Welcome Fall with the Pantone Color Palette

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to have decor that rotates throughout the year, from the jewel tones of winter to pastels in spring. But autumn is a particularly unique time when people make an effort to inject bold colors and patterns into their home decor. Influences often includes earth tones with foliage and harvest-inspired oranges, yellows, and reds. Many think of crisp, shorter days and cold, clear nights and feel prompted to add hues of blue and violet. By adding this decor in September and refining it along the way, it can linger and evolve through November and right into the Holiday season.   

Pantone® is a standardized color matching system and a world-renowned authority on color. Each year, the Pantone® Color Institute creates the Pantone® Fashion Color Trend Report just in time for New York Fashion week. This color overview highlights the top colors fashion designers will be featuring in their collections for the upcoming season. Colors used in fashion are a key indicator of the color trends we can expect to see in all areas of design, including home decor.   

As with years passed, the Fall/Winter Color Palette reflects the colors of autumn with its jewel tones of Lava Red, Orange Tiger, Amazon [green] and Midnight [blue]. Samoan Sun, a golden yellow; Martini Olive, a dark khaki green; and Caramel Cafe, a light mocha, round out traditional fall colors.  

As accents this year, Pantone has added: Rose Violet, a brilliant shade of magenta; Nosegay, a lovely take on classic pink; and Waterspout, a refreshing shade of aquamarine.  

The Core Classics in the Palette this year are: Arctic Wolf, a perfect winter white; Autumn Blonde, a creamy subtle peach; Polar Night, a deep blue of cosmos; Loden Frost, a fresh take on sage green; and Chiseled Stone, a cool, classic gray.   

Seasons of Change  

Of course, not everyone relies on trends to dictate decor palette. Studies suggest that people are influenced by seasonal color changes based on the feelings they provoke. For example, oranges and golden hues are popular in autumn because we associate them with the harvest at the end of a long hot summer.   

Luckily, there are many facets of decor that can be swapped out to create an autumn mood in any home.    

Falling for Autumn Colors 

There are many ways to incorporate the pantone fall colors into your home decor. Some homeowners choose to add a few accents, while others allow a complete autumn takeover.   

Subtle or sensational, there are plenty of ways to embrace the fall color palette tastefully.   

Cozy Up 

Autumn brings chilly evenings, which is a great excuse to cozy up with throw pillows and blankets. A simple way to add autumn tones to a living area is to swap out accent pillows and throws for some in fall tones. Use pillow covers for an easy fix or find some pillows you love to rotate out each year.   

Small Touches 

The cornucopia is a quintessential fall display, representing the bounty of the harvest. To create your own—which will quite naturally be found in the fall color palette—collect items from outdoors like gourds, pumpkins, leaves, pinecones, and acorns, or purchase artificial pieces that can be used year after year. This could be placed on a hearth, a coffee table, or any other display opportunity.  

On the mantel, vases, candles, and leaf garland add a pop of color at eye level that will endure through Thanksgiving.   

A basket or rack for fire wood can be functional as well as decorative beside a fireplace in this season of curling up by a fire as well.   

Bounty of Harvest 

The harvest means feasting and a plentiful tablescape for the feast is key. Create a colorful centerpiece using groupings of bowls, dried flowers, and candle holders in autumnal hues.   

Swap out kitchen towels, table runners, and placemats for patterned or seasonally-colored options.

If you have small appliances in fall colors, this is a great time to display them on countertops! Those in red, orange, green, etc., can act as decor pieces when placed strategically throughout the kitchen. 

Develop an Accent  

Accent furniture is one of the most common ways homeowners inject personality into their homes. It can encompass everything from ottomans and mirrors to colorful chairs and end tables. This is a chance to be bold while not overdoing it. While a couch should be functional, an accent piece can be more ornamental, with the added benefit of function or storage. 

For autumn, add a chair or slipcover in an unexpected color to the room. If there isn't space for a chair, consider an ottoman. For a coffee or end table, consider a placemat or runner.  

Early Autumn Night Light 

For darkening autumn evenings, swap out a lamp shade in a jewel color that will look great throughout winter. Another way to add color is with chandelier shades, which are a lovely addition to a lighting fixture.   

If the option is available, flip those ceiling fan blades to an autumn-friendly shade while you’re reversing the fan direction for the season.  

Inspiration Underfoot 

An area rug can bring a room together or change the look of a space. If the goal is to keep most fall decor efforts in one room, an area rug in this color palette is a great way to do it.   

Current trends call for homeowners to layer smaller area rugs on top of larger ones, so one idea might be to add a smaller rug in an autumn tone on top of the permanent area rug. Consider a rug in a solid color if you have a patterned permanent rug, or a patterned rug to complement a permanent rug that is mostly solid.  

As accent pieces are added to the room, try “pulling” colors from the rug for inspiration!  

Colorful throw rugs are an easy way to dress up entryways to welcome guests, transition to another space, or for comfort in front of a kitchen sink. These are also small and easily stored from one season to the next.  

Make It Yours

These autumnal shades complement any metal tones. But the currently-trending soft gold finish particularly brings out the vibrant hues of the season. This is a great time to think about updating hardware, light fixtures, and faucets to a soft gold or mixed-metal style. 

Any change will make your space feel festive, ready for the holiday season. Experimenting with what colors and pieces feel lovely, calming, and inspiring can breathe new life into any space.