It may be chilly outside but indoors it’s cosy, thanks to fabrics that embrace autumn interior design trends, bringing warmth, comfort and effortless style to our homes. From natural materials such as wool and linen, to eco-friendly velvets that add understated luxury whilst caring for the planet, we dive into the standout fabric trends for autumn.
Why Fabric Trends Matter in Autumn Interior Design
Just as the first hint of autumn sees us reappraising our wardrobes and swapping lightweight pieces for cossetting knits, the darker, cooler days encourage us to cosy up our homes. And what’s one of the most important elements in achieving an autumnal scheme? Fabrics.
A bedspread in a chunky weave adds another layer of warmth to a bedroom; interlined velvet curtains feel wonderful drawn against a chill; and a sofa prepped with tactile cushions invites evenings by the fire. An ottoman re-covered in wool becomes a soft landing spot.
‘This autumn, we are continuing to see a demand for fabrics that are both eco-friendly and hard wearing,’ notes Ella Richards, Head of Design at Linwood. She adds, ‘It’s never been easier to create schemes that are sophisticated yet sustainable.’ Shown here is our glorious Ruffled design, printed on eco-friendly linen – the cinnamon and ink tones beautifully celebrate the rich, earthy tones of the changing seasons.
Cosy Comfort With British Wool
The trend for natural, sustainable materials continues to gather momentum, with more and more homeowners turning to eco-friendly fibres for beauty and warmth. Wool remains a standout choice, and for good reason: it is entirely renewable and biodegradable and boasts insulating properties that help add warmth as the thermometer drops. Add to this wool’s inherent strength and its ability to repel spills and you have a winning choice for upholstery and soft furnishings alike.
Our Balvenie collection is dyed, spun and woven in Lancashire and comes in lovely, muted shades inspired by the British countryside. A tactile, timeless choice that will add visual interest and an inviting atmosphere to modern and traditional spaces alike.
Performance Velvets & Decorative Prints
Autumn interior design trends are seeing a rise in demand for highly durable fabrics that deliver luxe appeal. Originally the stalwarts of boutique hotels, fabrics such as elegant synthetic velvets and tactile blended linens are top of our autumn wish lists, delivering elegance and longevity in equal measures. A perfect example is our Helter Skelter velvet, an arresting print that takes its inspiration from 17th century domino paper. ‘We first introduced it as a linen, but it proved so popular that we decided to print it on our super-soft Omega velvet, too,’ explains Ella. The velvet, which is exceptionally robust and stain resistant, has an ability to reflect the light, giving the bold patterns and rich colours an added sense of depth. ‘We created twenty-one colourways, from warming spice shades to lovely smoky blues,’ she says, adding, ‘This is a fabric that looks amazing on a large-scale piece such as a sofa, or made into full length curtains.’
Recycled Cotton Fabrics for a Natural Look
Interiors decorated with natural materials – think soft cottons, linens and wools teamed with artisan-made wooden furniture, for example – are one of the key approaches in autumn decorating. Pieces that bear the mark of the craftsman, from hand-thrown pots to treasured antique furniture, bring a sense of honesty to a home and are perfectly complimented with tactile fabrics that invite relaxation. Cotton fabrics are usually a less eco-friendly option as they require a lot of water to produce but our sustainable solution to this is Verde, a collection of plain fabrics woven from 80 per cent cotton recycled from the fashion industry. Breathable and double brushed to give an inimitable softness, they lend themselves perfectly to curtains, upholstery or throws and the palette of no less than 46 colours is massively versatile: we like to team Saffron (pictured) with neutrals such as Oatmeal and Portobello – or try adding extra depth with rich colours such as Spice and Mushroom.
Eco Velvets & Sustainable Luxe
Autumn interior design trends are also championing innovative man-made options that offer seriously sustainable credentials. Our Omega IV collection of eco velvets is woven using recycled polyester in the pile to create a gorgeous fabric that delivers understated glamour in spades. Luxurious to the touch, it is hard wearing, stain resistant, inherently fire resistant and, better still, kind to the planet… what’s not to love?
It’s an inspired choice for everything from seating to headboards to the most touchy-feely curtains. The 154 trend-led colours make for limitless ideas. ‘We are particularly loving forest greens, inky blues and burnt orange,’ comments Ella. ‘These rich yet warming shades are comforting and also fabulous for a room geared towards entertaining.’
How to Layer Fabrics for Autumn Warmth
Layering is one of those autumn interior design trends that will never go out of style. The good news is that a layered scheme can be achieved with a few simple tweaks – think textural cushions added to a sofa, or a sumptuous velvet bedspread teamed with crisp cotton sheets. The trick when mixing fabrics is to select an array of textures, to create visual interest as well as all-important warmth and comfort: combine tactile wool with characterful linens and cottons for an inviting mix of natural textures, for example, or contrast smooth silk cushions with upholstery in luxuriously soft eco velvet. The pleasing array of textures in this bedroom sees linen drapes – in our elegant Arley linen-viscose blend – teamed with cushions in a mix of linens and velvets – note the cushion trims, which add to the layered effect.
Bringing Autumn Design Trends Into Your Home
With their focus on warmth, texture and sustainability, today’s autumn interior design trends are delivering schemes that feel comforting and considered; soothing yet ever-so-stylish. Many of Linwood’s fabrics tap into these trends, so we hope you enjoy exploring the collections.
Remember that contrasts are key when devising an autumn scheme: see how this calming room is all about balance, where the sofa and ottoman in our chunky Tanaro are teamed with natural elements such as reclaimed wood, stone and metal. And don’t forget that our free sample service enables you to play around with patterns, colours and textures – helping you put together your dream scheme for autumn.
Want more inspiration? Discover Autumn's top 10 colours.