How to Design Your Home with Autumnal Colours

With the inevitable shift from one season to the next comes a natural desire for change, not only in our wardrobes or our choice of weekend activities, but in our homes. As we welcome all of autumn’s cozy traditions, there is a distinct fall colour palette that emerges, both outside and in.

This year sees navy and blush joining the hallowed ranks of autumnal jewel tones, high contrast black-and-white design schemes and brushed gold (high shine is very much out), copper, autumn maple and brass tones—which are gorgeous next to navy—and a shift towards swapping out beige for a more contemporary neutral: grey. Whether you want to add a pop of colour or make a bigger splash with a whole-room makeover, we’ve gathered tips for incorporating this season’s hottest colour trends.

Paint the Town Red (or Green, or Blue)

Autumnal colours are arguably some of the most timeless non-neutral choices for decorating, which makes them ideal for a commitment like wall colour. While this season we’re seeing some bold trends like Ultra Violet, Valiant Poppy, and Nebulas Blue, there are also more traditional rich greens and russet oranges to round out the current palette. If you’re keen to make an impact, painting an entire room or even an accent wall in one of the season’s key colours will create distinction without looking immediately dated.

Add Statement Curtains

Requiring arguably less commitment than a paint job, new curtains for fall are a simple yet functional way to add a seasonal touch to your space. Hanging lush, velvet window coverings is a great way to incorporate this season’s coveted fabric in saturated colours like navy or muted metallics like gold, bronze, or copper. Curtains provide the benefit of adding warmth to your space as well.

Create Warmth with Cushions and Throws

If neutrals are more to your taste, keep wall colours on point in modern grey or dusty blush and let your cushions and throws do some of the heavy lifting. If you’ve embraced a black and white palette, highlight coziness and choose a warm camel-coloured cushion to accent your dark armchair. Texture is key here, as plush materials reign during the cooler months.

Source Earth-Inspired Pieces

Cooler weather means spending more time indoors, so bring the nature inside with earthen hues and rustic wood furnishings. Rich reds and browns offer some much-needed warmth to a stark, modernist design-scape, and are easily achieve by choosing an unstained coffee table or raw-edged shelving. For more of the great outdoors, embrace the popularity of plants and pepper tropicals or succulents around your space. Bonus: their pots offer another opportunity to include a splash colour, like mid-century modern brushed gold.

Update Wall Décor and Bookshelves

Often overlooked in favour of side tables and mantles, shelving can be reworked with the changing seasons to provide contrast to statement pieces and darker furniture. If you’ve already incorporated your feature colours in the form of cushions, rugs, or wall colour, try adding cream-coloured accents to a neutral shelving unit to maximize depth and texture without cluttering your colour palette. Or go all out and paint your shelving in a bold (or dark) seasonal shade.

Choose a Rug as the Final Touch

Boost style and make a statement with your floor coverings by embracing autumn trends like gold (yes, gold carpet!) or more traditional reds and blues. Floor textiles are an excellent way to achieve literal warmth as well as providing a unifying foundation for a room’s design scheme.

While there are some standout trends for autumn 2018, like blush and berry tones or gold velvet and brushed metal pieces, there are also tried and true colours like navy and warm, rusty reds. Whether you choose to embrace your favourite fall tones with a fresh coat of paint, or prefer a quiet nod to the changing of the season with a few jewel-toned cushions and a cozy throw, you can’t go wrong with these classic colour combinations.