I was introduced to the work of Sarah Hogan the other day via Heart Home Magazine, and ended up spending way too long clicking through each and every one of the delectable photos in her online portfolio. The images I’ve pulled for this post got me to thinking about a color scheme for Autumn decorating – I prefer a look that is focused on warm neutrals, interesting textures, and just one or two main colors pulled from the Autumn landscape.
The image above is a perfect example of how keeping the color palette restrained creates a look that feels really rich and sophisticated. The interest comes from texture: oversize, chunky knits, worn wood, buttery leather, nubby linen, fluffy cashmere and hand-thrown pottery. Colors in a range of café, butterscotch, taupe, and a bit of blue-gray harmonize nicely, don’t you think?
Yellow in a deeper shade like in the bedspread above, almost mustard, feels autumnal in a fresh, modern way. Geometric motifs, a clean-lined Saarinen table and Jonathan Adler kitty sculpture keep things crisp and neat.
I like the idea of doing a Fall cleaning – like Spring cleaning, but more focused on clearing clutter and paring down. Life tends to get a little crazy beginning in the Fall, with more school and work events, more cooking going on in the kitchen, more stuff. It would be nice to kick things off with a clean slate. As the season ticks along I would add back in layers to comfort and warm: thick throws, soft rugs, branches and leaves collected on walks, and plenty of candles.
I have a friend who likes to swap out her art on a seasonal basis, and I think this is a wonderful idea for all of us to adopt. If you want to make things really easy, install a few picture rails – then you can simply place frames or unframed prints on top and move them around whenever you like. I want to do this in my living room!
Do you decorate differently based on the season? I think making even a few little tweaks – lighting your candles more often, cutting an interesting branch in the garden – can make a lovely difference. I just spent an hour over the weekend moving furniture around yet again – this time I floated my sofa near the fireplace, creating a cozy grouping for Fall gatherings. How will you be welcoming the season?
(all images: Sarah Hogan Photography)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
OH MY GOODNESS I love that chunky knit blanket in the first image. I could curl up in it all day long. It *almost* makes me feel excited for winter.
Ha ha! I know exactly what you mean…I LOVE Fall, but Winter? No thank you! xo Laura
Thanks for the Heart Home link the other day, it was a nice treat! I like the idea of seasonal decorating but I don’t usually get it together to actually do it. Except for one bowl that I fill with mini pumpkins in the fall, pine cones in the winter, and shells and stones in spring and summer. That is all I can manage. But it never hurts to dream of doing something more grand in the future.
I’m so glad you liked it, Cindy! :) I’m pretty sporadic in my own attempts to decorate with the season – I might have a nice flower arrangement or bowl of pears or something, but not much beyond that! Though this year I am really liking my new furniture arrangement :) xo Laura
love these images and all your ideas! I am wanting to use those mustard colors and greys to make a comfy fallish throw. Your idea of switching out art every season reminds me of the preschool seasonal table that I am in the process of changing up in my class right now. :)
Oh Summer, you’re making me miss the classroom (I used to teach!) :) Your idea for a throw sounds lovely! xo Laura