3 min readFall is all about new beginnings. After a summer spent outdoors, the shift in season brings us back inside, making it a great time for redecorating. That said, it doesn’t mean you need to undergo a whole revamp; there are simple things you can do to give your home new life that don’t involve a contractor or even a fresh coat of paint. This fall, designers say, is all about embracing microtrends: little changes with a big impact like adding a funky lampshade or making an awkward living room corner into a cool vignette.
“Microtrends that I see being big this fall are the ones that are easy to incorporate into your existing interiors,” says designer Renée Gaddis. While some of these ideas require a little more commitment than others, they’re all great ways to rethink the spaces you’re already working with. Here are nine micro trends to watch.
Mini Libraries
If you have a teeny room or an awkward what-do-I-do-with-this sort of space, designer Jennifer Kranitz of Set Setting Studio suggests filling it with books. “Micro libraries are the new wine room,” she says. “As drinking culture shifts and people become more intentional about alcohol, we’re seeing a new use for the small, jewel-box spaces once reserved for wine.” Micro libraries use that same footprint and turn it into a little nook for reading and relaxing.
Embellished Lampshades
You could get a whole new lamp…or just a new lampshade! Gaddis is seeing more and more shades become statement pieces thanks to pattern, texture, and even a little bling. “Think lampshades with brooches, fringe, etc.,” she says. Rather than simply filtering light, these act like jewelry for a room, adding plenty of character without much effort.
Framed Doorways
Thresholds are the intro to a room, so why shouldn’t they steal a little spotlight? “Doorways are becoming destinations in their own right,” says Kranitz. She’s noticed new uses of pattern, material, and sculptural details to bring attention to this often-overlooked element.
Textiles on the Wall
Fabric has been promoted beyond pillows and upholstery and has started making its way onto hard surfaces. “Textiles are moving off the floor and furniture and onto the architecture itself,” Kranitz says. Curtains hung across an open doorway are an easy way to work in the trend at home. Fabric-covered walls and ceiling treatments can make an even bigger statement. Either way, it’s a shift that treats textiles as something that can help define a space.
Bringing the Outdoors In
Your outdoor plans have just been invited inside. Gaddis says greenery is going to become an even larger part of interiors as fall approaches, helping people feel connected to nature even in the colder months. She suggests live plants, herbs, or even silk plants, which require a lot less maintenance.
Hotel-Level Guest Rooms
Next time you travel, take inspiration from your room. These thoughtful details expected in hospitality are now popping up in bedrooms and guest rooms, making sleep and relaxation feel a whole lot more luxurious. “It’s about setting up your guests with everything they need and introducing them to your favorite sheets, soaps, or hair products,” Gaddis says. It’s less about making your home look like a hotel and more about making it feel like one. Yes please!
Shape Shifting
This may sound like an episode of Sesame Street, but all shapes are welcome here! Straight lines, rectangular forms, circles, curves, and irregular shapes are mixing together more than ever, says Kranitz. “Geometry is becoming less rigid and more expressive,” she says. “Rather than relying on a single repeated motif, mixed geometries create rhythm, tension, and a sense of play.”
You don’t need curvy architecture to try it at home. Simply place a round mirror over a linear console or a curvy lamp next to a boxy sofa.
