Autumn Interior Design Inspiration
As John Keats famously wrote, autumn is the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’. The days grow shorter, the light turns golden, and the rustic amber leaves carpet the ground in a colourful quilt. Autumn stirs the senses and inspires creativity, inviting us to bring those rich hues and textures indoors.
Today, we share our expert interior design tips and autumn fabric recommendations to help you bring the warmth of the season into your home.
A palette of warm autumn colour fabrics
When the crisp autumn air takes hold, there’s no better feeling than cosying up in your own warm and inviting indoor retreat. And the best thing is, you don’t need a roaring fire to create that comforting autumnal glow.
Autumn fabrics in shades of terracotta, saffron, ochre, and lichen instantly bring depth and warmth to any room. For example, you could upholster a tub chair in our May Blossom design in Light Peach and Charcoal, or hang made to measure curtains in our Fern & Dragonfly Raspberry fabric to echo the crackling hues of the fallen leaves outside.
Patterns inspired by falling leaves and foliage
For over 25 years, trees and hedgerows have inspired Vanessa’s distinctive designs. With their glorious russet tones and natural motifs, our collection of autumn leaves fabrics are perfect for connecting your interiors with the season’s shifting landscape.
In the sitting room scene above, you can see a pair of our Sapperton chairs in Cow Parsley Saffron and Charcoal and a Traditional sofa in our Up the Garden Path design in Light Lichen. The autumn vibe is completed with a pair of roller blinds in our Leaf Dance Saffron and Charcoal colourway. These designs capture the shapes, shades, and textures of foliage, helping to celebrate the quiet beauty of the season.
Layering autumnal textures and patterns
Autumn encourages us to embrace layering, not just in our wardrobes but also in our interiors. Mixing autumn colour fabrics with complementary patterns allows you to coordinate curtains, cushions, and lampshades for a cohesive autumnal scheme. Plain linens, woven stripes, and embroidered details all add richness and depth, making your room feel snug and lived-in.
Don’t be afraid to combine bold patterns with gentle plains, either. For example, you could pair a patterned curtain with a plain sofa in a coordinating autumnal fabric to create balance, and scatter in a few cushions in contrasting designs for added visual interest. The overall effect is layered, cosy, and unmistakably autumnal.
Styling seasonal soft furnishings
No autumn home is complete without some seasonal soft furnishings. Create a cosy, cocooning feel away from the harsh outdoor elements by adding a hand-stitched quilt to your bed or draping one across your sofa. These pieces are multifunctional – allowing you to warm your toes, brighten your corners, and showcase some beautiful autumnal fabrics.
Don’t forget about the headboard, either! A headboard upholstered in a bold autumn fabric, such as our Lapland Stripe design in Cornflower, Terracotta, and Damask, bordered by Little Fern in Peach, can become a striking focal point. Not only does it anchor the room, but it also ties together your curtains, cushions, and other soft furnishings, adding both warmth and visual harmony to your space.
Lighting that fits the mood
As the days grow shorter, lighting becomes all-important in setting the mood. The best autumn interiors glow beautifully under soft pools of lamplight and the gentle flickering of candlelight. You could craft your own lampshade in one of our autumn fall fabrics to instantly transform a simple base into a seasonal statement. Top off the look by adding fairy lights or lanterns around your room to enhance that golden glow and echo the warm hues of cosy autumn evenings.
Bring the spirit of the season indoors with our beautiful autumnal fabrics
We are proud to offer a huge selection of autumnal fabrics that are perfect for bringing the joy of the season indoors. This autumn, why not purchase our fabrics by the metre and spend those cosy evenings crafting your own one-of-a-kind pieces, or choose from our made to measure range and add some instant seasonal flair to your space? That way, your home won’t just be a retreat from the chill; it’ll become a true celebration of autumn itself.
Book your free showroom consultation today and we’ll help you create a design that perfectly captures your autumnal vision.
Founder and owner of Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics. Vanessa creates content around fabric types, blind styles and curtain designs to best suit the needs of Vanessa Arbuthnott customers.
