Curvier silhouettes, muted '60s pottery hues and mixed metals are on trend for autumn.
This fall, décor continues to move in a more easygoing direction, with welcoming hues, softer profiles and a comfortable mix of materials and styles.
For those with a flair for the dramatic, there’s room for that, too.
WARM AND WELCOMING
New York designer Elaine Griffin sees the influence of millennials in a trend toward “feel-good finds” with a palette of warm colors, laidback furnishings and lots of texture.
“Millennials’ homes echo the nurturing environments they grew up in,” she says.
That generation is embracing locally produced crafts as well as goods from far corners of the planet. “There’s retro style and global influence everywhere,” she says.
Fall also offers a range of new rugs, from fluffy wools in neutral colors to kilims in deeper tones and stronger patterns.
PATTERN PLAY
Geometrics, mineral prints, florals and global motifs get fresh interpretations for fall.
For Griffin, “marble motifs are the ‘it’ pattern of the season.” The veined white versions are ubiquitous across bath, kitchen and tabletop goods, but also look for marbleized patterns in dramatic hues on fabric and paper.
Wallpaper is on the radar of Amy Matthews, a Minneapolis-based renovation maven who has hosted shows on HGTV and DIY Network.
“Wallpaper’s not just for the walls anymore,” she says. It can go on ceilings and even furniture.
“It’s more dramatic and eye-catching than paint, making a strong statement and setting the tone for a room,” she says.
MIXED METALS
Beth Kushnick, set decorator for CBS’ “The Good Wife,” puts metallics near the top of her trend list.
“Some are highly reflective and others are more subtle, but they’re in gold, silver, copper and rubbed bronze. They really up-scale a look and broaden a color palette,” she says.
The trend appeals to Matthews, too. Her style tip: Don’t overdo it.
“I prefer not to pick any more than three different metallic-finished pieces, and then put them together for an eclectic and timeless look,” she says.
COLOR STORY
“My go-to color is always blue,” says Kushnick. “I’m seeing dark blue and teal in particular now, which work so well for a variety of styles, bridging the gap between masculine and feminine.”
Griffin is seeing muted versions of ’60s pottery hues — turquoise, coral, citrus and ivory — debuting this fall and carrying into spring 2017.
DRAMATIC TOUCHES
Matthews is excited about “the rebirth of the chandelier.” She sees the statement fixture as one of the most dramatic and playful additions to any room.
“Designs look best when they’re eclectic and a bit eccentric,” she says.
For Griffin, the drama’s all about a curvier silhouette in furnishings.
“After years of harsh angles, the curve looks fresh for fall,” she says. “Streamlined new versions are evocative of ’70s and ’80s classics.”