A warm forecast: Top interior stylists reveal their favourite autumn trends

Autumn may be arriving late this year, but that doesn’t mean our appetite for dark hues, chunky knit throws, and plush sofa cushions has waned.

Hot on the heels of the 2017 Milan Design Week (the Oscars of the global design industry), designers are brimming with inspiration and advice on how soft furnishings and colour can synonymously inject warmth and style into homes this season.

“The perfect colours for autumn that are on-trend and seen all over Milan Design Week are shades of earthy, dusty mustard, terracotta and green,” says interior stylist Steve Cordony. “Use these colours to add accents with throws and cushions on a neutral base.”

Painting a wall in a new autumn shade is one the most cost-effective yet significant changes one can make to their home. Plus, it can be done without the help of a professional.

“If you grow tired after a few years, it’s not as large commitment than a sofa for instance, however the impact is huge,” says Lauren Li, founding director of Sisalla Interior Design. “My tip is to paint all walls, not just a feature wall for an overall atmosphere. Look to sage green with a dose of grey, nothing too mint. If you’re feeling bold, a dark moody grey is right on trend.”

Interior stylist Sibella Court of The Society Inc is renowned for using a largely cool, white colour palette throughout her work, but even she is adopting a new colour scheme this autumn.

“I recently painted my house in a range of soft ‘dirty’ palette from my paint range [featuring the colours] Threadbare, a lovely lichen green; Seaglass, a French library blue; Singing Stones, a lively grey like sea-tossed pebbles; and Tempest, a deep ocean blue. Not a white wall in sight,” Court says.

Her key tips for “warming up” rooms through textiles are to keep couches and beds at a low height with various sized cushions scattered on the floor below, and to layer rugs. “It’s time to bring out all the rugs. My favourite are the silk sari collection from Behruz Studio, and I don’t think twice about layering them up,” Court says.

Designers advise featuring an array of contrasting materials in a home’s soft furnishings.

“Mixing leather with linen and even velvet in the same shade of a single colour creates a sense of warmth and interest for your interior,” Cordony says.

Generally speaking, consumers are cautious about choosing a new couch based purely on current trends, and rightfully so. This is likely to be the centrepiece of a lounge room for years, if not decades, to come.

Li recommends compromising between a classic and fashionable couch, opting for a leather style that’s built to a consumer’s requirements, but with an on-trend style of upholstery.

“When choosing a leather sofa, look for a matte leather finish that is loosely upholstered on the sofa, rather than tight and shiny,” she says. “Keep in mind that some aspects can be custom made, such as seat depth. If you’re tall you may want the seat to be deeper, and the arm width can be slim to fit well in a smaller space.”

Continue this blend of texture and colour in the bedrooms through changeable elements such as bed linen.

“Scatter the one favourite autumn tone through your cushions, throws and accessories,” says Jacinta Woods, co-founding director of Woods & Warner. “Layer double blankets on your bed in forest green and a soft textured spearmint. Add a couple of small scaled cushions in contrasting leafy green patterns and you are building up the look.”

Another project worth undertaking this season is restoring any period design features.

With specialty tradesman now scarce and the rising price of construction and materials making it near impossible to create a true period-style home, maintaining these now elusive features is of the utmost importance.

“When living in a period home, you must take the time to refresh and update the features from the past to ensure your interior stands with its head held high,” says Sonia Warner, co-founding director of Woods & Warner. “Whether your style is traditional or contemporary, there’s nothing worse than seeing a fireplace or cornice that’s seen better days.”

If you’re in a contemporary space, consider changing things up with a wallpaper mural on one wall for instant atmosphere.

“There are some incredible landscape designs that serve as a beautiful backdrop to the space. Choose something in a limited colour palette so it’s not too overwhelming,” Li says. “The best thing is that any design can be shipped to you. London Art Wallpaper do landscape murals which are like vintage etchings, and because they’re not too bright, you have more choice with other furnishings.”

Trends to try

Matte leather

“We’re continuing our obsession with natural materials such as leather, especially when it’s loosely upholstered and squishy with a matte finish, avoiding a tightly upholstered and shiny look,” Li says.

Velvet

“As far as upholstery fabric goes, velvet is luxurious and there are many hard-wearing options available,” Li says. Try incorporating a velvet couch, cushions, ottoman or bedding into your home.

Seventies shades

“This autumn we are actually seeing a huge trend for the typical colours of the season, with a return to warm colours of the ’70s like tan, beige and terracotta,” Li says.

Jewel tones

Pastel colours are still on designers’ radar, but they’re generally in a more jewel-like or crystal tone from previous seasons. “Think soft pink mixed in with forest green and a dash of air force blue greys,” Warner says.

Indoor trees

Forget succulents and evergreen plants. This season, it’s all about indoor trees. “Swap the ficus plant for an over scaled maple tree in an organic basket,” Woods says.