The seasons are changing and, right now, there is a palpable sense of excitement around the topic of interior autumn colours. At the UK’s design and decoration show, Decorex, the chat amongst interior professionals was dominated by the ‘energy of colour’.
‘Creating a warm and inviting atmosphere is now the ultimate reason for resetting rooms and Linwood's fabrics deliver just that this season,' says Ella Richards, Linwood's Head of Design. ‘Rich hues like deep red, burnt orange and hedgerow purple are taking centre stage. Combine these with warm greys and mellow yellows to add depth and variety to your interiors.’
Here’s the lowdown on interior design trends for autumnal colours and how you can decode them to achieve a tactile, sustainable and heartfelt home…
Top 10 Autumn Colours for Interiors
According to the global colour powerhouse, Dulux, over the last 10 years there’s been ‘an increase in preference for saturated, earthy, warm tones’ and this coming season’s top autumn interior colours fit this sentiment to a T. From wallpapers and curtain fabrics (Ruched Haze shown) to headboards and cushion covers, plains and patterns abound with high-spirited, appealing and sanctuary-style colour choices. Let’s take a look at the latest design trends…
Deep Red
Wine-inspired reds are on Autumn’s wish list and ticking all the boxes for sartorial satisfaction. Sunday Times Style called it a ‘vintage season’ for ‘boozy hues from claret to maroon to deep oxblood’. The beauty of a deep red is its ability to kickstart an interiors' scheme. Try the glamorous Kumo Flame (shown), a Japanese-inspired jacquard velvet, against a mustard yellow paint colour palette for a room that’s high on visual impact. Or dial it down with a classic country windowpane check (we like Belmont Tantallon) as an option for tailored curtains or dining chair upholstery.
Burnt Orange
Vivacious – one of Focus/24’s design directions – celebrates ‘the vibrant and the bold’. Burnt orange, is a good example of this style thinking and worth taking note of if you are drawn to a hot colour palette. More mature than its zingy summer sisters, these toasted oranges feel richer and more satisfying for the cooler months. Think of homemade marmalade or a glass of Cognac and you’re on the right track. The in-the-know design rule is to combine with charcoal, chocolate and teal for rooms that feel intense yet cocooning. The velvet Omega Papaya (shown) is the go-to choice for a sink-into sofa with attitude or for wool upholstery, try Faroe Tangerine.
Mellow Yellow
Dulux announced its Colour of the Year for 2025 as True Joy, an ‘uplifting yellow created to fill your homes with creative energy, optimism and pride’. Mellow yellows are the perfect glow up for an autumn interior revamp when daylight levels drop and spirits dip. The straw and sunflower tones are the ones to land on for year-round appeal. Headboards, Roman blinds and bed covers are clever colour catchers for boosting the mood in a cold bedroom. Choose a woven plain chenille, such as Stresa Mustard or Stresa Lemon (shown), for its delightful, feel-good handle that will take the shiver off a sleeping space. Oak furniture, rattan mirrors and pops of brushed bronze lighting are happy bedfellows.
Hot Pink
Pleasing pinks have finally come of age in the latest autumnal colour interior design trends. Aged and confident candy hues are combined with burgundy red, winter green and walnut brown for a classical approach with an oh-so-today twist. Chase down the slubby linen textiles decorated with whimsical motifs of large-scale ribbons, ruches and bows. Ruffled Rio (shown) hangs beautifully as puddling-length curtains to brighten a gloomy aspect and also injects a lady-like touch onto a daybed or sofa. Want to wrap walls with pink? Try Helter Skelter Lipstick wallpaper, a decorative stripe with a timeless soul.
Hedgerow Purple
Purples are a welcome colour choice during the short-day and long-night seasons. Blackberry, elderberry and plum hues love broody light so use them to create darkly romantic appeal in snugs, libraries and TV rooms. Cover a reading chair, for example, in Lana Byzantine (shown), a weave spun from Italian recycled wool, for the ultimate soft spot to devour your latest novel. These timeless design tones suit kitchens too where aubergine-hued cabinetry is highlighted with deep-veined marble and brushed steel.
Dark Brown
Brown has been happily trending all year in English interior design. For Autumn 2024, it's the super-dark iterations that are setting the bar with the most divine combinations that are easy to live with and easy to love. Seek out the high percentage cocoa and espresso hues rooted in a bittersweet vibe: printed linens with flairful designs, such as Ruched Soot (shown); cotton plains like Delta II Bark; and wool chenille herringbones, such as Faroe Hazelwood. Against a backdrop of warm cappuccino neutrals, nubbly sheepskins and knitted cushions, dark brown paint can also be used to highlight doors, dados, panels and frames.
Earth and Spice
Interiors inspired by Moorish medinas are shaping the way we decorate. Driven by warm and earthy tones with a red/orange edge – terracotta, ginger and paprika for example – these piquant colours embrace a space with a homely and reassuring atmosphere. They work particularly effectively in period renovations where original beams, plank floors and natural materials are your architectural skeleton. Consider carpet-inspired fabrics – Samimi Earth (shown) – for beating drafts at windows and layer up with handcrafted, souk-style detailing: kilim rugs, felted blankets, encaustic tiles and beaten metals.
Bright Blue
Cobalt blue is marching straight from its star turn on the summer catwalk into autumn decor. ‘Injections of bright colour can bring a sense of joy and playfulness,’ says interior designer Atlanta Bartlett, whose new book Romantic Minimalist is out now. ‘The key is to inject small nuggets on which to rest your eye and surround them with plenty of negative white space so they can breathe.’ Seek out eclectic glassware, hand blown pendants, trimmed scatter cushions, and velvet-lined chairs covered in mega geometrics (Pisqu Indigo shown). Modern accents to introduce alongside are indigo, tan and camel.
Warm Grey
The trend for blackened metal and wood endures in contemporary design circles. And it's the warm mineral greys in pile-high textiles – boucle, shearling, chenille and velvet – that are turning up the dial on the minimalist look this Fall. For reupholstery projects, think about opting for a semi plain for extra pattern interest: Tanaro Iron (shown) or Westray Dove Grey are serene and sophisticated examples. Dusty and blush pinks soften the effect of raw minimalism so introduce quietly on beaded blinds, knife-edge cushions and cashmere throws. Create enveloping mural effects with the ethereal Rumi Smoky wallpaper or use it to line feature walls or the back of bookshelves as a pocket-friendly talking point.
Forest Greens
Native greens – spruce, moss or olive – never go out of vogue when it comes to interior design trends. The reason? They act as a bridge between outside and inside, bringing nature indoors and boosting our sense of well being. Pattern is where it’s at when it comes to this colour group in Autumn 24. Stripes, ginghams and geometrics in slubby linens function well in practical spaces like kitchens and breakfast areas, while the latest Indiennes combined with small prints appeal in living and garden rooms. Choose chalk paints, glazed ceramics and playful fringing as your autumn decor texture touchpoints.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this round up of the 10 autumnal colours for 2024. Whatever you choose, seasonal updates don’t have to be a big investment. The thrill of a ready-made cushion, new curtains or an ottoman re-cover may be all that’s needed to give rooms an update. Head over to the site to filter by colour and find your favourite fabric, wallpaper or soft furnishing accessory today.