Embrace shorter days and longer nights with soft light, warm colours and textured fabrics
As the leaves change and the crisp autumn air settles in, the focus shifts indoors.
Autumn is the season for nesting, so creating an indoor space that feels warm, cozy and inviting may become a priority.
For more than a decade, qathet-based interior designer Shauna Irvine has transformed living spaces into something that looks and feels uniquely like home.
The Peak spoke with Irvine about how to transition a home from summer to fall, using colour, texture and lighting.
“I like to start neutral with the bones of the space and add in warmth and comfort with added textiles, materials, lighting and scents,” said Irvine. “This time of year, a delish-smelling candle, a chunky woven throw blanket and some beautifully coloured books stacked on a side table are just a few examples of how to transform a room from summer season to the cooler, darker days of fall.”
Irvine noted that when the temperature drops, swapping out lightweight summer fabrics for rich, layered textiles is a simple way to signal a shift in seasons.
“My house is forever changing; I do truly change my home for seasons,” explained Irvine. “In the summer, I like to keep it as fresh and airy as possible, and then, as we transition into fall, especially living on the coast, I find our gray seasons are very gray, so I always welcome in warmer, richer tones.”
She emphasized that could be as simple as switching out accent pillows, curtains and throw blankets, and incorporating warmer, richer tones that are more inviting for the cold seasons.
“Fall, to me, it always screams burnt oranges, such as rust colours, and lots of people right now are actually going for more of the deep, wine red and rich green colours. Even if it’s foliage that you’re bringing in that brings the greens in, that works, too.”
She said redesigning an interior doesn’t have to happen in one day, and although fresh paint can spruce up a room, it’s not the only way to transform a space.
“Finding a new lamp, or candles, lighting that brings in a rich factor with warm, glowy tones, works well. Incorporating more things that you enjoy doing in your spaces for the darker evenings, such as a chessboard on a tabletop with a candle for example, or maybe a stack of books, anything that makes you want to stay in that room. I truly love incorporating old with the new.”
She said often when people contemplate interior design, they think sleek and modern, but her heart lies in amalgamating objects or furniture that have sentimental value with fresh new styles.
What about folks who want to redesign in a more do-it-yourself way?
“I find that a little can go a long way, and sometimes people don’t realize that; sometimes it also takes another set of eyes as well,” said Irvine. “Paint can drastically change a space; lighting can drastically change a space. I find that up here [northern Sunshine Coast], a lot of older homes can feel stuck in a certain way, but maybe a room just needs some new lighting, or a paint colour that’s gonna make it pop.”
She suggests that people living in a heritage or older family home can rearrange a bedroom space or style sofas with different throw pillows and blankets, while at the same time respecting that there are memories held within everything in the home.
“As for bed linen, I like to switch it up, so in the fall, I start going with richer tones, and you can also incorporate more layers as well,” said Irvine. “You can play with a fun textured coverlet on the end of a duvet and different tones of sheets as well.”
Irvine encourages people to drape wool or cable-knit blankets over the back of sofas or chairs to invite immediate comfort, and to never underestimate the impact of a flickering flame, but battery powered candles work just as well.
She suggests swapping out fresh summer flowers for dried eucalyptus, pampas grass, wheat stalks or preserved autumn branches, to bring smells of fall inside.
By focusing on tactile fabrics, soft lighting and natural elements, anyone can easily transform a living space into a deeply comforting autumn sanctuary, noted Irvine.
Examples of Irvine’s work can be found on her Instagram page: @Shaunairvineinteriors.