Autumn has arrived, and with chillier nights ahead of us and more time spent indoors, what better time to give your home a new lease of life?

James Mellan-Matulewicz, Design Expert and Creative Director at luxury wallpaper brand, Bobbi Beck, has released comments forecasting five of the biggest interior trends that we can expect to see in Autumn/Winter 2022/23.

James’ tips not only analyse the five major homeware trends expected to dominate the interiors world during the colder months, but he also advises on how to sustainably master each of the themes.

Modern country
“The ‘modern country’ aesthetic is all about blending modern and vintage. Inspired by rural lifestyle and farmhouse homes, exposed beams, mismatched furniture and painted wooden panels would all be typical within the modern country aesthetic.”

“Its rise has been influenced by a large migration of city-dwellers moving to the countryside during the pandemic and, with it, a demand for more modern and tasteful takes on rural aesthetics. After a year of growing popularity, the style continues to remain popular and will do so throughout the rest of 2022.”

“To capture the ‘farmhouse’ feeling, be sure to utilise wood where possible. Natural tones work really well as base colours to achieve a modern and minimalist edge, and vintage, quirky, mismatched furniture will add to a more homely look. A touch of ‘rustic’ can also be accomplished using handmade items; chunky knitted throws or maybe even a hand-woven basket would both be great to nail this trend.”

“The great thing about the modern country look is that it is timeless. It’s not a fast-homeware trend to jump on that you’ll be sick of within a few month’s time, and it works with any living space – large or small.”

Some Modern Country wallpapers can be found here.

Feature walls
“The cost of living crisis means that many homeowners are being forced to find ways to spend less, while still giving a little love to their home. One great way to do this is to switch out a full wallpaper wraparound with a feature wall. From a design perspective, this gives homeowners more license to pick a bolder design, as it’s only set to cover one wall, rather than all four.”

“If you’re looking to give one of the rooms in your home a new lease of life, a mural is a great way of achieving this look using a feature wall. Typically, they are made to order and therefore minimise excess waste. Some popular designs which are guaranteed to age well include watercolour-styled paintings of all things ‘nature’, such as animals, flowers or skylines. Not only will they completely revitalise the feel of a room, but a strong design will make your home look really expensive.”

Some feature wall ideas can be found here.

Sustainable home decor
“Sustainable home decor is not so much a trend, but more of a movement in the interiors space.
This shift will of course go beyond A/W 22/23, but the demand for more sustainable products in the home is only going to increase, especially when it comes to Christmas which is typically full of plastic tack that lasts no more than a few weeks before going in the bin.”

“So whether it’s longer-term home improvements or quick buys for holidays and parties, sustainability will be at the top of the agenda for many customers. If you’re looking to make more sustainable choices within the home, I would recommend a combination of utilising second-hand treasures sourced via thrifting, and good quality, ethically sourced homewares which will stand the test of time.”

Neutral colours
“Neutrals and earth tones will be a key interior trend throughout the Autumn and Winter months this year. The popularity of these tones in homeware has been on the rise over the course of 2022, and will truly come into their own during A/W as the palette is perfect for this time of year.”

“Nature-inspired earthy tones, such as beige and brown, promote calm and tranquillity in the home and can create a real sense of comfort. I would suggest that the best way to utilise this colour palette would be to use these tones on the ‘base’ items within your home – carpets, wallpapers and bulkier furniture.”

Neutral-toned wallpaper ideas can be found here.

Whimsigoth
“Whimsigoth is a rising trend that perfectly lends itself to cold evenings and dark nights. The style is inspired by a typically gothic aesthetic but with a slightly lighter and fairytale-esque feel. It’s both witchy and feminine. Its popularity has been influenced by a number of 90’s popular culture references, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the fashion of Phoebe Buffay.”

“To incorporate whimsigoth into your homeware, a great starting point is by using rich, dark colours such as navy blue and emerald green. Velvets and satins are also a perfect way to create the witchy, homely vibe.”

“Vintage lamps shaped like butterflies and flowers, using gold brassy tones, are perfect for this look and can add so much personality and colour to a room. In terms of patterns, opt for anything celestial – stars, moons, suns – particularly in a hand-drawn style. The great thing about this trend is that individual and vintage items work a treat, which can be sourced cheaply and sustainably at charity shops and car boot sales.”

“Another key element of the whimsigoth homeware trend is maximalism. If clutter isn’t your thing, never fear; rather than filling your home’s surfaces with trinkets and photos, a more purposeful way to embody the trend is with clashing colours, patterns and textures.”