Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Seasonal swaps
As autumn sweeps in, LESLEY TAYLOR looks at what to expect in the world of interiors
THE SUMMER holidays are over, the nights are drawing in and if you try really hard, you may just hear a faint whisper or two of Christmas.
So as we wave goodbye to summer for another year, it is time to greet autumn and all it has to offer.
And as always, the start of the new season brings with it a whole host of new interior trends.
But one of the most striking moves this autumn is the increasing appetite for sustainability. Which means investment pieces are replacing ‘fast fashion’ and homeowners are looking for trends which will truly last.
Which is why this autumn it is more important than ever to go with the trends you truly love, the ones you are passionate about and can envisage living with for years.
And fortunately, there are plenty of gorgeous looks to get stuck into.
TURN BACK TIME
SIMILAR to their cousins in the fashion world, interior trends are often inspired by decades gone by – something we have already seen this year with the resurgence of all things Art Deco.
This nod to the past is going to continue throughout the winter and we’ll see a growing appetite for retro-inspired interiors; everything from hot pink patterned wallpaper coming at us direct from the 70s to mid-century furnishings as Bauhaus – the school of thought which influenced the mid-century movement – celebrates its centenary.
The Seventies sway has been creeping into homes for a few seasons now and it’s thanks in no small part to our love affair with house plants.
House plants are now more popular than ever in the home and the bigger the better. Huge monsteras, which were the height of fashion in the 70s, are the go-to house plant. And for those of us who don’t have the greenest of fingers, faux plants are just as in vogue as their living, breathing counterparts.
We’re also seeing plant leaves on everything from wallpapers to bedspreads – ideal if you just want to tweak your existing interiors.
As for the mid-century movement, it is a look which is rarely out of fashion, which makes it ideal if you wish to invest in a statement piece that will stand the test of time.
So impactful are these iconic designs you can truly transform an entire room with just one purchase such as a statement chair. Go with the best your budget will allow and don’t be afraid to mix and match styles with your existing furniture.
And of course, shop around for some bargain second-hand steals.
CURTAIN COUTURE
WINDOW dressings have a huge influence on how a room looks and feels and never is this more pertinent than the winter months – where it often feels curtains and blinds are closed for most of the day.
There are endless options to dress your windows; you can choose to combine blinds and curtains in the same fabric for a look that truly packs a punch or upholster a window seat in a contrasting fabric to create a new focal point. This works especially well in living areas which in the past may have used the television as the main attraction but want to create something away from a screen.
If you do want to invest in new window coverings, popular fabric colours this winter and set to continue into the new year include rich jewel tones, warming shades and botanical prints.
If you favour a sleeker look, consider stand-alone plantation shutters or blinds.
Lesley Taylor is the author of 10 interior design books and has appeared on a range of network TV shows, including This Morning, giving inspirational advice on home styling.
For more information on her work, head to lesleytaylor.co.uk