GOING GREEN & GETTING COSY
Interior designer discusses the power of plants and other decor trends for fall
When it comes to home decor and furnishing trends for fall, houseplants top the list, says Vancouver-based interior designer Catherine Yuen, who assists HGTV Worst to First hosts Mickey Fabbiano and Sebastian Sevallo with their major home reno projects.
In all its big leaf glory (in both plant and print form), the wildly popular Monstera plant is still going strong, says Yuen, appealing to those who like a boho flavour in their homes as fresh, clean design. For those who want a modern cottage look, indoor olive and lemon trees are increasingly popular, she says.
Keeping olive trees alive and well indoors usually comes down to how much natural light they get, says Yuen, and the same for the equally popular fig trees. Fiddle leaf fig trees have been all the rage for the past few years, she says, but they are somewhat high maintenance as they can be hard to keep alive.
“The fiddle leaf fig can grow quite large, requires a lot of sunlight, and care, and the leaves can burn quite easily,” she says.
If Yuen had one home decor trend prediction for fall, it would be the rise of the long leaf fig tree, she says, because it’s easier to “keep alive.”
The fear of killing off your plants is a real and valid one (many of us do it), and it explains the popularity of plants like succulents, cacti and ZZ plants, along with the increasing number of “really good faux fruit trees” that are coming out, says Yuen.
“I love the colour green. I find it refreshing, and it brings a calming energy. I like to vary the size of the plants in my home. I have smaller ones in little ceramic pots, and larger ones, like the Monstera, or money tree that you can put in the corner to balance out larger pieces of furniture,” she says.
The challenge with apartment living and plant ownership is obviously floor space, so you have to think more creatively, she says.
“I like to use hanging plants and having them cascade down in a corner, or along a shelf, or on a wall. It’s a good way to keep it off the floor and the surfaces of your furniture,” she says.
People are doing some exciting things with hanging vases now, says Yuen, and thrift stores are a great place to find houseplant accessories and pots.
Other budget-friendly home-decor trends for fall are cosy knits, pillows and blankets.
“I also know there are a lot of people who are big fans of summer colours and energy and I think it’s perfectly fine to carry that through the fall and the winter as well,” she says.
You can complement these summery colours with more wintry home scents in candles and essential oils.
Replace citrus and coconut scents with amber moss, warm vanilla or musk, she says.
The colours of your walls become even more important in the cooler months, as we spend more time indoors, says Yuen, so it’s a good time to start thinking about the colour of your walls and bring in some natural hues and muted tones.
“You could go with bold colours, like burgundy, forest green or navy blue. A sophisticated colour adds interest and changes up the vibe in the room,” she says.
I like to use hanging plants and having them cascade down in a corner, or along a shelf, or on a wall. It’s a good way to keep it off the floor.