Cocktails and Dreams...Why staying in is the new going out

I don't know if it's just me, but as soon as the Autumn evenings draw in, I stop yearning for nights out on the town, and start coming up with reasons to invite people over to ours instead. Granted we have been blessed with a positively balmy Autumn so far, but as soon as those conkers start to fall I automatically make the switch in my head. We are hosting fireworks here in a few weeks and I'm planning a girls night in very soon too. One of the best things about staying in is that you are never any further than 25 steps away from your bed. Handy after you've consumed ALL the cocktails (Keep scrolling for the adult headache related section of this post).

Yes, the cocktails. Because for me staying in in the Autumn does not equal a season of abstinence. The cocktail trolley which has been gathering dust for much of the Summer, neglected in favour of ice cold glasses of Rosé (me) and beer (him), suddenly becomes interesting again. So it was perfect timing when Sainsbury's Home asked me if I would like to style up some of the product from their super glam Renaissance Boutique range. I am already a Sainsbury's Home devotee and cannot go near the "Big" Sainsbury's in Sydenham unless I've got a good couple of hours to spare, as I will inevitably get drawn into the Homewares section, when I should just be grabbing a bag of bananas and some eggs.

The Renaissance Boutique range is exactly what my cocktail trolley needed...and my bedroom got a little spruce from the range too. It's pure Art Deco style glamour. Jay Gatsby would be all over it. I couldn't help myself either and got to work knocking up gin and pink grapefruit martinis and a whisky sour. Then I remembered I had to go and pick up the kids from the childminder so as pretty as they look, they never got drunk in the end. Not to worry, there will be other times. My favourite pieces? I love the emerald green enamelled tray, the marble and brass coasters and the etched glass tumblers and martini glasses.

Tray, £15, Mixing Spoon, £4.50, Neroli and Amber Candle, £6, Cocktail Shaker, £9.50, Martini Glass, £5 each, Tumbler, £5.

These Pop, Fizz coasters are also super fun for party season

Gold vase, £14, Ice Bucket, £14.50, Tumbler, £5 each, Martini glass, £5, Mixing Spoon, £4.50, Cocktail Shaker, £9.50

The other thing I like to do in Autumn is switch up my bedroom a bit and make it cosier for the colder nights that are coming in. And if you've had one too many espresso martini's you will likely spend a sleepless caffeine fuelled night wide awake in bed so it might as well look pretty while you wait for the caffeine to wear off. As well as the brass barware of dreams, the Renaissance Boutique range also features some squishy soft furnishings and home accessories. I fell for both of these cushions (below) because the colours work perfectly in the existing scheme, and I also really liked the chunky marble objets (which also come in white marble).

Green textured cushion, £12, Grey cushion, £14

Vase, £14, Marble Objet £14 lrg, £10 sml, Green cushion, £12, Grey cushion, £14

Art Deco box, Neroli and Amber candle, £6, Marble Objet, £14 and £10, Vase, £14

What are your favourite pieces from the collection? Do you also become a home bird in the colder months, or do you prefer to go out? I'd love to hear your favourite cocktail recipes...

J x