The hot weather is finally breaking, the air feels crisp and heavy with the scent of rain, the trees are becoming burnished, and the nights are starting to draw in. With the change in atmosphere from summer to autumn comes a change in the world's colour palette - gone are the luscious greens of soft grass and the crystal blue of the ocean, and instead, we welcome the rich oranges of leaves, pumpkins, and firelight, and the bold tones of the earth. It's a period of change, and we often want to reflect this refreshing change in our homes.
Cool colours like blue, green, white, and pink are ideal for the summer months, making your space feel cooler, but in autumn, these can leave your room feeling too wintry. Replace your light throws, cushions, and accessories with warmer colours such as brown, orange, mustard, and russet for an inviting and cosy feel once the weather starts to turn.
Once you've worked out which warm colours you want in your home, aim to pick a base colour to work around. This will be the primary colour flowing through your space and will be accented with the others. Choose orange for a brighter look, yellow for a softer feel, brown for a traditional cosy experience, and red to make transitioning your decor for Christmas easier. Luckily, all standard autumn colours sit well together, so choosing your palette should be reasonably straightforward.
Summer is filled with light materials such as linen, cotton, and rayon, but when the weather becomes chillier, swapping to wool, corduroy, flannel, and velvet can instantly add warmth when chilling on the sofa or snuggling into bed. Consider choosing velvet cushion covers or a thick throw. You can warm up your space further by adding soft, thick rugs to the living room or bedroom. Choose a long-piled rug, preferably in a tone that matches your palette such as ochre. These warm materials combined with your warm colours will have you wanting to hunker down in front of the TV with a hot chocolate in no time!
Once your soft furnishings are in place, it's time to accessorise your space to complement the tones you've chosen. A well-placed autumnal scented candle works well in the living room, bedroom, and bathroom, giving you an additional sensory element to coordinate with the beautiful view you've created and the sumptuous textures you've incorporated.
The living room, bedroom, and hallway might benefit from some faux flowers, warm-toned artwork and a selection of ornamental pumpkins. As beautiful as the real ones are, they won't last the whole season, so ceramic pumpkins make an ideal alternative on accent tables and shelves.
If you like the pumpkin theme and want to carry it through, then pumpkin garlands and wreaths around your fireplace or on the wall will draw the eye upwards for a harmonious and balanced look. Finish the look with warm white LEDs for a cosy atmosphere to help you feel completely relaxed.
If you're after more autumn inspiration for your home, have a browse through our Autumn Trends collection or read the articles below.
