Home interiors: The interior and exterior trends predicted to be big this fall

Popular interior design themes for autumn/winter

1. Cocooning ambience

When autumn and winter starts drawing in, the nights get colder and darker, so it makes sense that you’d want to retreat to a place that’s cosy and inviting. That’s where cocooning décor comes in: its sole aim is to turn your home into a cosy nest, and nothing does this better than delicate pastel shades of blush pink and pistachio green. Blankets and cushions are both also essentials to achieving this look, and you can switch out any bulky sofas and chairs for lightweight, portable versions that you can stow away when you don’t need them. As a finishing touch, switch out your lightbulbs for warm, white ones, to remove any feelings of coldness.

2. Highland heritage

Inspired by the great outdoors and natural elements, the Highland heritage interior design trend sees the combination of rich, dark tones, and unrefined textures of traditional Scottish barns and cottages. Think heritage patterns such as herringbone, tartan, and houndstooth, and incorporate them through statement armchairs, cushions, and throws. Olive greens, dark greys, and deep reds are the three key colour shades to nail in this highland heritage dream.

3. Global essence

With lots of people choosing to avoid overseas travel due to the uncertainty, we’re seeing people incorporate global cultures and themes into their homes instead. This autumn/winter, hunt for handcrafted homeware products, such as rugs, wicker baskets, pottery, and wall hangings. The key to nailing the global essence look is to stop worrying about it looking perfect: instead, embrace imperfections, and mismatching knick-knacks.

Popular accessories to incorporate in your home

If you only want to invest in one or two pieces, then consider searching for unique, vintage antiques, such as trinket boxes, vases, or mirrors. If you’re on a budget, then head to your local charity shop to pick up a bargain.

Alternatively, to add warmth to your home, look for a statement rug. A key piece of any global essence home, search for a modern area rug that’s inspired by oriental and Islamic design, with a bold decorative pattern that will also fit in perfectly with the maximalist trend that’s taking over homes across the country.

In addition to a statement rug, you can add Metal Islamic Wall Art to your home to bring warmth and cultural essence. These stunning pieces of art can become a focal point of any room with their intricate designs inspired by Islamic art and calligraphy

If you want to get your teeth stuck into a crafty project, then why not try drying your own flowers (or buy some off Etsy if you can’t be bothered with the hassle!). They’ll last a lot longer than fresh flowers, and they’ll keep your home looking chic for months.

Other home accessory trends to consider are hanging lights, portable furnishings, and chequered patterns – especially on blankets and pillows.

Popular garden design themes for autumn/winter

Design trends don’t just stay inside the home. Here are the key trends you can follow to keep your garden looking chic over the coming months.

1. Escape to the country

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and create your own tranquil oasis, filled with rustic potted plants, containing homegrown produce like broccoli, parsnips, and cabbages. If you have the space, consider adding in a water feature, to add to the feeling of tranquillity (and block out any potential nearby road traffic!).

2. Party ready

Garden parties were a big thing this summer, and just because it’s getting a little colder, it doesn’t mean it’s going to stop! Create your own dedicated areas for socialising – think of a little patio with tables and chairs – along with a makeshift bar. Decorate your garden with fairy lights and bunting, and if you’re prone to getting chilly, why not invest in an outdoor heater?

3. Climate change

One garden trend to take the nation by storm this autumn/winter is gardening to help the climate. Choose plants that can fend for themselves, such as pansies and winterberries, as they’ll be able to cope with the colder months. When it comes to garden furniture, opt for tables and chairs in reclaimed wood, and other sustainable furniture.

Your zero-waste garden means that rather than creating any unnecessary waste, simply pile your fallen leaves in a corner and leave them to create a warm winter refuge for small animals, or collect rain to water your plants with, as opposed to using your tap.

4. Flowers and herbs

According to Instagram, pansies and violas are the flowers you should be planting this autumn/winter, along with snowdrops, winter jasmine, and winterberries. And if you haven’t already jumped on the trend of growing your own herbs, then it couldn’t be a better time to start. Chives, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme are all easy to grow and can withstand harsh winter weather.

Popular accessories to incorporate in your garden

If you’d like to create a subtle nod to one of these autumn/winter trends, as opposed to overhauling your entire garden, then purchase some textured throws in deep reds, browns, and greys, or purchase outdoor rugs to keep you extra toasty. This will come in handy if you create your own backyard cinema (it’s a huge trend on Instagram). Plus, if you create some handy storage space in your garden, it’ll mean you can safely stow away all of your blankets, to keep them safe and dry.

Alternatively, refresh your garden with some new paving, creating a path from your backdoor to the end of your garden, and give your old plant pots a lick of paint to freshen them up. We’d recommend opting for vibrant colours to brighten up the dreary grey days.

Whilst it’s great to update your garden and keep it looking chic and sophisticated, make sure you do your bit for wildlife too. Create your own hedgehog home with a wooden crate, some dry leaves, and straw, to keep them warm, and protected from the harsh winter weather.

Commenting on the trends, Chris King, head of home insurance at comparethemarket.com, says: “During lockdown, gardening and home decorating has been a lifeline for a lot of Brits and after spending all this time to perfect their homes, this new profound love will outlive lockdown.  Our research showed that as summer is winding down cosy fabrics, earthy tones and vintage pieces will be taking over the design scene in the coming months.

”Autumn is the season of change and new beginnings. As we refresh our space, we shall not forget the importance of securing our home and our belongings. By installing better locks to doors and windows or alarms, this could bring the cost of home insurance down.

”Other trends for autumn/winter include highland heritage, zero-waste garden, and creating hedgehog homes for your garden.”