Cosy Evenings Are Coming – Time to Settle In

There’s something rather lovely about September.

Summer hasn’t completely disappeared, but there’s a definite change in the air. The evenings are beginning to draw in, there’s a little chill when the sun goes down, and suddenly the thought of curling up on the sofa with a warm drink sounds very appealing indeed.

At Made in the Mill, this is one of our favourite times of year.

It’s the season of cosy evenings, favourite television programmes, warm blankets, mugs of tea and, of course, a trusty lap tray by your side.

Time to get cosy

After the long, light evenings of summer, autumn gives us permission to slow down a little.

Perhaps it’s an evening in front of the television catching up on a favourite series. Maybe it’s a film night with something tasty to eat, a quiet hour with a book, or simply putting your feet up after a busy day.

Whatever your idea of a perfect cosy evening, a lap tray is one of those wonderfully simple things that makes relaxing at home just that little bit easier.

A cup of tea and a biscuit? Perfect.

Dinner in front of the television? Absolutely.

A crossword, tablet, laptop or favourite craft project? Your lap tray is ready for duty.

And because our lap trays have a comfortable beanbag base, they sit snugly on your lap while providing a firm, practical surface on top.

But we think practical can be beautiful too.

More than just a lap tray

That has become something of a theme for us here at Made in the Mill: more than just a lap tray.

We love creating products that are useful, but we also want them to be things you’re happy to have around your home.

Our lap trays come in a growing collection of colours, patterns and designs, from traditional checks and classic William Morris-inspired styles to florals, animals and some rather more unusual designs.

Some are bold and colourful. Others are wonderfully understated. And with so many different styles available, there’s a lap tray to suit traditional homes, contemporary interiors and pretty much everything in between.

Rather than something that needs to be hidden away when you’ve finished using it, why shouldn’t your lap tray be part of your home?

Made here in Lancashire

Of course, there’s something else that makes our lap trays a little special.

They’re made right here in Lancashire.

Made in the Mill grew from our love of creating useful, attractive products and our desire to keep making things here in Britain.

There’s a great deal of satisfaction in seeing rolls of fabric arrive and watching them gradually become finished products ready to be sent to homes around the country.

We choose the fabrics, make the beanbag bases and bring everything together here in Lancashire. It means our products have a story behind them – and we rather like that.

And dare we mention Christmas?

We know. It’s only September.

We promise we’re not putting the Christmas tree up just yet!

But if you’re one of those wonderfully organised people who likes to start Christmas shopping before December arrives, now is actually a lovely time to begin.

A lap tray makes a surprisingly good Christmas present, particularly for someone who can be notoriously difficult to buy for.

Parents and grandparents often already have everything they need. A lap tray is useful without being boring, personal without being overly complicated, and with so many different designs you can choose one that really suits the person receiving it.

For the dog lover, choose something canine. For someone who adores traditional interiors, perhaps a beautiful heritage pattern or check. For the person who loves colour, choose something bright and cheerful.

And unlike some presents that are admired on Christmas morning and then quietly disappear into a cupboard, a lap tray is something that can be used again and again.

In fact, there’s a very good chance it will be put into service before Christmas lunch is over!

A little comfort as the seasons change

We’re not quite ready to say goodbye to summer.

There may still be some warm September days ahead, and we intend to enjoy every one of them.

But when the temperature drops, the curtains are drawn and the fire goes on for the first time, we’ll also be quite happy to welcome autumn back.

So dig out your favourite blanket, decide what you’re going to watch, make something warm to drink and settle in.

Cosy evenings are coming – and we think that’s something to look forward to.

From all of us at Made in the Mill, here’s to a wonderfully cosy autumn.