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and clustering together different heights, shapes and sizes in collections of odd numbers will make an attractive, impactful statement.

There are plenty of styling opportunities here too. Using a tray is a lovely way to keep candles displayed neatly together and make a real feature out of them, whether its either side of the fireplace, the bed or as a centrepiece for the dining table. There are also endless possibilities with colour combinations as the wax can be dyed to any colour.

As relatively small objects, candles are a fabulous way to introduce bold colours to a room without the fear of making a colour mistake. The stakes are a lot lower than when decorating an entire wall or investing in a large sofa, so dare to go bold. Bring in warm colours like berry, paprika and burnt orange to trick your eyes into perceiving heat. They’ll burn down smaller and smaller to nothing by the time you’re ready for a new palette when the season turns towards the spring. With candlestick holders available in so many materials, shapes and styles from vintage metal and glass to wood and eco-concrete in contemporary geometric forms, there is decorating fun to be had in abundance here. Upping the light levels indoors is useful for lifting mood in these twilight months, particularly with ‘natural’ light sources such as candles or lamps designed for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder. Tapers and tallows aren’t the most practical solution for reading of course, their beneficial effect is less

Scents For The Scenses

is another fabulous way to gently appeal to the senses and contribute to that snug feeling. Synonymous with the season are spice scents like cinnamon, nutmeg and orange, or ginger with sandalwood. There are plenty of empty tins. Companies like this are really making an effort to celebrate and protect our environment, and prove that staple interior design products needn’t cost the earth. add interest to your interior for the season. The muted tones found in untreated or naturally dyed organic fibres really lend themselves to enlivening spaces with neutral colour schemes.

Luxury Soft Furnishing

this time of year for their insulating properties. Be sure to keep curtains open during the day closed as soon as the sun goes down to help

 arrangements rather than a complete sewing job. The difference will be worth the effort and help any strain on the household budget due while energy prices remain high. It can be difficult to feel abundant at this time of year so any savings are sure to be gladly received. Many people find these first quiet, long, dark months miserable, or boring, or both, so with that in mind bringing in a sense of hope to our interiors is going to be a welcome idea.

Plants and flowers lend perhaps the ultimate sense of optimism. Although the gardens and meadows might look largely inactive at this time of year there is still plenty of treasure to be found. Foraging for plants locally will also bypass the environmentally detrimental cut flower industry full of bouquets of imported, unseasonal and pesticide fuelled florets. Look out for hardy annuals, like Honesty, and gather their shiny mother of pearl-like transparent seed heads together for a pretty vase display. If you’re lucky, snowdrops and daffodils might start peeping through the soil in your garden or nearest park and cope with you borrowing a few stems for the house. Simple glass jars will suffice to show off shorter stems, and the addition of a ribbon or twine tied into a bow around the top will add a special touch that requires precious little effort.

Dried dill, branches of sage, or dried flower buds from oregano would be another attractive suggestion and would come with some interesting aromas too.

Used in combination with a primally appealing fire, the contemplative light of candles, SAD lamps and a big pile of comfortable cushions and snuggly throws, plants are the final ingredient to create a powerful recipe for a Winter-ready interior.

Energy Saving Tips

With the ongoing rises in energy costs there are some simple life changes that could make all the difference, after all, the less you pay on bills means more of your hard-earned cash is left for you to treat yourself or put away for a rainy day.

 Change your light bulbs to LEDs.

 Wash your clothes in cold water if possible.

 Air seal your home. Sealing cracks, gaps and leaks and adding insulation can save up to 10% on home heating and cooling costs.

 Use your microwave instead of your stove when cooking.

 Defrost your refrigerator and freezer before ice build-up becomes 1/4-inch thick to ensure your appliances are running efficiently.

 Don’t peek in the oven while baking! Every time you open the oven door, the temperature can drop 25 F, making your oven use more energy to bring the temperature back up.

 Use natural light when possible.

 Don’t leave your electronics on all day long. Only turn on your computer, monitor, printer and fax machine when you need them.

 Refrigerators and freezers actually operate most efficiently when full, so keep your refrigerator and freezer as full as possible (using water bottles if nothing else). Be careful about overfilling them as this will reduce airflow and cause the appliance to work harder.

 Using dishwashers and clothes washers/dryers at night will keep the house cooler, reduce strain on the power grid during the peak usage hours of 4 PM and 6 PM and reduce the chance of an emergency!

 Turn off heated dry on your dishwasher and air dry instead.

 Set your refrigerator temperature to the manufacturer’s recommendation to avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy.

 Don’t leave bathroom or kitchen ventilation fans running longer than necessary. They replace inside air with outside.