HOME TRENDS: AUTUMN 2011

Each new season means changes all around, from weather to food to clothing and in the fashion world this equates to new trends, colours and styles. However, fashion does not stop at clothes and accessories it filters into other areas of our lives such as home furnishings and interior design. Giselle Borg Olivier looks at the hottest design colours for Autumn 2011.

While many of us may have had the same curtains and sofa for the past ten years because we think that they still look good and, more importantly, feel good, interior designers around the globe are busy scouting for this season’s colours, textures and styles.

Autumn typically evokes images of falling leaves, cups of hot cocoa and days getting darker earlier – so if we had to think about these images in terms of colour we’d probably think of soft, warm, comforting shades. Indeed, the hot colours for autumn 2011 are taupe, walnut, sand and grey; subdued, yet warm and cosy.

Colours

Colour blocking was definitely the hottest trend in clothing for 2011 and this can easily be transferred onto your home design. Think colour – everywhere – but stick to the same palette. If you want a bold look for your room then attack the walls with colour. One option is to divide the walls into three horizontal spaces and paint each ‘stripe’ a different colour. Alternatively you could include large block shapes on the wall in one colour and use the background to provide a contrasting, yet pleasing, look.

If painting the walls proves to be too dramatic or costly you can always introduce the season’s colours using soft furnishings such as throws and cushions. They’re the ideal accessory to liven up your room and give it a trendy, updated look.

Soft Furnishings

Cushions in block colours can either be married to other cushions in complementary block colours or with variations in pattern and texture. You could have a cushion in taupe nestled among a striped taupe and sand cushion, finished with a sequined cushion in sand – complementary colours with different patterns and textures will make the room pop.

Fireplaces are another autumn staple so if you’re looking to make a big change to your house, consider installing a fireplace – either real or electric. The warm fire will give the room a lovely glow, not to mention that it will keep you toasty on colder evenings.

Keep it Simple

Updating the look of your home doesn’t need to be a costly affair if you keep it simple. By sticking to neutral colours for your furniture, you can add bursts of colour to the room using either soft furnishings or even select pieces such as vases full of flowers in the latest colour scheme; coloured dinner sets with matching napkins or even kitchen accessories from dish cloths to coloured bread bins.

Room Choices

Certain homes are better suited to changing colour schemes than others, in particular more modern places like apartments and maisonettes. If your house has old patterned tiles and a rustic feel then certain colour schemes might not work well; however, that’s not to say that you can’t work colour in certain rooms of the house. While the living room is the more traditional room that people furnish, there’s no reason why your bathroom or kitchen shouldn’t be given a spruce up.

If you’ve been thinking about updating your home but aren’t sure where to start then make autumn 2011 your inspiration point and indulge in the relaxed and welcoming colour scheme of taupe, walnut, sand and grey.

With thanks to Louana Portelli of Joinwell Ltd.

Related Articles :

SETTING UP HOME FOR SPRING

DECORATING YOUR OUTDOORS

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE PERFECT HOME

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Posted by Sunday Circle on October 19, 2011. Filed under Home Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry