Williamson reveals autumn design and decor trends

Interiors specialist Elaine Williamson of Dallas-based Elaine Williamson Designs reveals 10 autumn design and decor trends and provides tips for home designers.

First, Williamson recommends introducing vintage accents; French burlap, an eco-friendly fibre, is being utilised for chic pillows/cushions imprinted with a vintage stamped design or even a family initial.

She added that accent chairs can also be seen covered in grey linen imprinted with vintage 'document' script writing.

Vintage couture lamps (and their replicas) are said to be on trend this year, especially those with milk glass and natural material bases, drum shades and antique brass finials.

Aged, colour-washed wood accessories such as candlesticks, urns and bowls are popular as oversized accessories to accent and update a time-worn look.

Second, with a decreasing demand for faux finishes and walls painted in solid primary colours, wallpaper is making a comeback.

From bright and bold to subdued and elegant, today's wallpapers are said to be simple to apply and even easier to remove.

Options include everything from solids to patters, according to Williamson.

Next, she recommends the use of timeless art; when shopping for items to occupy wall space, designers should get rid of quick-fix, 'matchy-matchy' pictures.

According to Williamson, art does not have to be expensive, but it should have meaning.

She believes that designers should purchase pictures they love and should mix mediums and styles.

Next, while neutrals have been prevalent in design this year for primary design elements such as walls and baseline furnishings, boldly coloured accent pieces give a space visual interest and appeal.

Brightly coloured and/or patterned pillows, rugs and other accessories will bring an otherwise bland space to life, according to Williamson.

Accessories can be transitioned to reflect the relevant season.

De-cluttering - even with respect to editing down furnishings and accessories - is the best way to gain control of surroundings.

It is important to streamline the lines of furniture and the bulkiness, she explained.

However, homeowners should not sacrifice comfort for style.

Homeowners often place too many items in a room, by way of accessories, cushions, throw rugs and family photos.

Williamson recommends carefully picking and choosing the most important items and paring down from there.

Her next recommendation involves rugs; even if a space has wall-to-wall carpeting, an area rug can be placed to establish a layered look and add depth and personality to a room and also to tie in other disparate colour components.

A rug's colour palette and pattern can establish the desired style and tone of a season, she said.

Bedding has also changed this year; instead of opting for overstuffed pillows, designers should choose neutral-coloured linens, especially when paired with a luxurious top blanket and a clean-lined duvet.

Designers wanting more colour than is representative of autumn or any other season can place two medium-sized pillows in front of each sham.

Today's pillow designs offer a variety of textures, colours, shapes, sizes and accents and can transform a room's aesthetic.

Accordingly, pillows have become the ultimate interior design accessory, especially as they are so versatile.

Homeowners should choose an assortment of pillows for the spring and summer and another set for the autumn and winter.

This is a simple and cost-effective way to seasonally transition a room.

Next, while many customers love luscious fabrics, an overuse of material on windows can overpower an otherwise streamlined room, according to Williamson.

She added that linen panels are now very trendy as they outline and soften windows.

This classic and timeless fabric is now available in a wide range of colours to co-ordinate with any interior scheme.

Finally, brass has come back into fashion; antiqued brass and even antiqued gold have both made a comeback on everything from drapery rods, cocktail tables, door and cabinet knobs and decor figurines.

Williamson believes that the light-reflecting surface of brass adds warmth, glow and movement to a space and is ideal in a room with a fireplace.

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