What Makes an Experience Cosy? Things I've Tried That Feel Like Autumn
From getting crafty and cooking comforting recipes to escaping into stories, I’ve tried plenty of cosy autumn activities through trying 52 new things since 2018. But what actually makes an experience feel cosy?
What is 'cosy'?
I like autumn.
I like the crisp mornings, the gloriously rich colours of changing leaves, the excuse to bring out the jumpers and the fact that suddenly it’s perfectly acceptable to spend an evening indoors with a hot drink.
There’s something deliciously cosy about being snug indoors when the weather is on the turn outside.
But I’ve realised that “cosy” is a slightly strange concept.
What actually makes something feel cosy? Is it the place? The activity? The people you’re with? Or is it simply a state of mind?
Fortunately, after years of doing 52 New Things, I’ve accidentally collected quite a few opportunities to investigate.
Getting crafty - cosy autumn activities
I have fond memories from being little of doing autumnal crafts. From painting and pressing leaves, to colouring bright firework pictures, to making an assortment of, shall we say ‘unique’ items from twigs.
Whether it’s working with tactile materials, taking time out to switch off from the daily noise, or simply giving your creative mind a bit of a stretch, there’s something comfortingly cosy about getting crafty as the nights draw in.
And it doesn’t hurt to make the experience as inviting as possible. A scented candle, a familiar voice on the radio and a nice cup of tea can turn an ordinary craft session into a proper little autumnal ritual.
Over the years I’ve tried quite a few different crafts as part of 52 New Things, and these are just a few that I think were particularly cosy.
Making a vase of flowers out of paper
Making a vase of flowers out of paper was a bit like origami. Using a kit with pages from an old book, it took a little concentration to get into the rhythm, but once we were in the swing of it, it was a wonderfully repetitive motion which I got completely absorbed in one afternoon.
The flowers were trickier to make, but the end result looks beautifully effective and it gives me a sense of contented perseverance and achievement when I look at it on my shelf.
Screen printing
Screen printing was an opportunity to get creative and end up with something to wear. This needed more concentration to follow the instructions for each step – there were many tongue out moments!
I completely lost track of time and didn’t think about the to-do list or re-run events from the day. I was just caught up in the moment, loved thinking creatively and I’m quite pleased with how it turned out.
Drawing a caricature
Attempting a caricature for the first time didn’t quite deliver the result I’d hoped for, but I still loved the process. Spending time at my desk as the evening seemed to start at 3pm, the light of my lamp casting a warm glow over my work, I focused so hard on capturing the lead singer from the band Shed Seven on paper.
But rather than being a relaxing experience, I ended up swearing at the paper and getting a smudge of colours on my hand. I hadn’t thought about anything else for the duration though, so it had been an opportunity to let my brain reset, recharge, and recalibrate.
Cosy cooking - cosy autumn activities
I cook throughout the year, but there’s something comforting about cooking in Autumn.
It’s the season where hearty dishes start to creep in as the temperature starts to drop. There’s often an abundance of fresh produce that just lends itself to slow cooking. And there’s also less pressure for everything to look perfect. Autumn cooking feels forgiving: hearty dishes, big bowls and food that is meant to be comforting rather than Instagrammable.
Christmas can wait for the pressure of perfect roast potatoes and carefully decorated desserts.
Vegetarian wellington
I spent a wonderful few hours making a vegetarian wellington. It was quite a time consuming process with many parts, perfect for an autumnal afternoon.
The smells wafting from the oven were mouthwatering, the heat of the cooking steamed up the windows, and the tasting was delicious.
Toasted teacakes
I love a toasted teacake. Fresh out of the toaster, with salted butter melting into the golden browned bread. I decided to try making them from scratch.
There’s something gorgeously wholesome about baking a treat that others can share. Mixing, stirring, sieving and spooning, they were relatively straightforward to make. I was so excited to look through the oven door and see them rising perfectly. They were an absolutely delicious treat, and there were enough to spread the joy over a few days!
Earl grey hot chocolate
Spotting a recipe for an earl grey hot chocolate on Pinterest, I decided to give this different sounding drink a go.
Whilst it is pretty heavy going (you wouldn’t want one every day), it’s like a comforting hug in a mug, and perfect for one of the colder autumnal days.
Read more: making earl grey hot chocolate
Getting outside - cosy autumn activities
I’d argue that the transition from a crisp walk outside to returning indoors to a warm drink is all kinds of cosiness.
Not just from the sights and sounds of crunching through the fallen leaves, (and hoping to goodness there’s nothing revolting hidden underneath them), or from the warm embrace when you step back inside, but from the sense of achievement if you’ve done a walk, and that particular glow you get when you’ve been outside long enough to feel properly ‘weathered’.
Geocaching
Geocaching is like a cross between an escape room and a treasure hunt, and it is so much fun. It’s perfect for wrapping up warm and going exploring outdoors.
Following the clues (which took me longer than I’d like to admit to work out), I felt a sense of triumph when I found my first one and added my name to the tiny piece of paper to claim my find.
Read more: first time geocaching experience
Blue plaque walk
Creating my own walk to find all of the blue plaques for historical people in my home city was not only a purposeful way to spend time outside, I also discovered some amazing people who I’d never heard of before who had done phenomenal things.
Read more: creating your own blue plaque walk
Making a terrarium
Ok so making a terrarium isn’t technically getting outside, but it is a way to bring the outside into your home.
It involved getting my hands on the plants and into the soil, and there’s something absolutely joyous about getting some mud under your nails. I’ve got a lovely piece of nature in the house which hopefully even someone who’s not blessed with green fingers like me, can’t kill
Read more: find out what a terrarium making experience is like
Taking time to unwind - cosy autumn activities
As the intensity of summer fades, and the hecticness of the festive season is still at a jumper-covered arms length, Autumn can be a wonderful time to invest in some self care.
Taking an ice bath
The thought of an ice bath made my muscles involuntarily contract, which is not really what you want if you’re trying to relax. The feeling is probably as far from a fluffy blanket as you can get.
The immersion was cold. That was to be expected.
But it was the sensation afterwards as I felt warmth seeping through my body, finally finding its way to my fingers and toes as I layered up. I felt a bizarre yet brilliant combination of invigorated and relaxed.
Read more: discover the full ice bath experience
Forest bathing
Forest bathing can be done all year around, and the things you notice in one season will be completely different to another.
It’s a practice which isn’t just lying in the leaves, it involves paying attention to the different senses. Touching the bark of an autumnal tree, hearing the wind rustle the red and golden leaves, smelling the aromas of changing nature as there’s a hint of a nip of chill in the air. I was surprised by how much I noticed simply by focusing my attention.
Read more: find out what forest bathing is really like
Escapism - cosy autumn activities
Sometimes the cosiest thing isn’t making or eating anything. It’s disappearing into somebody else’s world for a while.
Going to a classical cd concert may not sound like everyone’s cup of tea, but how often do we listen to music? I mean really listen to music. Snuggling into a comfy chair with a handful of strangers around me, it was a surprisingly emotional experience.
With phones switched to silent and stored in our bags, and being in a venue away from home so I couldn’t be distracted by any jobs that needed doing, we were all entirely focused on the music.
My minds eye created scenes to accompany the music and a story unfolded as it felt as though the orchestra was in the room with us.
What have I learnt about cosiness?
Looking back at these experiences, and others that I’ve tried, I think I’ve realised that cosy isn’t really about the thing I’m doing.
It’s about what happens when I give myself permission to slow down and pay attention.
Sometimes that’s making something with my hands.
Sometimes it’s cooking something comforting.
It can be noticing the crunch of leaves under my feet, or the warmth returning to my fingers after being outside.
Other times it’s disappearing into a story or listening properly to music.
So what makes an experience cosy?
To me, cosy doesn’t necessarily mean comfortable.
After all, the caricature involved swearing at a piece of paper, and the ice bath involved questioning my life choices. Neither sounds particularly cosy, but both gave me that feeling of being completely absorbed in the moment
And maybe that’s why I like trying new things so much.
They give me an excuse to stop doing what I normally do and pay attention to something completely different.
Add an invitingly illuminated space and you’ve got yourself a properly snug experience.
As the nights get darker, that feels like a pretty good excuse to get cosy.
