Trending ideas for homes of any size
Autumn brings with it a certain back-to-school energy which, if you’re anything like us, means it’s time to rethink decor and shake things up ready for the colder months ahead.
At this time of year, it’s natural to crave warmer colours that you can cosy up with at home. A smidge darker than Pantone’s Colour of the Year, cocoa hues are all the rage. Sarah O’Sullivan, partner & designer at John Lewis Home, describes the warm brown as a “grounding, earthy colour”.
“It’s a versatile colour that has a calming, natural feel to it,” she says. “Although it nods to nostalgic interiors, it can be super modern when you pair it with luxurious finishes.” As such, it’s the perfect shade to heat up a wintry bedroom in an instant; if you have plenty of floor space, the mocha-coloured Blocky bed is a fail-safe choice. In cosier rooms you can achieve the same effect by layering several hopsack cushions together.
Versatile yet neutral, cocoa-hued products fit seamlessly into smaller spaces as well as larger ones. The Hoxton armchair, for instance, which is upholstered in a toasty chenille, would look just as at home in a small reading nook as it would taking centre stage in a living room. Earn extra brownie points by mixing cocoa with avocado shades for the ultimate aesthetic.
When it comes to pattern, stripes are back in the forefront. Often referred to as classic, this year’s stripes are distinctly contemporary: where white traditionally acted as punctuation, now stripes of different hues collide. The only rule? Keep things muted and autumnal. “This season we have taken the timeless stripe trend and reinvigorated it by using autumnal colours for a simple, graphic look,” Sarah says.
There’s a reason stripes have been used for soft furnishings for centuries: they are a quick way to add character regardless of your house size. A couple of farmhouse tea towels can pack as much punch in a narrow galley kitchen as a Somerton stripe rug can enliven a spacious, minimalist living room. According to Sarah, stripes are quite an easy pattern to introduce into a small space, so don’t shy away from layering them together à la Paul Smith, master of the stripe. Try dressing the arm of your sofa with the Quadretti check throw alongside a Harvest stripe cushion, which is made from a dry textured weave that has a rustic feel.
Our collective yearning for all things retro shows no sign of abating, with Bauhaus-esque chrome products and Art Deco-themed burl wood both making a comeback this season. What’s new is that these seemingly clashing materials are now being styled side by side; try placing a tubular metal planter beside a coffee table clad with mappa burl veneers.
Whatever size space you have, the key to nailing this look is all about form, says Sarah. “Obviously, materiality is key here, but it’s also the shape language of the pieces; opt for rounded lines and soft edges that nod to nostalgic design periods such as the 1970s, or even the arches found in the Art Deco movement.” See the futuristic mushroom-shaped table lamp, the chrome hammered vase or the metallic Wave cutlery set, which has curved handles crying out to be held.
If you’re hesitant to try the trend, why not consider introducing it through lighting, says Sarah. “Lighting like the Donut or the silver candelabra is a great way to test out whether the trend or style suits your home, regardless of its size.”
