Seasonal shade Will you go gooey over Spiced Honey?
As the ‘colour of the year’ is revealed to mixed reaction, Jessica Doyle explains how to make autumn’s hottest hue work in your home
Anew season signals a host of new homeware collections and, if not necessarily a wholesale redecoration, perhaps a bit of a refresh. Whether you’re looking for a new sofa, the latest paint colours or some up-to-date accessories, here are six key interiors trends you need to know about for autumn 2018…
A taste of honey
This week, Dulux announced its Colour of the Year: Spiced Honey – a caramel tone that has drawn mixed responses. To come up with its must-have colour, the paint brand assembles a team of designers, architects and trend forecasters to assess the global mood – which they do two years in advance – and for 2019 they have decided that we all need comfort and optimism; hence the golden tones of Spiced Honey.
That said, a whole room of it might look a little too, well, brown – but Dulux’s creative director Marianne Shillingford advises using it as an accent, or pairing it with another colour. Chalky white or charcoal grey are good for contrast, while cool pastels such as blush pink will freshen it up.
High-street brands are already getting in on the act, suggesting ways to incorporate the colour into a contemporary look. According to Hannah Thistlethwaite, a buyer at Heal’s, “buttery leather furnishings will enhance the amber pigments of the shade, while bright brass finishes will gently lift the energy within the room”.
We’re certainly likely to see more of it over the coming year. Heart Wood, Dulux’s shade for 2018 – a pale, dusty plum – seemed something of a non-colour when it was announced, but has since seeped into the mainstream.
Wild side
Animal print was all over the autumn/winter catwalks, so it was only a matter of time before it started to claw its way into interiors. Leopard is, of course, the classic, but can be tricky to get right – unless you’re deliberately channelling Bet Lynch. Teamed with toffee colours (Spiced Honey, perhaps), classic leopard gives a safari vibe; Zara Home’s leopard bed linen would certainly make a statement, while Content by Conran’s 59th Street sofa comes in a subtler taupe print. A cushion or lamp (Barlow & Barlow’s ceramic bases are very pretty) are a nod to the trend. Zebra print adds a bit of interest to a monochrome interior – again, Zara Home has got this one covered with its leather rug – and the cheetah is also making an appearance this season, offering an alternative take on spots. Oka’s goat-hair cheetah-spot cushion and floor cushion look both chic and cosy.
More is more
Embellishment is key – trimmings, tassels and fringing are springing up on smaller accessories such as lamps, as well as sofas and chairs. The maximalism trend is not going anywhere. At the upper end, Samuel & Sons has three new collections of handmade borders and trims that can be added to furniture, cushions or curtains, including one with bold Mexican motifs (the Frida Kahlo look is still going strong). Jessica Light gives passementerie a cool, modern edge, with tassels, tie-backs and braids in on-trend colours; some in leather, others with macramé and wooden beads.
For the less crafty, ready-fringed seats can be found at Soho Home, House of Hackney and Graham & Green; Rockett St George has plenty of fringed lampshades; and embellished cushions are at H&M and Habitat.
Natural selection
The plastic backlash has seen a move towards natural, sustainable materials this year – cork being one of them. It might bring up retro connotations, and not necessarily good ones, but it can look modern and stylish. At recently opened London restaurant Hide, interior designer Rose Murray of These White Walls has used cork panelling, which references the restaurant’s impressive wine cellar and lends it a warm, comfortable atmosphere. To recreate the look at home, try a cork wallpaper from Graham & Brown or Andrew Martin. At Nove Lighting, Portuguese cork has been combined with brass to make minimal lighting. Elsewhere, Ikea has just launched a new cork collection, including storage boxes, trays, table lamp and cabinet.
Edgy florals
Floral patterns never really went away, but they’re now bigger and bolder. House of Hackney is one of the brands responsible for bringing back botanical prints, and its latest designs are splashed over (fringed) sofas, chairs and chaises longues, as well as
cushions, fabrics and wallpapers. Anthropologie’s new collection gives the floral country-house look a modern update, with patterns in pink, mustard, greens and blues, on chairs and sofas, bed linen, rugs and some very pretty tableware. Sofa Workshop has taken prints from the V&A’S archive to use on sofas, armchairs and footstools (launching next week) that give florals a contemporary look. Meanwhile, fashion favourite Matilda Goad has teamed up with Liberty for a new version of her scalloped raffia lampshades, lined with ditsy prints. To give florals an edge, go for dark colourways, such as Alexander Mcqueen’s dramatic black design for The Rug Company, now also available in cushion form (Amara has some less expensive options). A dark floral wallpaper or mural – Surface View has several Old Master-esque designs to choose from – adds a touch of drama.
The dark side
Interior palettes have been getting darker of late, as pale grey tones have gradually turned to charcoal, navy blue and black. It’s a strong look for walls, which works particularly well with the velvet furniture that is still everywhere, and makes a great background for hanging pictures and photographs. Choose paint colours wisely: any black paint will always have another tone within it, whether it be blue, green or red, which will affect the overall feel of the room. Dark-painted kitchen units look striking with marble surfaces and brass handles, and black is also making its way into bathrooms, with industrial, Crittall-style shower screens and black taps.
Interior designer Abigail Ahern was among the first to champion a dark aesthetic, and has expanded on it this season with new accessories for Debenhams, runners and rugs for Roger Oates, and curtains and blinds for Hillary’s. And as an entry point into this dramatic trend, there is plenty of black tableware to be had at Sainsbury’s, Made.com and Habitat.