopping. That is what you do.

Two days later, the wooden floor was already beginning to wave slightly. A rather unwanted new interior trend, I must say. And yet… I am still happy about the rain because we needed it urgently. 

Nonetheless, I simply like to kindly request to the weather gods:

"Dearest Weather Gods,

Could we please have ordinary autumn rain next time? 

A few days of gentle drizzle? A week? 

That would be so lovely.

Thank you & with deep gratitude" 

Autumn can be beautiful — and unpredictable

Extreme weather is something we have to learn to live with. Heavy rain, sudden storms, very strong winds and unusual temperatures can all make autumn less predictable. That does not mean we have to stop enjoying the season. Quite the opposite. But it does mean that our homes become even more important as places of comfort, warmth, and calm.

There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about preparing the house for autumn. Long before we had central heating, electric blankets and weather apps, people understood the value of good textiles.

A warm quilt.

A thick blanket.

A comfortable cushion.

Curtains that kept out the draft.

A favourite chair near the fire.

These simple things still work beautifully today.

So, what can we do?

For me, autumn comfort does not mean changing the entire interior every September. I prefer small changes.

A few beautiful cushions can make a sofa look completely different. A quilt folded over the back of a chair immediately makes a room feel warmer. Natural fabrics such as linen and cotton add texture without making a room feel heavy. And the wonderful thing about good textiles is that they are useful all year round.

You do not need cushions with pumpkins - though they are absolutely allowed- or an entire collection of orange decorations. But often a beautiful neutral cushion, a soft quilt, and warm lighting are quite enough.

Layering textiles is also one of the simplest ways to make a room feel cosy. It is an approach that is often associated with Hygge: creating a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere with simple pleasures and tactile materials.

Perhaps that is exactly what we need after a rather dramatic day outside.

Make yourself a cup of Matcha

Imagine this. It is raining outside. Properly raining.You have checked the drains, moved anything important away from the windows and made sure the emergency towels are somewhere sensible. Now you are done. Put the kettle on. Make yourself a cup of Matcha. Take your favourite cup and sit down on the sofa. Add a beautiful cushion behind your back. Pull a quilt over your legs. Put on some music, read a book or simply watch the rain. Suddenly, the weather becomes part of the experience.

You are not fighting the autumn anymore; you are enjoying it.

And keep old towels!

There is another little lesson I learned from our recent indoor flood.

Keep a practical emergency box. Stocked with old towels, blankets and perhaps a few cloths that are no longer beautiful enough for the living room can have a second life in the shed or utility room. They may not be glamorous. But when water starts coming in where it absolutely should not, you will be very grateful for them.

Also, invest in a few sandbags and stock up on a few smaller bags with SAP granules. The sewer can back-flow through the toilet, which is why you need bags with SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer). They take up little space but are your best, best friends when water finds its way where its shouldn't go.

These investments aren't fun, but they empower your home. Also, they give me a rather good excuse for something else. Perhaps you are allowed to buy yourself something beautiful for autumn?

After all, if the old textiles become officially parts of the household emergency equipment, you might need something lovely and new for the sofa?

I don't make the rules.

A little luxury for an ordinary autumn

At Handmade Luxury Home, we stubbornly believe that handmade textiles should be beautiful, useful and made to be enjoyed.

A handmade linen cushion can stay on your sofa for years. A cotton quilt can become a favourite blanket, a bed cover or something to take out on a chilly evening. These are not decorations that need to be replaced every season.

They become part of your home and perhaps that is the nicest kind of luxury.

Not having more things, but having a few things that you really love.

Discover handmade textiles and home comforts at Handmade Luxury Home

Autumn, please be kind 

I am ready for autumn. Rain is very welcome. Just not all at once, please. Should the weather turn nasty and decide to surprise us again, I now know exactly where our old towels are. In a closet under the box with Matcha.  I also know where the sandbags and SAP granules are. Therefore....

My beautiful dog cushions can stay safely on the ground and my art-pillows on my sofa.

Preparation is the key to a cosy autumn!

Marga van der Vet 

~textile artist~