Thinking of updating your home for the autumn? This is the perfect opportunity to transform it into an oasis of calm where you can unwind and escape the daily grind. A few tips - and some fabulous products from Sainsbury's new Harmony homeware collection - will help you create a tranquil space to call your own.
First off, declutter. Recycle what can't be salvaged, donate whatever you don't use regularly and tidy the rest away in stylish chests or storage baskets.
Once your home is jumble-free, it's time to turn it into your own private retreat. Set the right mood with sophisticated but restful colours. Think relaxing neutral tones such as cream, white and dove grey, brightened by metallic accents.
Keep your decorative scheme simple - a busy room can be distracting or even unnerving. Pair comfortable furniture with some key statement pieces that provide visual focus. Plump cushions, plush throws and thick rugs not only add warmth and texture to your space, but also absorb sounds - perfect to help you relax and recharge.
Choose clean lines and subtle patterns for your accessories: Sainsbury's has a range of sleek ceramic vases with a delicate diamond pattern that's high on style but low on fuss. Plants, flower arrangements or simply prints of trees, blossoms and nature scenes also help create a sense of peace.
Don't forget lighting as it is crucial for a truly calming atmosphere. Opt for elegant pendants, lamps and lanterns in natural materials and go for a soft, diffused scheme, with the odd spotlight strategically placed where you need more brightness.
1/8 Seven steps to a tranquil home
Of course, candles are the ultimate accessories for a serene home. Mix and match slender taper candles with chunky pillars and wax-filled jars for a display that's as pretty as it is soothing.
2/8 Create a lovely display
Draw every eye with a simple but stylish arrangement of decorative accessories. Sainsbury's new Harmony collection has some fabulous ceramic vases in soothing shades of grey and delicate patterns, which can be paired with dried branches and a selection of jar candles for instant visual appeal.
Grey patterned ceramic vase, £15, Sainsbury's
Grey glaze ceramic bottles, from £8, Sainsbury's
Available in store: 13th September
For more ranges, visit: www.sainsburyshome.co.uk
3/8 Simplify your life
Clutter is the enemy of relaxation. A tidy home immediately makes you feel calmer so put away all those pesky little items - magazines, papers or children's craft supplies - in Sainsbury's new fabulous grey and cream storage baskets. They come in a set of two in each colour, so you can mix and match them to create an interesting arrangement.
Fabric storage basket, £22 for a set of two, Sainsbury's
Available in store: 13th September
For more ranges, visit: www.sainsburyshome.co.uk
4/8 Plump it up
Make your living room warm and cosy by piling up chunky-knit, subtly patterned or printed cushions in restful shades of cream, beige and white. These fabulous ones by Sainsbury's have a timeless design that works equally well in contemporary and traditional settings.
Harmony tree cushion, £12, Sainsbury's
Natural knitted cushion, £14, Sainsbury's
Diamond woven cushion, £14, Sainsbury's
Available in store: 13th September
For more ranges, visit: www.sainsburyshome.co.uk
5/8 Defeat the cold
Keep the winter blues at bay with a soft, super-warm, faux-fur throw to dress up your sofa. The latest Sainsbury's collection features a gorgeous, long-pile number in white that will add a touch of luxury to any living room. Even better, it comes with matching cushions for the ultimate in winter comfort.
White faux-fur throw, £40, Sainsbury's
Matching cushion, £15, Sainsbury's
Available in store: 13th September
For more ranges, visit: www.sainsburyshome.co.uk
6/8 Mood lighting
To give your home a peaceful, relaxed feel, choose a combination of lights, lamps and lanterns in soothing natural materials, such as wood or rattan. The Harmony collection by Sainsbury's includes a stunning rattan lantern, which is bang on-trend now that woven products are enjoying a revival. Perfect to inject a rustic note into your scheme.
Rattan wooden lantern, £12, Sainsbury's
Available in store: 13th September
For more ranges, visit: www.sainsburyshome.co.uk
7/8 Bring the outdoors in
Peaceful nature images have a calming effect so turn your bedroom into a blissful haven with the chic bedlinen from the Harmony collection by Sainsbury's. Featuring stylised trees in soothing shades of white and grey, it is perfect to create a calm and relaxed feel. Why not scatter a few cushions in a delightful tree print to echo the theme?
Abstract tree bedlinen, £25 for a double, Sainsbury's
Harmony tree cushion, £12, Sainsbury's
Available in store: 13th September
For more ranges, visit: www.sainsburyshome.co.uk
8/8 Restful atmosphere
With their low, glowing light and sweet scent, candles immediately trigger a sense of emotional wellbeing so scatter them generously throughout your house. Sainsbury's has a brilliant trio of jar candles in deepening shades of pink - from peaches and cream to a soft, muted coral - that are the ideal starting point to build pretty arrangements.
Set of three pink candles, £5, Sainsbury's
Available in store: 13th September
For more ranges, visit: www.sainsburyshome.co.uk
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