ForLook Interior Design

Interior Design & Decor Ideas for the autumn

The clocks went forward yesterday, and the days will get shorter, colder, greyer and, until Christmas, it is officially Autumn.

During these months we tend to spend more time indoors and surround ourselves with warming, comforting, relaxing foods and objects. We take out our winter duvet, the woolly blankets and spend our evenings watching the telly on the sofa …and it’s hard to get up to do anything else..

However, you can make the winter months more bearable if you just add a few seasonal decorative items now - particularly in the space you spend most of your time.

To be able to do this, first you’ll need to follow some basic rules:

1, Have a neutral (and natural!) interior scheme that allows for adding seasonal trend and styles.
2, Spend more money on timeless objects and furniture - and smaller amounts on seasonal or fashionable items
3, Do not create a "design scheme" a la Changing Rooms - it’s not only naff but you can’t change it easily
4, Do not use matchy-matchy furnishing, patterns, objects - but don’t mis-match anything with anything either

If the above conditions are in place you’re ready to create the right atmosphere for the long autumn evenings.

1, Start thinking about your Christmas décor - try to fit your autumn décor within it
2, Look around your room and choose one colour that you like and represents autumn/winter. This will be the basis of your style!
3, Choose three shades of your colour - a light (maybe off white), a medium and a dark shade - buy or make some cushion covers and a bedspread or throw, some candles or candle-holders in these shades.
4, Change the light bulbs in a couple of lamps into red ones. These will uplift your mood during the evenings.
5, Light some scented candles!
6, Put nuts into small bowls - and place these around your home. Eat these as your comfort food (instead of chocolate!)
7, Cut some pampas grass & twigs,  if you have it in your garden (or buy some dried grass & reeds) - put them into smoked glass vases around your home. Collect acorns, chestnuts and leaves - display them around your home in a glass bowl.

Remember, this year, glamour is the interior design trend - so textures such as silk, velvet, satin, glass & mirror are very fashionable. Use these materials - but only on temporary (or seasonal) items & furnishing.

If you need professional interior design advice, ask one of our designers!