I recently went on a vacation to New England, where the fall foliage was magnificent. The beautiful oranges, reds and golds were truly a feast for the eyes. Let’s not underestimate California, however. In wine country, we have a fall foliage extravaganza of our own taking place right now. A weekend getaway to Healdsburg and Geyserville, featuring acres of golden-hued vineyards, was every bit as breathtaking as parts of New England.
Vineyards in Geyserville, Ca
Walpole, New Hampshire
Many of my clients prefer the warm, rich colors of autumn to cooler palettes of blues and grays. Those clients enjoy the warmth exuded by orange, red and gold. Warm colors tend to advance toward you in a room, so rooms decorated in a fall color palette feel cozy and comfortable—like a big hug.
This guest bedroom is a great example of decorating in autumn colors. We chose a mostly monochromatic orangey-brown color scheme, with touches of gold and bronze finishes. The wallpaper on all the walls wraps the room in color, and the doors trim is painted in a contrasting, yet still warm-toned Navajo White.
If you like the colors of autumn, you have many to choose from. Think of the seasonal fall produce for color inspiration: persimmons, pumpkins, butternut squash, red and green pears, sweet potatoes, pomegranates and golden and red beets. Notice the combination of leaves on the trees outside and pair your colors accordingly. Mother nature always gets it right.
For a monochromatic color scheme, choose one main color and decorate with darker and lighter versions of that color. For example, in the bedroom photo, you’ll notice lighter and darker shades of orangey-browns and tans in the bedding, carpeting, wallpaper and the wood tones in the furniture.
An analogous color scheme pairs colors next to each other on the color wheel. For example: yellow, orange and green. Imagine golden yellow walls, with an avocado or sage green sofa, and pillows in persimmon and pumpkin colors.
A complementary scheme combines colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Red and green are classic examples of complementary colors. For an autumn color scheme, combine deep forest green with pomegranate red, or the rich burgundy of red wine. Add touches of gold in the light fixtures or pillows to round out this elegant look.
In fall colors, your home will always exude coziness and warmth.
