7 ways to update your living room for autumn
Cosy up your living room with the hottest autumn interiors updates that will make you want to hibernate all winter long, from plush boucle that feels sumptuous to sink into to biophilic design and the gorgeous new trend for colour drenching. Whether you’re going for a full living room overhaul or just some simple tweaks, Good Homes magazine is here to help you transition from summer into autumn…
1. Get colour drenching
A double whammy of autumn interiors trends that are in hot right now, first up colour drenching. Which Little Greene’s Director David Mottershead describes as is ‘the process of choosing one colour and painting it across multiple surfaces in one space.’ This fearless trend means you can get creative and paint the same shade on the walls, window frames and even ceilings, which can make a small room look bigger not smaller. Then add in your furnishings in similar tonal shades, the result is striking. And the autumnal colour to go for? Spiced marmalade, to add warmth and depth to the room.
Photo: Next
2. Bring in the bouclé
Bouclé comes from the French word which means ‘curled’ or ‘ringed’ and refer to the way in which the fabric is created; a yarn made from a series of looped fibre (usually wool). First popular in the 1940s, it not only adds texture to a room, but feels luxurious to snuggle up in. Either go all out and opt for a bouclé sofa or add smaller touches like boucle cushions and rugs. Adding a large bouclé rug can give your living room extra texture and warmth.
Photo: Hampton sofa by Sweetpea & Willow
3. Adopt biophilic design
Biophilia, the desire to be more connected to nature, continues to be an important feature in people’s lives and autumn interiors. It can be trickier in the winter, so bring the outside in with the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew x Sproutl, Palm House Collection. It doesn’t just have to be plants; you could accessorise your soft furnishings with forest animal prints and natural organic shapes to embrace the natural world inside.
Photo: Kew x Sproutl, Palm House Collection
4. Turn to the dark side
Interiors aficionado and all-round style maven Laura Jackson has launched an exclusive six-strong collection of paints with eco-friendly brand COAT, and they all lend themselves perfectly to an autumn interiors switch up. The Tobacconist lends itself to those months you want to curl up inside with a glass of wine by a roaring fire and give us even more reason to want to hibernate.
Photo: COAT by Laura Jackson
5. Switch up your artwork
If you don’t want to paint the walls, but do want a switch up in your living room, why not try buying some new artwork and having a go at creating your own gallery wall? You could create different collections of artworks to signify seasonal changes or even switch up the frames for a fresh look. This autumn it’s not just about the warm tones and the dark shades, pastels, usually reserved for the summer months are popping up. A sorbet painted shade, or a candy stripe could bring a smile to your face this winter.
Photo: Desenio
6. Get the light right
The end of summer means the beginning of shorter days and darker afternoons. This is a fantastic opportunity to get working on indoor light to find the perfect ambience. A scented candle is excellent mood-setter for your living room. If you have a fireplace, make this your primary light source for cold evenings Low light form table lamps are an excellent addition, use warm LED light bulbs to add additional warmth and comfort to your room, the more yellow the light, the cosier you will feel. From sconces to pendants Jonathan Adler have a range of lighting to suit all your autumn interiors needs.
Photo: Jonathan Adler
7. Go for a sensory experience
Update your home fragrance in time for autumn to get you in the mood for the new season. The ambience of your room is identified by the scent, and you can find one which not only matches the season but the décor of your room. Go for rich and warm scents combining bergamot, frankincense and amber, to match the autumn landscape outdoors and sit well with an open fireplace. Or opt for a fresher scent which features eucalyptus and rosemary.
Vanessa Arbuthnott is based in the Cotswolds and designs and sells her own ethical fabrics, wallpapers, rugs