Autumn looks a little different in Bermuda. There is no dramatic drop in temperature, no sudden need to pull out heavy blankets and certainly no reason to abandon outdoor living. October can still give us beautiful sunny days, warm afternoons and dinners outside.

But there is a shift. The evenings start to feel a little more comfortable. We spend more time inside. And after months of summer living, there is something appealing about making home feel a little warmer and cosier again.

For Laura Farge-Lowe, of Island Trading Bermuda, this is actually one of the best times of year for our homes.

“I love this time of year because we get to enjoy all of our spaces. We’re lucky enough to still be dining and living outdoors on the beautiful days, while also starting to make more use of our indoor spaces.”

The Bermuda version of an autumn reset, then, is not about transforming a bright island home into a dark, heavy space for autumn. It is about introducing subtle changes that make it feel ready for the new season while retaining the relaxed feeling that works here year-round.

And Ms Farge-Lowe starts simply.

“First, I swap out my indoor pillows, moving from lighter, brighter colours to a more neutral palette. Second, I bring out the throws. Everyone in our household loves being snuggled under a throw, so we have them on almost every chair and sofa!”

A beautiful throw, she added, also makes a great gift at this time of year.

A few changes can be enough

For anyone looking around their home and feeling the urge to redecorate, Ms Farge-Lowe recommends resisting the temptation to change everything.

Her three starting points are straightforward: introduce a new rug, change the throw pillows or add new lamps.

“These are all simple changes that can completely refresh a space without requiring a major redecoration — and they can be done within a range of budgets.

She says sometimes, the hardest part is simply figuring out what you want.

But, she recommends looking at fully styled spaces for ideas rather than trying to imagine individual pieces in isolation.

“If you’re not sure where to start, come into Island Trading and get inspired by the way we put our showroom spaces together. Sometimes seeing things styled in a room is all it takes to spark an idea.”

Chocolate, cognac and cream

Every season seems to bring a new colour palette with it, but embracing it does not mean repainting the walls or replacing the sofa.

This autumn, Ms Farge-Lowe has three particular favourites.

“Chocolate brown, cognac and cream. I recently had my fashion colours done with Shivani, and I’m obsessed with these colours for both fashion and interiors this fall.”

They also lend themselves particularly well to Bermuda homes. Cream keeps things light, while chocolate and cognac introduce warmth and richness without making a room feel dark.

“You don’t need to commit to a whole new colour scheme,” she said. “Introducing these tones through cushions, throws, a rug or even a few accessories can instantly give an existing room a fresh, seasonal feel.”

Layer it up

Ms Farge-Lowe says colour is only part of the equation and texture can make just as much difference. She prefers rooms that mix different materials rather than relying too heavily on one look.

“Think a warm wood coffee table paired with a leather sofa, soft Sunbrella throw pillows and a gorgeous textured rug.”

Island Trading recently received a collection of Kalora rugs from Canada, which Ms Farge-Lowe points to as an example of using texture to change the feeling of a room.

And then there is perhaps the easiest addition of all: candles.

“I love candles, scented and unscented. It’s amazing how much warmth and atmosphere a little texture, softness and candlelight can bring to a room.”

Look at the light

As the evenings begin to draw us back indoors, lighting becomes increasingly important.

“Lighting can completely change the mood of a room.”

One of her favourite lighting brands is Italian company Zafferano, whose small portable lamps will already be familiar to anyone who has spotted them illuminating tables in restaurants.

Because the lights are cordless, they can move around the house, and outside, depending on where they are needed.

They are also dimmable.

“I particularly love [them] for creating a beautiful ambience around the dinner table.”

That ability to move between indoors and outdoors feels especially suited to a Bermuda autumn. We may be spending more evenings inside, but outdoor entertaining is far from over.

Think about how you live

A seasonal refresh can also be an opportunity to look beyond aesthetics and think about whether your home is actually working for you.

For a larger investment, Ms Farge-Lowe would consider a really good recliner.

“I love Fjords, our Norwegian leather chair company. Their chairs are incredibly comfortable, beautifully designed and perfect for creating a cosy spot to relax as the evenings get a little cooler.”

She would also take another look at the kitchen island.

For many families, it is much more than somewhere to prepare food. It becomes the breakfast table, homework station, gathering spot and the place everyone inevitably ends up standing around when people come over.

If your counter-height stools are no longer comfortable or practical, she suggests considering ones that swivel and can stand up to everyday family life, including the inevitable spilt food and drinks.

Canadel, one of Island Trading’s dining furniture brands, is a favourite.

“Their pieces are beautiful, practical and perfect for creating a welcoming space for family and friends to gather.

And don’t forget storage

There is another practical consideration when resetting a home for a new season: where everything actually goes.

If storage is becoming an issue, Ms Farge-Lowe suggests looking for pieces that can solve the problem without feeling purely functional.

Island Trading carries decorative consoles and credenzas that provide storage while also acting as statement furniture. For Ms Farge-Lowe, they are “works of art in their own right”.

It is an approach that makes sense when you are investing in larger pieces. Rather than adding more small items to a room, one well-chosen piece can provide somewhere to put things away while contributing to the overall design.

Ultimately, however, transitioning your home into fall does not require a shopping spree.

Ms Farge-Lowe would start with a rug to bring warmth, texture and a sense of grounding to the room. Then she would switch the cushions and throws for richer, softer shades such as chocolate, cognac and cream before looking at lighting and storage.

The idea isn't to make a Bermuda home look like it belongs somewhere with falling leaves and freezing temperatures.

“For me, a Bermuda fall isn’t about making your home dark and heavy. It’s about making it feel warmer, cosier and more inviting, while still keeping that light, relaxed Bermuda feel.”

Get the rug right

Ms Farge-Lowe says a new rug can be the single biggest impact change you make to a room. But before you buy:

• Don't buy too small. A rug should never look like a little “postage stamp” floating in the middle of the room.

• Get under the furniture. At minimum, the front legs of your sofa and chairs should sit on the rug.

• Go bigger when the room allows. Having all of the furniture sitting on the rug can create an even more cohesive look.

• Use it to add texture. A rug is an easy way to introduce warmth and softness without changing your furniture.

• Measure first. Consider the entire furniture arrangement rather than simply the amount of empty floor you want to cover.