Make your bedroom a sanctuary this autumn with The White Company

As the season transitions into colder days and darker evenings, our thoughts inevitably turn to our homes and interiors. If summer is the time for the ‘great outdoors’ then autumn and winter is the moment we retreat inside, reflect and take on a slower pace. What may seem lazy and unproductive in other seasons – when there’s bright sunshine outside – is wholeheartedly embraced. Instead of fighting the onset of winter, I’m all for those cosier moments that feed and foster the soul.

So I’ve teamed up with The White Company to share some of the routines, rituals and moments that will have your bedroom autumn-ready in no time.

1 – The perfect foundations for a good night’s sleep

Now is the time to switch up your lighter summer duvets and fine throws for thicker, warmer versions. It’s all about reconnecting with the new season and embracing that feeling of hunkering down, cosying up under rich layers and indulging the senses. In the winter months, when cold temperatures are harsh against your skin, it’s a welcome relief to come home at the end of the day to softer textures and sights. There’s nothing better than climbing into a freshly made bed and savouring that cocooning feeling, whether it’s the comforting touch of luxury thread-count cotton or the reassuring weight of a blanket at your feet.

A good night’s sleep starts with the basics – get the foundations in your bedroom right and the rest will follow. Maybe it’s adding a quilted mattress topper (I’m swooning over this luxury merino wool one) for an extra layer of comfort, warmth and support this winter, or upgrading your current tired, old duvet to something more sumptuous.

Our duvet was fine in the summer months but now it feels flimsy and flat, and I’m thinking that I should really have invested in a clever, combined summer and winter duvet that can be buttoned together or taken apart for different seasons. A duvet’s tog rating refers to it’s level of warmth – a 4.5 tog duvet is ideal for summer, while a 10.5 tog duvet is perfect for winter. You want to get the temperature right so you can enjoy a deep, restorative night of sleep without waking up in the night.

The White Company has a handy guide here to help you find the perfect duvet. I’ve got my eye on one of their ethically-sourced goose down duvets – they have an internal box structure that means the warmth is evenly distributed and there’s no cold patches, resulting in a plump but weightless, cloud-like texture.

2 – Add an element of luxury to the everyday 

Next it’s a good idea to get the bedding right so your bed looks especially inviting this autumn. I always tend to veer towards simple, white bedding, but darker coloured bedding can bring an element of warmth to a room scheme. My next default colour choice is grey of course – the Evesham bedding here in Charcoal Grey has a marl-like texture that looks laid-back and relaxed. Made in India, the fabric is a blend of smooth cotton with 10% cashmere that adds an element of understated luxury. It’s soft without being too silky and feels warm to the touch, using the insulating fleece that grows beneath the goat’s long, shaggy hair.

 

3 – Nightly rituals to help send you straight off to sleep

Indulge in the slow process of winding down for bed and savour time for yourself, embracing quiet moments spent at home. Everyone has their own favourite routine, whether it’s taking a bath, having a no tech in the bed rule, reading a book or listening to calming music. Life can be so fast-paced, it’s important to switch off and take a breather, even if it’s just for a moment each evening.

I know that I sleep better if I go through the same motions and I know I’ll get a worse night if I stay up for hours looking at the bright light of my screen. But we don’t always do what we should and this season I’m going to try to dedicate more time to those bedtime rituals.

Scent really helps me relax and unwind, I love lighting a candle in the evenings and swear by lavender pillow spray to help me drift off (you can make your own by mixing lavender essential oil with witch hazel and water). This Restore candle smells so good – like the feeling of walking into a spa and breathing a sigh of relief, bottled into a fragrance. Hand-poured in the UK and made with essential oils, it has notes of neroli, blended with geranium and fresh, re-energising eucalyptus.

4 – Treat yourself 

We all need a little pick-me-up every now and then when the temperature starts to drop and the evenings get a bit bleaker. Little luxuries – mine would be a bar of Green & Blacks and a beautiful magazine – help elevate the everyday from the mundane.

During the colder months, my bedside tables is armed with soothing face masks and recovering night oils for my dry, winter skin. The White Company’s Night Oil, for example, was created in partnership with global skincare experts at DECIEM – The Abnormal Beauty Company (you might already be familiar with their super affordable The Ordinary range). This oil is a mix of Amazonian oils, antioxidants and poppy flower extract that’s suitable for all skin types – it deeply nourishes, leaving skin feeling softer and healthier. So you’ll wake up feeling rejuvenated both inside and out.

5 – …And your home 

Your home deserves some love too this autumn. A simple re-style doesn’t have to be time-consuming, it’s the little details that make a house a home. Give your bedroom an uplift with new textured cushions or a snug throw, like this Charlcombe bedspread in Fig. Or simply taking the time to make the bed in the morning will mean you come back to a welcome retreat come bedtime. I always think it’s easier to work in a clean, tidy space, and I do think the same is true for the bedroom, I certainly sleep better if my surroundings are calm and ordered rather than messy and chaotic.

I hope that has given you some useful hints and tips to help you fall back in love with your bedroom this autumn. After all that talk of slowing down, sleep and staying at home, I think I’m ready for bed now!

Items featured in this post:
Evesham bedding, from £40 (£180 for a Kingsize duvet, £40 for a pillowcase)
Charlcombe bedspread in Fig, from £90 (£115 for Kingsize)
Wilby cushion cover in Silver Grey, £28
Spa Restore candle, £25
Night oil overnight renewal treatment, £30
Advanced Hydration skin-perfecting moisturiser, £30
Unisex waffle double faced robe in white, £60
Jersey Lace Trim Sleep Vest, £25
Star flannel pyjama bottoms, £42
Cashmere bedsocks in grey, £36

All images Cate St Hill. This is a sponsored post written in collaboration with The White Company