Design Bloggers on Fall's Top Trends

What's hot in home decor this season? Ten top design bloggers share the fall decorating trends they can't get enough of. Plus, big and small ways to incorporate the looks into your home.

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August 19, 2015

By: Liz Gray

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Photo By: Courtesy of Thibaut ©Image Courtesy of Thibaut

Photo By: Design by Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Design by Lynn Byrne, Decor Arts Now; Photo by Ellen McDermott

Photo By: Design by Buckingham Interiors and Design, LLC

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Design by Buckingham Interiors and Design, LLC

Photo By: Design by Nyla Free Designs; Photo by Jared Sych Photography for Avenue Magazine, Calgary Alberta

Photo By: Design by Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Design by Traci Zeller

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Photo By: Design by Milk and Honey Home

Photo By: Design by Sarah Richardson

Photo By: Design by Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Design by Ana Donahue

Photo By: Design by Manvi Drona-Hidalgo

Photo By: Erin Williamson

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Photo By: Courtesy of Graham & Brown

Photo By: Regan Wood/ Claire Paquin

The Trend: The New Neutrals

"Colorless design is something that is really striking a chord as new and fresh," says Brian Patrick Flynn of Decor Demon. "It's all about the use of texture and shape rather than color and contrast." Here, grass-cloth wall covering, 3-D art and fur accessories add interest without bright hues.

Get the Look: White on White

"One of the ways I'm using it is by layering several shades of parchment with ultra white," Brian says. "It's gorgeous, fresh and unexpected. Hmmm, beige and unexpected are two words I never thought I'd use together."

The Trend: The Curated Look

"The 'curated look' is the biggest design trend this fall," says Lynn Byrne of Decor Arts Now. "It is a liberating trend; the only rule is that you collect and display what you love. What something costs is irrelevant; whimsy and quirkiness are a plus."

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Get the Look: Create a Gallery Wall

"The easiest way to inject the 'curated' look into your home: Hang your pictures and objects 'salon'-style as a gallery wall," Lynn says. This gallery wall in her home includes architectural drawings of the house, a Fornasetti plate, a print by Hugo Guinness and art sourced on Etsy and at thrift shops and flea markets.

The Trend: Mix-and-Match Styles

Designer Julia Buckingham Edelman adds that the curated look extends from accessories to furniture. "Instead of the idea that all interior spaces have to match, my clients are allowing me a more creative and unique approach to their interiors," she says. We are taking more risks in mixing and matching style and design genres." Here, a white-and-silver palette unifies new and old items.

Get the Look: Create Unexpected Vignettes

To mix and match styles effortlessly at home, gather up a few unique pieces that you love. Thinking in groups of three to five, "look at what could be moved and integrated with other existing pieces to shake things up," Julia says. "Reconfiguring new and existing pieces in an experimental way can allow for the most unusual of pairings."

The Trend: Mixing Bright Colors

Incorporating bright colors is the perfect nod to fall. "Mixing various colors is always a great trend without committing to just one or two [colors]," designer Ana Donohue says.

From: Ana Donohue

Get the Look: Go Big or Go Home

Look to the wall, furniture and small furnishings as an opportunity for adding color. "The trick is creating a rhythm throughout the room and making sure the colors connect to each other," she says.

Get the Look: Try Flea Market Finds

If you're just starting to furnish a room, search yard sales or flea markets for something you're head-over-heels for, then build the room around that. "I always find that if you love a piece or accessory you will always find a place for it," Julia says.

The Trend: Distinct Design

"A fall trend I see is distinct design, where people embrace how they live and where they've been, each room telling a story about their lives," says designer Nyla Free.

Get the Look: Display a Collection

"Sharing collectibles, whether books, art or a grouping of like items in a space, not only adds personality but offers conversation pieces," Nyla says. "Design is about confidence in who you are and what you love." Skateboards in the dining room? If that's your passion, it can totally work.

The Trend: High Contrast

"I continue to see high contrast as a very strong trend this fall," says designer Traci Zeller. "The soft, muddy colors that were so popular have evolved into cleaner brights."

Get the Look: Bright on Black

"It's easy to bring high contrast into your own home by adding basic elements in white, black and the color of your choice," Traci says. Paint a wall black or dark gray and watch bright accent colors spring to life.

Get the Look: Try a Tray

Smaller bits of bright hues can invigorate your decor, too. "Pillows, throws, ottomans and lacquered trays are inexpensive ways to inject color and contrast into a monochromatic space," Traci says.

The Trend: The Human Touch

One-of-a-kind pieces with textural details are huge this fall, says Jennifer Mehditash of the blog Dec-a-Porter. "Look for ceramics being manipulated to look like glass, hand-carved wood, hammered metals and textured glass adding multiple levels of texture and detail to each and every piece," she says.

Get the Look: Find Artisan Accessories

To add texture and interest to your home, seek out one-of-a-kind pieces with handmade details. But keep then neutral: "It's the strong absence of color that makes these accessories contemporary," Jennifer says.

The Trend: Americana Design

For fall, designer Lori Dennis is looking forward to neutral rooms paired with handmade, traditional pieces. "Look for Americana-style antique and vintage-inspired accessories, celebrating handcraftsmanship," she says.

From: Milk and Honey Home

Get the Look: Vintage Accessories

"For a small fix, a design lover can keep their eyes open at flea markets and yard sales for fabulous and inexpensive accessories, like old toys, quilts and kitchen items," Lori says.

Get the Look: Lighten Up

"For a larger project, paint walls back to light, neutral colors and refinish wood floors in lighter colors," Lori says.

The Trend: Bold Graphic Patterns

"Bold graphic patterns used to be the exception, but now they are the rule," says designer Stacy Naquin. "Even those homeowners who haven't historically liked pattern are finding ways to incorporate it into their homes. Graphic patterns work whether you want to experiment with accessories (like a pillow) or plunge right in with wallpaper."

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Get the Look: A Little Bit of Pattern

Not ready to try high-contrast wallpaper on all four walls? There's a compromise, Stacy says. "Try using graphic wallpaper on the back of bookshelves. It gives you that great dose of pattern but — because of the shelving and accessories — isn't so overwhelming to pattern-phobes," she says.

The Trend: Chunky Knits

Fashion trends often make their way from the runway to the living room. That's why designer Gretchen Aubuchon founded the blog Fashion + Decor. Hot right now: chunky knits. "Tweeds and nubby knits were all over the fall runways, opening up all sorts of possibilities for upholstery and soft accessories," she says.

Get the Look: Bundle Up With Pillows and Throws

Try faux-fur throws on the furniture and add soft knit pillows to get ready for cooler weather and to stay trend-savvy.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The Trend: Mad for Plaid

Another runway trend is plaid, a timeless pattern that's practically synonymous with fall. "The pattern was all over the runways, and it's definitely making a big comeback in the home," designer Tobi Fairley says.

From: Tobi Fairley

Get the Look: Think Outside the Box

You can decorate with plaid in several different ways. "The patterns can be anything from traditional tartan to a menswear windowpane, to a brightly-colored plaid. I love mixing a plaid with other patterns, like a leopard print or stripe — it adds a more modern look to the traditional design," she says.

The Trend: Mixing Global Patterns

"This fall home decor is all about pattern," says Jeanine Hays of AphroChic, specifically, mixing richly hued motifs. This room's ikat curtains, polka-dotted pillow and striped chair create a warm, inviting living space.

Get the Look: Eclectic Tabletop

Jeanine's go-to way to combine patterns is with tabletop accessories. "Keep your eye out for dessert plates, dinnerware and serving dishes that have a fun print like polka dots and stripes, or an African-inspired print like cowrie shells. Then mix and match pieces to create a vivid tabletop display for your guests," she says.

The Trend: Soapstone Countertops

Soapstone is finding its way into more homes because of its versatility. "It is less expensive compared to marble, and it is way more durable," says designer Sarah Stacey.

From: Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Get the Look: A Charming Kitchen

The natural stone adds warmth to any style kitchen and comes in a variety of styles. "It has a pretty matte sheen, which is comparable to honed marble and the veining is beautiful," Sarah says. Pair with a colorful farmhouse sink and white cabinetry for a cottage-style look.

The Trend: Decorating With Warm Colors

"Fall is about comfort and warmth and curling up on the sofa with a great book or a cup of tea," designer Claire Paquin says.

Get the Look: Incorporate Rich Reds

Rich, orangey reds paired with natural woods make this modern family room inviting and the perfect spot to spend a crisp, autumn day," Claire says.

From: Claire Paquin

Design Bloggers on Fall's Top Trends

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Trend: The New Neutrals

Get the Look: White on White

The Trend: The Curated Look

Get the Look: Create a Gallery Wall

The Trend: Mix-and-Match Styles

Get the Look: Create Unexpected Vignettes

The Trend: Mixing Bright Colors

Get the Look: Go Big or Go Home

Get the Look: Try Flea Market Finds

The Trend: Distinct Design

Get the Look: Display a Collection

The Trend: High Contrast

Get the Look: Bright on Black

Get the Look: Try a Tray

The Trend: The Human Touch

Get the Look: Find Artisan Accessories

The Trend: Americana Design

Get the Look: Vintage Accessories

Get the Look: Lighten Up

The Trend: Bold Graphic Patterns

Get the Look: A Little Bit of Pattern

The Trend: Chunky Knits

Get the Look: Bundle Up With Pillows and Throws

The Trend: Mad for Plaid

Get the Look: Think Outside the Box

The Trend: Mixing Global Patterns

Get the Look: Eclectic Tabletop

The Trend: Soapstone Countertops

Get the Look: A Charming Kitchen

The Trend: Decorating With Warm Colors

Get the Look: Incorporate Rich Reds

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