As days get cooler, nights get longer and summer fades into fall, visions of picking apples, turkey dinners and falling leaves begin to enter our minds. This shift in seasons is not only seen outdoors but is also accompanied by changing trends around the home. While summer was saturated with bright colours and bold patterns, the emphasis this autumn is on graphic prints, moody colours and natural elements.
Winter is a time for warm sweaters, hot drinks and holiday parties. It’s about snow-covered mountains and ski-in cabins. But for those who find it’s a time to escape the elements by keeping cozy and staying dry inside, it’s important to create a space that delights your senses and keeps you stimulated. Updating your home with the hottest trends of the season will keep you warm the colder it gets outside.
The geometric craze from the fall will continue this winter with homeowners playing with patterns on curtains, lamp shades, rugs and throw pillows. The simple geometric shapes provide a clean design, yet offer the ability to experiment with different patterns and colour combinations.
Unexpected colour combinations may not jump out at the untrained eye but, when done correctly, can add the right amount of emphasis to a certain area of your home. Interior Designer Lily Li at Vancouver’s Sublime Interior Design suggests that orange and navy mixed with west coast greys and beiges are currently increasing in popularity. While orange isn’t always a homeowners first choice, as it can be difficult to incorporate into existing décor, it is one of the strong jewel tones that will dominate homes throughout the winter.
Being open to mixing classic colours with stronger, flashier hues lets old favourites shine in a new way for the winter months. Colour blocking with the bright tones of the season makes quite the statement.
Keeping your home cozy – and on trend – will be easy this coming winter, as faux furs will be making a comeback. Whether it’s an area rug, throw pillow or blanket, fur is an easy update that can be pulled out for a few months and put away when the season ends.
This winter brings a balancing act – not only with colours and the mixing of brights and neutrals, but mixing old with new, design with comfort and conservative with bold. The mix of raw elements with contemporary design that was prominent in the fall will continue to be popular throughout the coming months.
If you plan to spend much of your time indoors once the weather turns, you’ll want to keep your home light and bright. The end of the year and the beginning of the next will see a focus on minimalism. Paring down your décor allows your space to feel more open and airy, which is essential when it’s feeling dark outdoors.
As your calendar changes to December, so, too, can your home décor. Li suggests using twigs as an easy accessory for the upcoming winter season. Filling a vase you already have at home or adding twigs to an existing arrangement brings the outdoors in, while sprucing up your interior with an unexpected element.
“Changing accessories and accent pieces to a space is an easy and cost effective way to revamp a space,” says Li. An easy way to make a statement this season? “Play with scale,” Li suggests. “Go BIG!” Centrepieces are a quick way to transform a table and Li notes that oversized floral arrangements are currently popular for such a setting.
By adding big pieces to your home, you’re able to change the look, feel or colours according to the season, without making permanent updates that you may regret as the trends change. Another accessory that is a must-have for the coming months include cherry blossoms. They are a natural addition to any home that can complement an existing space without breaking the budget.
Bar carts are all the rage right now and are the perfect accessory for entertaining during the holidays. Displaying your drinks for friends is both functional and fun, and adds an element of sophistication to your space even after your party guests have left. Look for a bar cart with a vintage element or one that plays on the mix of metals, like bronze or brass, that are currently popular.
When it comes time to dig out your warm sweaters and wool socks, keep in mind that updating your space for the season can be just as easy as unpacking a few items. Bringing in bold jewel tones, geometric patterns or outdoor elements can brighten up your home on the darkest of days.
By Ashley Stephens
