You don’t have to stray far from home to find color inspiration for fall. Just look outside your window: trees ablaze in fiery shades, piles of pumpkins on the front porch, tart cranberry sauce on your Thanksgiving plate — the list goes on. Decorating with bold hues can be intimidating, so before you even pick up the paint brush, look to these 15 fall color combinations to help you find your perfect palette.
The farmhouse of Mjolk shop owners John Baker and Juli Daoust-Baker is full of autumn-inspired design moments, but by far one of our favorites is this parlor. The amber Danish-modern sofa may steal the show, but the patinated piano and cobalt blue pillow play strong supporting roles.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home October 2019
Designer: John Baker & Juli Daoust-Baker with Christine Ho Ping Kong & Peter Tan of Studio Junction
Monochromatic decorating is easier than you think. Take one hue you adore — in this case, designer Joel Bray chose deep turquoise and added shades with more green undertones (the chaise) and blue undertones (the wall) for interest.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home February 2018
Designer: Joel Bray
When paired together, primary colors — like cherry red, royal blue and gold — create a statement-making gathering place. A beige high-gloss ceiling acts as a place for the eye to rest. “The eye almost sees through it, giving it a more effortless and effervescent feeling,” says designer Garrow Kedigian.
Photographer: John Gruen
Source: House & Home March 2018
Designer: Garrow Kedigian
It may seem like a lot of prep goes into decorating a harvest-inspired table, but you only need two types of colors: warm shades of honey and wheat and deep tones of black and gray. The combination creates a beautiful contrast inspired by the season.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2018
Designer: Produced by Christine Hanlon
Is your fall mood more glam and high-fashion rather than rustic and cozy? This sunset-hued living room is for you. A peachy-pink built-in console and red accent chair get even more style cred, thanks to a gilded coffee table and mod black accents.
Photographer: Tracey Ayton
Source: House & Home September 2020
Designer: Ben Leavitt, Plaidfox
Evoke the feeling of wandering through an enchanted forest with layers of blue and curvaceous shapes. An easy way to inject color into a space is to bring fall foliage indoors, like this sculptural burgundy branch.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home October 2018
Designer: Stacey Smithers & Jennifer Koper
Bookcases this beautiful deserve to be highlighted! An impressive collection of books, photos and objets pop against the mahogany red hue, while a muddy taupe sofa acts as the perfect palette cleanser.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2018
Designer: J Gibson
A range of soft, heritage-inspired hues proves that sometimes, less is more in this Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Saltbox. The beautiful architecture is highlighted with Farrow & Ball’s Limed White on the walls and Lichen in the pantry for subtle contrast.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Architecture by Dan Costa
Prepare for hibernation with a calming combo of olive green, warm pink and petrol blue. A velvet-upholstered headboard and piece of abstract art break up the blocks of solid color.
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home April 2018
Designer: Emma Reddington & Kai Ethier
This dining nook feels like it belongs in a mod London townhouse. The plaid wallpaper ties the whole look together — the mahogany red chairs and gray-blue tufted banquette make it feel cohesive.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home September 2020
Designer: Anne Hepfer
Don’t know where to start on your fall color journey? Look to nature for inspiration! Earth-toned pillows in nutmeg, moss and forest green bring the colors of autumn indoors, making this cozy bedroom the ultimate sanctuary to catch some zzz’s.
Photographer: Andre Rider
Source: House & Home October 2018
Designer: Alexandre Blazys & Benoit Gerard, BlazysGerard
Designer Luke Havekes’ country kitchen has all the charm of a harvest gathering with hits of gold, rich wood and dark turquoise. For something a little unexpected, he added a shocking pink striped rug which feels anything but juvenile.
Photographer: Maxime Desbiens
Source: House & Home September 2019
Designer: Luke Havekes
In case you missed it, pink and red aren’t just for Valentine’s Day. This sophisticated version showcases a more mature millennial pink and deep burgundy paired with rich navy and a hit of bronze — talk about a conversation starter!
Photographer: Kim Jeffery
Source: House & Home October 2018
Designer: Stacey Smithers & Jennifer Koper
If your love affair with neutrals isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, there are lots of ways to add interest to a monochrome palette. Soft shades of cream, sand, light gray and black feel dynamic with an eclectic array of texture, from fringe tassels to lived-in linens.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home February 2015
Designer: Margot Austin & Kai Ethier
Eggplant is a staple for fall — not only in the kitchen (for cooking) but in the living room, too. Designer Gillian Gillies layered a sumptuous velvet couch with pillows in shades of purple to create an ombre effect. She kept the rest of the room grounded with charcoal gray and muted beige accents.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2020
Designer: Gillian Gillies
