A touch of luxury for autumn

Autumn means it's time to update your home, says Gabrielle Fagan.

The weather is turning chilly but snuggly throws and cushions are just so predictable. Why not embrace the hot new trends in interiors to give your rooms a fashion- conscious lift? We ask the experts to identify the looks to lust after, and the easiest (and most affordable) ways to create them.

Join in the passion for purple hues, inspired by nature's seasonal palette, for a look that will last long into 2011, says Fionnuala Johnston, B&Q's design co-ordinator. "Surprisingly, we're still having a love affair with plums and aubergine shades, perhaps because they're perfect for satisfying our growing desire for rich colour and warmth in our rooms. Plums can look wonderful teamed either with creams or greys – from charcoal through to soft black. But bear in mind, a small room can be overwhelmed by an undiluted purple scheme."

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Dress a feature wall with floral cream and plum Super Fresco Easy Romance wallpaper, 14.98 a roll. Personalise a bathroom with a Cooke & Lewis Vintage Style Bath Tub, 1,500 – and it can be painted to match a colour scheme. Accessorise with a felt Daisy Cushion in charcoal, 12.98. All from B&Q.

Just because you're strapped for cash, doesn't mean you can't have "on trend" rooms, says Sally Bendelow, head of home design at Marks & Spencer. "I think people are going to buy less but buy better in the current climate," she says.

"There's going to be a 'push for posh' which means adding luxurious touches to rooms to make them feel special, giving them a shot of essential individuality.

"Colourful, fun and flamboyant touches are the order of the day, as people are no longer prepared to coat rooms in beige just to please estate agents. They want nurturing, cosy sanctuaries as the cold, economic winds blow outside."

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A lacquer finish Pop Stool, 125, available in red, white or polished wood; Red Cushion with a labrador dog image, 29.50, and purple Multi Flower Floor Pouffe, 139. All from M&S.

Be inspired by the sophisticated looks coming off the fashion catwalks, advises Gillian Anderson, trading director at Heal's. "Fashion trends are increasingly moving into the homewares market and this season the chic trend is about understated, contemporary luxury,"

she says.

"While spring was all about nude tones, grey has become the new neutral for autumn.

"Because it's so versatile, it can be styled to feel feminine and soft or masculine and strong... and as it teams well with so many shades, it won't date."

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Choose from a colour palette that begins with dusty aluminium and deepens through to charcoal, Anderson advises, then add zing with metallic touches or punchy reds.

Sanderson's geometric design Concord Wallpaper in grey, is 32 a roll, and a Silver Leather Cushion, 60. Alternatively, go on red alert with a Louis Console Table, 695, and Flocked Letters spelling LOVE by Johnny Egg, 35. All from Heal's.

Rooms should feature a variety of textures so they're "touchy-feely" and also have decorative craft-style elements, says Victoria Wright at Homesense.

"Patchwork is big news, part of the 'made it myself' vibe, and it has a colour vibrancy that we expect to see around throughout this year. Bold, jewel colours such as ruby, emerald, jade and yellow gold will all star as accents," she comments.

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"There's a return to displaying pieces in the home which have a story or a history and that will stand the test of time – whether they've been made by a craftsperson or designer, or created by a homeowner.

YP MAG 9/10/10

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