Decor 101: Autumn is Almost Here
With September 23rd and the beginning of a new season fast approaching, it's the perfect time to start thinking about updating the living room with some trendy new colours and patterns to match the season. Although autumn does not technically begin until late September, in the fashion world everybody looks to the American Labour Day holiday as a barometer of when the new styles will come into play. With that in mind, it's important to start early and plan ahead in order to make a successful transition into the fall.
Preparing for the City's Grey Weather
Autumn is a time when the leaves change as the weather starts to gradually get colder, but anybody familiar with Vancouver when the summer ends will realize it's not the same as the rest of Canada. The overcast, foggy days start to appear more frequently and the rain starts to take over, making it hard to keep a warm and sunny interior in the living room. Neutral colours like charcoal grey paired with blacks and beiges can keep the home looking stylish while not clashing with the current trends or weather. One strong, but subdued, colour like an orange or a bronze can add some life if the decor feels too depressing.
Decorating for the Holidays
One of the most popular ways to decorate for new seasons is to coordinate with the upcoming holidays to make the place feel festive when guests arrive. Thankfully, October in Canada has two back to back holidays with very similar sensibilities. With Thanksgiving on the 12th and Halloween on the 31st, there are two holidays to plan for that seem to come in rapid succession. Harvest colours and decorations work well for Thanksgiving, with subdued oranges and browns creating an aesthetic that not only matches the nature outside but also segues seamlessly into Halloween.
Taking a Colour Cue from Fashion Week
Every year the best of the best in the fashion world display the newest trends for the upcoming season during fashion week, with shows in some of the world's biggest cities. At the conclusion of the event, the Pantone Color Institute (the group responsible for one of the largest paint and printing matching systems) releases the official colour trends for the upcoming season. This information provides an incredible insight into which colours and patterns will be hot when the season rolls around and can be used to determine a new paint colour that will be sure to match the autumn trends. Officially the new colours are more natural and earthly neutrals and include unique shades like Dried Herb, Reflecting Pond, Stormy Weather and Desert Sage. Seasons are a great excuse to change things up inside the home and get some overdue redecorating done. It's just important to make sure the colour palette and tone matches the fall and the cool natural colours that will pop up outdoors. In Vancouver this means more greys and a sprinkle of harvest colours to match any greenery that may be changing colour.