Tips From An Interior Designer: How To Update Your Home For Autumn

It’s time to say goodbye to summer and start to embrace the AW16 trends. In terms of interiors, it’s easy to update your home for the new season by adding some key accessories, or you could go all out with a whole new look.

I sat down with interior designer Nancy Straughan from Hugo Oliver to go through the autumn trends…

What colours and textures are hot in interiors this AW16?

NS: The ‘70s interior trend is here to stay which means lots of deep and bold colours mixed with gold and brass tones. We can also expect to see a lot of dark woods and earthy textures. In terms of colour palettes, jewel-toned shades are going to be huge - with aubergine, dark emerald, petrol blue and rusty orange leading the way. If you prefer a neutral colour scheme, this ‘70s trend can be achieved with grey tones, but try to steer clear of the typical cool whites and magnolia shades. The boutique hotel look is also proving a very popular trend for AW16, which means lots of opulence, but comfort too. This look can be easily achieved by imitating your favourite hotel - think about matching your soft furnishings, accessories and walls for a unified look, with touches of metallics and deep cosy colours.

How can people update their home and add nods to the new trends cheaply and without doing any major changes?

NS: You can easily update your home with a few small additions. A huge impact can be made by simply updating your accessories - changing your cushions, lighting and small decorative items can give the whole room a completely new look. For a bolder change, you could consider repainting the room too - this can be really inexpensive if you do the hard work yourself. Look into colour trends to make sure that you choose a shade that remains trendy and current for years to come.

Most people focus on their living room when making seasonal changes, but how can you update your kitchen and bathroom too?

NS: Kitchen and bathrooms are fantastic neutral spaces to inject some new trendy ideas into. If you have the budget, you could consider updating tiles in your kitchen or bathroom - Moroccan and geometric patterned tiles are set to remain a huge trend into 2017, as well as chevron and scalloped designs. If you have a smaller budget you can simply update accessories to achieve a new and current look. For your bathroom, update old towels, toothbrush holders and storage to match the trends that are currently catching your eye. For your kitchen, you can do something very similar and update any accessories or serveware that have - by investing in a new collection of glasses, cutlery or tableware your kitchen can be updated very easily.

NS: If you have tired old cabinets or tiles in your kitchen and bathroom that you can’t afford to replace, you can now paint them with specialist cupboard and tile paints. Many paint companies now manufacture paints that perfectly cover carpentry and ceramic tiles, meaning that you can create a custom look for your kitchen and bathroom without having to spend a fortune. Simply make sure to buy the paint that is suitable for your type of cupboards and tiles and follow the instructions for a completely new look.

What are the kitchen and bathroom trends for AW16? Is black & white marble still as popular?

NS: White and grey is always going to be a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. To jazz up these neutral colour schemes, invest in a few trend-led accessories. The mid 20th-century era is fantastic inspiration for autumn and winter, as well as cool-toned and pastel colours. When opting for pastel-toned elements, make sure to steer clear of anything too girly or shabby chic. The shabby country cottage look is no longer so fashionable, but if you love a feminine colour palette, stick to simple and minimalistic styles.

What stores do you recommend for home accessories for AW16?

NS: I personally love H&M Home and Zara for inexpensive, yet trend focused accessories. Stores like these do a huge amount of research with regards to trends, so you are guaranteed to find pieces that are current and cool there. My other favourites include West Elm, Habitat and Heals for a mid-range to luxury budget. Habitat is always my go to store for anything classic and contemporary, whereas Heals is a fantastic spot for a little touch of luxury shopping. I also love The Conran Shop - even if your budget won’t stretch to the luxury designer items they stock, it’s a fantastic brand to look at for inspiration.

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