Changing up the home for seasonal comfort can create a feeling of freshness and reinvigorate your living spaces. With autumn already here and winter fast approaching it’s time to look at quick and simple ways you can update your home’s interior design for the cooler months.
Use textured fabrics
Through the winter months we want to feel cosy and warm. Textured fabrics create a feeling of intimacy which can instantly make you feel at home, free from the cold exposure of the outdoors.
If your design theme tends towards a homestead, with plenty of wood, silky furs can help bring out the natural warmth of wood textures, while chunky rugs and throws encourage guests to sink into the couch and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa by the fire.
If your home has a more modern design, use block colours and slightly more subdued textures. Fend off the natural coolness of contemporary design by letting in ample light and offsetting metallic hues with non printed faux fur.
Pile on in the bedroom
Snuggling up in bed is one of winter’s perfect pleasures. Create an intimate feeling in the bedroom by layering your bedding to include textured blankets and a luxurious doona or duvet. Look for patterned greys, as well as the more traditional winter colours of blue and red.
If you have wood floors in the bedroom, you can chart a path to the bed using faux fur throws that are perfect for keeping your feet warm in the morning and the evening. Other trends include piling on more pillows and textured cushions to make the bedroom even more comfortable.
Tartan touches
For a country inspired bathroom, tartan towels and hand towels will accentuate the rustic finish of the space, while in more urban homes a tartan blanket can be made to work with almost any decor. While tartan is most commonly thought of as an autumn pattern, with a predominance of greens and oranges, try to look for more subdued ash and smoke tartans with minimal touches of dark blue or red.
Fake plants equal real comfort
It can be hard, not to mention expensive, to keep fresh flowers over the cooler months. If flora is the splash of colour you need, consider investing in some high quality fake plants to keep your indoor areas cheerful and bright for many winters to come. Not only do they not need watering, but you can choose from flora that wouldn’t commonly be available in Australia.
Matte finish metallics
If you’re looking for an on-trend item to update your interior design this winter, matte metallic hues are where you should invest.
While metallics have been popular for the last few winters, we’re now seeing darker styles, as the brighter coppers and bronze hues are giving way to a more industrial metallic palette.
For redecorating this could be in the form of armchairs or dining tables, while feature pieces could be candlesticks, picture and mirror frames, or a simple ornamentation piece for the mantle and sideboard.
Colour it cool
If you’re looking for colours to match against the matte metallics trend consider a palette of navy blues, emerald greens and lighter pinks. This could be used for feature walls, wall art, cushions or even a new armchair. As New Generation Homespoints out, all three colours look great contrasted against a metallic hue while maintaining the winter palette.
Home is where the hearth is
A wood or gas burning fireplace is the perfect winter centerpiece. Create a cosy, welcoming atmosphere in the living or sitting room. Adorn the mantle and fascia with stone tiles for a clean, stylish twist to the traditional firebox.
If you don’t have space for a fireplace inside, consider adding one to your outdoor setting. Friends and family can gather round and roast marshmallows while glamping in the backyard. In the warmer months it can even double as a pizza oven for the ultimate in outdoor entertaining.
50 Shades of Grey
From woodsmoke and frosted glass to silvered branches the tranquility of the neutral grey palette is on full display this winter. Decorate your home with bed linens in ash and pearl grey, throw cushions in soot and woodsmoke, and highlight with daring midnight blues of indigo and ink throw rugs and silky, velvet textures.
Grey hues are neutral tones that will continue to look good for many seasons to come, and make it easy to update your furnishings to the latest trends without having to buy whole new sets.
For doors and windows, choose metallic retractable flyscreens to stay in vogue but also keep out any unwanted pests.
Highlight the study with vintage items
Hit the local trash and treasure markets in search of the perfect old world adventurer items to turn your study or work area into a dignified delight. Items you’ll want to look out for include:
- old luggage and suitcases
- mounted atlases
- vintage hardcover books
Give the space a naturalist slant with etymology prints of plants, butterflies and insects in botanical green hues to soften the explorer artifacts. Though it might be cold outside in winter, you can still go adventuring in the study.
