Autumn has arrived and shorter days can make us feel light-deprived. But playing with light in the home can make a difference. Follow our guide to lighting up at home and minimise the effect of gloomy days.

Wicked Windows
Nowadays, blinds come in a wide variety of designs to suit taste and light level requirements. Blind specialists Hillarys’ Shimmer Ice Verticals collection, which start at about £56, can be tilted at an angle to combine light and privacy.

Playing with light
Even a simple lighting scheme can have a dramatic effect, and well-lit rooms will always look attractive. Add further sparkle with mirrored accessories from Sainsbury’s. Mantle clock, £10.

Bring the outdoors in
Opening up the back of a house and fitting folding glass doors is an effective way of blurring the boundary between the indoors and outdoors. Marks & Spencer’s Puccini all-weather rattan range is a classic for the conservatory. Armchair, £250.

Keep it white
A clever way to bounce light around a kitchen is repainting units with International High Gloss kitchen cupboard paint, which has a lacquer effect.

£24.99 for one litre. It’s suitable for wood, melamine and MDF surfaces, and stocked at Homebase.

Wear a tea cosy and get 10pc off

SHOPPERS in Worcester can get 10 per cent off at White Stuff – if they wear a tea cosy on their head next Wednesday.

The High Street store will be taking part in the first national Wear A Tea Cosy on your Head Day. Staff will be donning silly tea cosies to raise money for the White Stuff Foundation, which supports local children’s charities and St Richard’s hospice in Worcester. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a tea cosy – the shop is selling them for £2, with 10 per cent of proceeds going to St Richard’s.

City shops up for fashion gongs

TWO shops in Worcester are up for prestigious fashion awards.

Stripes in Foregate Street has been shortlisted for the Womenswear Retailer of the Year category and Barbarella in Friar Street is up for Lingerie Retailer of the Year in the Drapers magazine awards. Each category is shortlisted to six finalists, which will each be visited by Drapers, before the winners are announced in London in November.

After nearly six years of trading, Stripes, run by sisters Claire Wright and Jenny Plant, has been nominated alongside other national independents such as Donna Ida (London), Foundation (Cheltenham) and Sarah Coggles (York).

“Our category looks for a professional store with an excellent brand mix, outstanding customer service and attention to detail,” said Mrs Wright.

“We are up against some rather large and well established stores, but we’re hopeful they will recognise the hard work of the Stripes team.”

Her sister added: “Drapers is the most respected publication in retail so to be nominated for an award is a real achievement.

Independent retailers are an important part of our high street and it is a reflection of how strong the independent stores are in Worcester that we have two businesses up for an award. We’re thrilled.”

Barbarella is run and owned by Harriet Wilkes, who said: “It is really good news and I’m really excited, we are just awaiting the shop visit. It is amazing that two independent businesses in Worcester have been shortlisted.”

For more details on the awards, visit drapersawards.co.uk.

What we’re lovin’

1. Drapers
2. Twitter (follow me @clairefryWN)
3. Tea cosy
4. Last gasp of summer
5. Autumn styles

What we’re hating

1. Draping
2. Twitter bugs
3. Not being warm
4. Winter boots out
5. Summer’s gone