Spencer Thorpe: Autumn Colour Scheme: The Warmth of Orange

As summer winds down and the cooler autumn months near, it’s a perfect time to usher in a new look in your home. Autumn is a time of change, and that change is reflected by the blazing reds, oranges and yellows that dominate the season.

The main colours in this look are oranges, although it involves other complementing colours, too. Start with a nice, deep shade of orange— like Orange Blossom from Benjamin Moore —for large portions of your room. You can accent these larger orange portions with gentle whites and off-whites as well as earthy brown shades. This is a great way to get an autumn look without overpowering a room with oranges and yellows.

Brown leather sofas and armchairs are the perfect furniture pieces to pair with this look. Darker woods and fabrics create a sense of warmth and cosiness while lighter accents make the room feel more modern and minimalistic. Similarly, modern furniture pairs well with lighter versions of this scheme while darker versions may be better accented with vintage furniture.

Foundations First

Create the foundation for this look with a nice leather sofa. This Radford 3-seater leather sofa in antique whiskey is a great choice. Not only does it fit the colour scheme, it’s got a nice, clean look that doesn’t come off as overly modern or vintage. It’s even casters built into the bottom for convenient moving. (£1,395)

To add an additional seating option to your living room, grab a nice armchair. You’ll want something that doesn’t clash with your sofa stylistcally but complements its colours. We absolutely love this Arundel chair from Feather & Black. With tons of fabric choices and four different choices of wood, this is a great piece for your autumn living room. (£899)

Neutrals Later

For Oranges and Lemonade

Now that you’ve got all this seating, you’ll need somewhere to keep drinks, magazines and books. Look for a rectangular coffee table that compliments the darker, earthy tones of the room. If you can find something with drawers or cupboards for storage, that’s even better. This John Lewis Hemingway coffee table made from mindy wood and pippy oak is a good example. (£850)

Splash Some Orange

Since autumn and winter seem to be the seasons for relaxing, you should set your living room up for relaxation. One easy way to do this is by adding an ottoman to your armchair. Try this Billie footstool from Swoon in zinnia. Its bright orange colour will accent wood furniture nicely while matching with other oranges in the room. (£149)

Light it Up

As you begin looking for smaller pieces of the room such as lighting and accessories, look for pieces that can add a splash of color to the room. You don’t want something completely overpowering, but a subtle option like this Miller floor lamp from Made is an excellent way to add some colour to a room. (£149)

A Little Orange Goes a Long Way

Small accessories such as vases, candles, clocks, and wall art can subtly spruce up a room and strengthen the colour scheme. Luckily, Habitat has the perfect piece available in this Tangelo orange bubble glass vase. Put it on a side table or coffee table for an extra splash of orange. (£25)

Finishing Touch

Rugs are always a nice way to add a splash of colour and complete a look. Try finding a nice area rug that fits well with the shade of orange you’re looking for. This Chelmsford rug from Habitat is a nice choice, even though the orange may be a bit light. (£350)

Spencer Thorpe

Friday, September 1, 2017

Autumn Colour Scheme: The Warmth of Orange