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4 Rituals to Bring a Little Enchantment to Your Home This Weekend

It is winter here in Australia and while we aren't exactly digging ourselves out of blizzards, many of us are spending a little more time indoors. With winter comes shorter days, colder mornings, and suddenly staying home with a good book sounds like the best plan you have made all week. Now, perhaps it's because I have been doing just that (reading too many cosy fantasy books) that I found myself compelled to make my home feel a little warmer, softer and more enchanting this weekend.


Here are the four rituals you can start this weekend that don't break the bank and can make your home feel more enchanting.


  1. Brew a simmer pot

There is a reason certain smells instantly transport you somewhere else. Our sense of smell has a direct connection to the parts of the brain responsible for memory and emotion, which is why some scents remind you of your childhood, your grandparents' home or someone you love. So, why not create a home with a scent of its own, one that friends and family will come to associate with cosy afternoons, warm conversations and time spent together?


A simmer pot is probably one of the easiest ways to do this and there are so many variations in what you can simmer. This week I leaned right into the winter vibes and filled a pot with sliced orange, cinnamon sticks, rosemary and a handful of cloves. I left it gently simmering on the stove for the afternoon, topping up the water every now and then. The whole house smelled incredible, and every time I walked back inside I caught another little hint of cinnamon and orange. 


If you have never tried one before, I cannot recommend it enough. There aren't any strict measurements in my opinion; just fill a pot with water, throw in whatever sounds good and let it gently simmer away. Here are a few combinations I think are worth trying.


  • Orange, cinnamon, cloves, rosemary

    Warm, comforting and perfect for a rainy afternoon with a good book. This one fills the house with a rich, spiced aroma that feels instantly welcoming.

  • Lemon, fresh ginger, rosemary, vanilla extract

    Fresh with a little warmth from the ginger. This one makes the house smell clean, cosy and bright.

  • Apple slices, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, vanilla extract, star anise

    Sweet without being overpowering. This one reminds me of a pie baking in the oven and makes the whole house feel cosy on a cold evening.

Even if it isn't raining, when winter arrives everything seems to become just a little more grey. The trees lose their colour, the skies stay overcast for longer and, before you know it, the house can begin to feel the same way. One of my favourite ways to brighten things up is with fresh flowers.

Research has found flowers can have a positive effect on mood and help people feel calmer, but honestly, I just love the little burst of colour they bring to the house.

They don't have to be extravagant either you can grab a bunch from your local florist, the supermarket or even your own garden if you're lucky enough to have one. Pop them in your favourite vase and let them brighten up a corner of your home for the week.

Like many newer Australian homes, mine has LED downlights everywhere. They are practical, but they are also incredibly bright and, if I am being honest, they make me feel like I am sitting in a hospital waiting room instead of reading fantasy books on the couch. So in the cooler months I reach for lamps fitted with warm globes. Mine are 2700K, and the difference is incredible; the room immediately feels softer, calmer and somewhere I actually want to spend my evening.

So, if you change one thing in your home this weekend, let it be your lighting.

As the sun begins to set, I leave the overhead lights off for as long as I can (well, let's be honest, they stay off completely). Lamps create little pockets of light around the house instead of flooding the whole room, and I find myself naturally slowing down once they are switched on. If you already have warm lamps, you can try adding a string of warm fairy lights to a bookshelf, around a window or across a headboard. They are not just for Christmas and they absolutely make things more enchanting.

I think this might be my favourite ritual of the lot. If you've ever wanted your home to feel like a little cottage tucked away in the woods, an old apothecary or somewhere a witch might potter about making herbal teas, drying a little bit of nature is a wonderful place to start.


A few sprigs of rosemary, lavender, thyme or sage tied together with a piece of twine instantly add warmth and character to a space.

Better still, many of those herbs continue releasing their fragrance as they dry, so every time you walk past, you're greeted with that gentle scent.


Dried citrus is another favourite of mine and only something I recently started doing. I often lean towards oranges, lemon or grapefruit and love hanging thin slices on twine or leaving them in a bowl around the house where they catch the light. And of course we love it when they aren't just for decoration; they can be used in drinks, tied onto a gift, decorating a dessert or simmering away in the next pot on the stove!

I hope one or two of these little rituals find their way into your home this winter. They certainly made mine feel a little cosier, a little warmer and, perhaps most importantly, a little more enchanting. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a cup of tea to make and a fantasy book waiting for me.

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