Cosy Autumn Night In: 7 Steps to the Perfect Set Up

It's officially the start of Autumn and we are ready. If, like us, you can't think of anything more appealing right now than a cosy Autumn night in but need all the inspiration, then this is the blog for you. Come forth cosy PJs, hearty slow cooker dinners, and Harry Potter marathons.

Comfy clothing

Now that we’re (happily) retiring our bikinis for the year, it’s time to start wearing those huggable clothes that make you feel all kinds of comfort. We're talking loungewear, pyjamas, fluffy socks, giant hoodies, and slippers. Whatever your go-to, cosy clothing is a must to ensure you reach all levels of comfort.

Autumnal drinks of dreams

It's pumpkin spice latte season and while we love our daily brew in our favourite mug, autumn is the perfect excuse to push outside of our comfort zone and give our taste buds an autumn awakening! If you haven't already, be sure to grab one of our automatic milk frothers - or go all out with one of our espresso machines - to ensure that you're getting the most out of your hot cup of sugar and spice and all things nice...

Pumpkin Spice Latte

A mixture of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg just screams autumn in a cup and the added kick of hot aromatic espresso warms your insides and gives you the energy to... well, settle into your sofa ready for a cosy evening.

Salted Maple and Caramel Latte

This year, the star of the show has some competition with Starbucks' newest salted maple and caramel latte. This dreamy drink uses a salted maple sauce added to frothy milk and their signature blonde espresso for a smooth and creamy taste, topped with a delicious caramel crunch making it sweet and irresistible.

Classic or Deluxe Hot Chocolate

For those who aren't big coffee lovers, this ones for you. You can't go wrong with a classic hot chocolate, especially with hot, frothy milk to make it that bit more luxurious. And if you're feeling extra, you can top it with all the cream and marshmallows you desire and even add a syrup for added flavour such as caramel or even peppermint ready for the festive season...

Cook up a storm - or a simple, warm meal

Reunite with your slow cooker and warm your insides with a hearty home cooked meal. Let the slow cooker do the hard work while you busy yourself away at work or look after your little ones.

Some quick and easy examples include a warming minestrone soup (below left) and a classic chill con carne (below right).

Some more heartwarming autumnal dishes for the season include a roasted red pepper cauliflower soup (below left) and a seasonal roasted pumpkin hummus (below right) to get your taste buds tingling! And if you're new to the slow cooker game, here are our top tips and tricks for autumn slow cooking.

And if that's not your style, you can't go wrong with a homemade roast dinner! As the hero of a cold night in, a roast dinner is the perfect meal to warm your insides and is great for all the family.

An all-time favourite of the roast dinner is surely the roast potato, and our Swan secret for making those roasties extra crispy is cooking them in a Swan Retro Air Fryer *chefs kiss*. For an easy step by step of those crispy roasties, check out our family favourite Christmas dinner recipes. Of course, in our opinion, a roast dinner is not complete without stuffing and we have the perfect slow cooker stuffing recipe just for you!

Bring a board

We've seen it all over TikTok and what a genius idea! If you're not one for the slow cooker dishes or are getting all the girls, or guys, together then pick a fun food board for each person to bring to enjoy together.

Here's some delicious inspiration:

• Cheese and cracker board - self-explanatory but go all out with a variety of cheeses and crackers
• Healthy board - all the fruits and veggies you can think of, and you could even make it crudité style with a selection of dips
• Crisps and dips - speaking of dips, there's nothing better than snacking on crisps with a good dip whilst enjoying a cosy film
• Beige board - the ultimate fried snacks of onion rings, chips, sausage rolls, nuggets, mozzarella dippers...
• Go for a specific cuisine - think Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Italian, American...
• Dessert board - think chocolate fondue (fruit and marshmallows), mini doughnuts, brownies, cakes etc.

Movie marathons

It's not a cosy night in without a movie marathon (if that's your style). Get into the Halloween spirit early and cosy up watching a horror movie or spooky series, or opt for an old favourite you haven’t seen in a few years, and let that warm, fuzzy feeling of nostalgia make you feel cosy.

Here's an eclectic round up of everything from nostalgia to cosy films to horror:

• Harry Potter, ofc
• Hocus Pocus (PSA: Hocus Pocus 2 is out on Disney+ 30th September!)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• About Time, for the romantic at heart
• Little Women, for those who love a classic
• Coco, for the Disney fans
• Sweet Home Alabama, rom-com anyone?
• The Addams Family, for the weird inside you
• Labyrinth, an 80s dark fantasy classic
• Shutter Island, go-to psychological thriller
• Sleepless In Seattle, a Tom Hanks film can do no wrong
• The Shining, the ultimate scary film
• Halloween, American slasher classic

Hibernate with a good book

If you're not the movie type or just fancy a night away from screens, delve into fictional worlds with your nose in a good book! Autumn is the perfect time to tackle that TBR pile and you can even turn it into a fun social event with your friends and start a mini book club. Here are our top picks to dive into right now:

• Harry Potter series, by JK Rowling - for the fantasy enthusiasts or if you fancy a bit of nostalgic reading
• It Ends with Us & November 9, by Colleen Hoover - for the romantic at heart
• The No-Show, by Beth O'Leary - laugh and cry your hearts out
• Little Women, by Louisa May Allcott - a beautiful classic with homey comforts and seasonal delights
• The Hunting Party & The Guest List, by Lucy Foley - for fans of thrillers
• Open Water, by Caleb Azumah Nelson - an impactful read
• Eddie Flynn series, by Steve Cavanagh - for the detective and lawyer in you
• Fairy Tale, by Stephen King - his newest dark fantasy novel...

The perfect set up

Finally, it's time for the perfect set up for an autumnal night in. Fairy lights, cushions, and blankets galore! Gather up everything that cries cosy and set the mood with the lights off and fairy lights on, even a candle or two (just keep them away from the cushions and blankets!). If you're feeling *extra*, throw in a few pumpkins (carved for another fun activity, or not) too.

Hopefully you've got all you need and all the inspiration for a perfect autumn night in that suits you.

For more autumnal inspiration, check out our Pinterest board.