Image Credit: Furniture And Choice
8 trends interior designers will be adopting this autumn
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Autumn is on the way and as well as embracing our love of a pumpkin spiced latte, the darker evenings are making us want to lean into the new season with cosy interior trends.
Despite collecting plenty of interior trend inspiration from our summer holidays, searches for ‘Autumn décor’ have shot up by +2,408% in the past three months – as many of us embrace the opportunity to refresh our spaces.
“As the days grow shorter and cooler, our homes naturally become cosy retreats, offering warmth and comfort after time spent in the crisp, fresh air,” Graham and Green owners, Jamie and Lou Graham explain.
“Autumn brings with it a sense of nesting, making it the perfect time to overhaul your interiors with layers of texture and natural elements that echo the beauty of the season.”
From comforting neutrals to tactile textures and soft, layering lighting this season’s trends are all about creating spaces that feel inviting and luxurious.
Here, design experts give the top autumn interior trends they’ll be incorporating into their own homes…
Interior trends: cosy layering and earthy tones
Sarah Bratt, interior designer at My Bespoke Room says this new season’s interior design trends celebrate the outdoors with earthy tones like olive green, terracotta, and deep amber.
“To bring these autumnal trends into my home, I’d start with subtle, tonal accent walls (just a shade or two darker or lighter than the main colour) to add depth,” she explains.
“Shiplap, wood panelling, stone, or textured wallpaper are also great alternatives.”
Mixing textures like velvet, boucle, and chunky knits in autumn colours can also make a big impact, she says – especially when layered on sofas and armchairs to boost comfort.
She adds: “For lighting, I like to swap out overhead lights for a combination of floor lamps, table lamps, and candles – layering lighting creates a more inviting and cosy atmosphere.
“I also love to add natural-inspired decor, such as botanical prints, woven baskets, dried flowers, and natural wood furniture, creating a serene and peaceful vibe in any room.
“Lastly, I adore incorporating modern touches with matte black finishes and brass. Adding these elements through lighting fixtures, mirrors, picture frames or trays helps with an autumnal feel without overwhelming the natural cosiness.”
Natural accents and tactile textures
When it comes to autumnal decor, Jamie and Lou believe warm neutrals and earthy tones is an interior trend that helps create an inviting atmosphere – while overlaying soft furnishings like throws, plush cushions, and woven rugs is great for adding depth and comfort.
They explain, “We also love incorporating natural wood accents during autumn, whether through intricately carved furniture or subtle touches in photo frames and woven baskets.
“These elements not only ground a room but also capture the essence of the season’s warmth and organic beauty.”
Plush and moody
Avalana Simpson, from Avalana Design says shorter days and longer nights offer us a great opportunity to redefine our interiors, particularly when it comes to window treatments.
“It’s easier than ever to transition your home ready for autumn and one of the best ways to do this is with window treatments and bedding,” she explains.
“Window treatments are one of my favourite autumn updates, while they’ve been great at keeping out the heat in summer, they make much more of a feature in the latter months of the year.”
Avalana says plush, heavy and luxurious velvet curtains are ideal to create a statement – while also keeping your home cosy and the energy bills down.
“I love how you can add texture without taking up precious floor space,” she continues. “I often feel people miss a trick when it comes to curtains often opting for plain, one dimensional shades.”
Instead, in her own home she intends to introduce immersive patterns that create a scene.
“Maximalist curtains can instantly glamourise a window and this is an interior trend that will be popular this season,” Avalana adds.
She also plans to go for a bold shot of green in the bedroom.
“Rich, dark greens bring a deep sense of fulfilment and joy and it’s the colour of the moment for autumn/winter, especially for creating luxurious guest rooms and bedrooms.
“Green is perfect for adding light and shade to encourage a restful sleep for beautiful bedroom spaces.
“You can team a dark green wall with flecks of gold and copper for added luxe or choose deep, inky charcoal colourways to support, evoking a sense of night time.”
To really lift the room, she suggests using a contrast colour of either warm pink tones, corals or sunset orange.
Avalana explains, “Dark green comes to life and offers a fresh and modern look when matched with foliage, flowers and botanical details so opt for a bedspread that creates the ultimate way to bring the outdoors in, in style.
“You can continue the scheme into the pillows and scatter cushions too or pair it back with plain, natural cushions.”
The joy of yellow
Autumn and winter signals colour forecasting from companies such as Pantone or paint brands such as Dulux and Benjamin Moore.
Ann Marie Cousins, founder AMC Design believes ‘True Joy’, Dulux’s Colour of the Year, will be perfect as an autumn pairing for the bold jewel and inky colours that have been celebrated recently.
“True joy – a soft, sunny yellow – complements deep colours such as rich navy and forest green which have dominated interiors in the last few years,” she explains.
“These pairings, when balanced well, make a space feel a lot more luxurious too. Used as an accent or upholstery on a statement piece of furniture True Joy can also help to lift a more neutral space. I’ve used it to brighten up my Downpipe in the kitchen, and it looks striking against an exposed brick wall.”
Ann Marie says the yellow hue is both vibrant and energising and warm and welcoming which makes it perfect for autumn and following interior trends.
“Don’t be swayed to just jump on a colour trend and add it to your walls without considering first how and why you wish to use it,” she warns.
“In bedrooms, for example, a yellow could be overpowering. Instead using True Joy in smaller amounts like on cushions, headboards or featuring on patterned wallpaper in these spaces can still offer a warm and optimistic feel without affecting the harmony of the room.”
Warm, natural vibes
Fred Horlock, design director at Neptune predicts autumn trends will focus on warmth, texture, and natural elements.
“Embrace earthy tones like deep rusts and browns, which can be introduced through textured throws, and rugs,” he suggests. “I like to mix materials like wool, linen, and velvet to add depth and for layers, add a chunky knit blanket over a linen sofa and velvet cushions.”
Fred will also be bringing natural elements into his home through materials like wood and stone this autumn.
“Dried botanicals add an organic touch and act as a simple way to bring nature indoors,” he adds. “Good lighting is also important, adding table lamps can transform a dark corner and bring in a feeling of warmth during the autumn and winter months.”
Interior trend: 70s retro
According to Amthal Karim, head of design at Furniture And Choice the 70s are back this autumn in a big (and cosy) way!
“I’ve been styling my autumn living and dining spaces with retro inspired mushroom lamps made from metal, glass and clay finishes,” he explains.
“These chic lamps look great as a focal point on your coffee table or as a pair creating symmetry on your sideboard.”
Earthy tones are another way to nod to nostalgia with autumn hues of brown, burgundy, orange and olive greens bringing a hint of 70s vibe to any space.
“Earthy neutrals are this season’s colour palette inspired by fashion but also by the beautiful colours of the autumn landscape,” Amthal continues.
“Signal the switch from bright summer days to cosy autumn by adapting your interior with shades of brown, burnt orange, dark green and red. Earth tones are designed to connect us with nature and promote a sense of grounding which is ideal for homely winter months.”
Amthal says soft furnishings are the easiest way to introduce 70s cosiness to your living space.
“Think textured cushions in lush velvet or chic bouclé,” he continues. “Knot cushion designs are popular this season as are velvet pillows in jewel tones such as emerald green, ruby red and topaz brown.”
He also suggests taking inspiration from the Danish concept of hygge and layering throws and blankets on your sofa too to create a cocoon that promotes security and relaxation.
Changing up your decorative floral display is another way to transform your home for autumn.
“Bring the outdoors in – yes, even when it’s cold – by introducing vibrant seasonal tones such as orange, burgundy and mustard.
“Burgundy chrysanthemums and shades of orange and red in dahlias reflect the colours of changing autumn leaves and promote a connection with nature,” Amthal continues. “For something longer-lasting, oversized pampas grass or coloured dried flowers look chic displayed in stone-effect vases.”
Maximalism with vintage accents
While minimalist design has dominated in recent years, this autumn there’s a shift toward maximalism, especially with vintage-inspired décor.
“Bold patterns, rich jewel tones, and antique furniture pieces are making a comeback,” explains Sam Grieg, head of design at Swoon.
“Mixing old and new elements allows for personal expression and a sense of history within the space.
“These trends reflect a blend of warmth, comfort, and personality, making homes feel welcoming for the autumn season.”
Grieg is also going to be embracing the ‘Unexpected Red’ theory in his autumn décor this year.
“A popular trend we’re seeing as summer fades away, is embracing red tones within a space, with shades like burgundy, scarlet, and terracotta taking centre stage,” he explains.
“This reflects a growing trend towards using richer tones to enhance the warmth and depth of space. But it also ties into the popular ‘Unexpected Red’ theory, which involves adding touches of red to a room where it isn’t typically expected or doesn’t particularly match, to make it feel alive and more stylish.
“Designers are incorporating deeper reds into furnishings like upholstery, cushions and shelf styling, adding a bold, sophisticated touch to spaces.”
Interior trend: coastal cool
As we retreat into our homes during the autumn months, there’s a temptation to cocoon our interiors in deep, warm hues and layers of chunky textures.
But some designers will be swapping the cosy-cabin vibes for spaces which feel like tranquil coastal retreats this autumn.
Pinterest has highlighted ‘serene hues’ and ‘harmonious Japanese style’ as key trends set to dominate in their Autumn 2024 Trend Report, with coastal design providing an alternative calming look this season.
“Research shows that being in nature has huge benefits on our mental health and helps us feel balanced, joyful and calm,” explains interior designer Lisa Samuels from Propaganda UK, who has teamed up with Time4Sleep, to provide more insight on the coastal trend.
Lisa says working with a soft colour palette inspired by the ocean is a great place to start with this autumn-inspired look in your own home.
“Think greens, blues, light browns and beige tones. When it comes to furniture, opt for driftwood or light brown wood over darker tones,” she advises.
“A great way of tying in other trends is by white-washing your walls to create a textured effect – something we’re seeing a lot of at the moment.
“When selecting accessories, consider coastal artwork and striped linen furnishings to tie this interior trend together.”
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