What the best-dressed homes will be wearing this season

The catwalk now has a big influence on interiors, which is why you’ll see lots of velvet in the shops this season.

This soft, glamorous fabric looks good on just about everyone and who can resist a velvet throw or cushion? If you can run to a whole velvet sofa, check out Sofas and Stuff, which has showrooms in Redbrick Mill, Batley, and in Bishop Thornton, near Harrogate. It has a great selection starting at about £1,300 and all their sofas are made in Britain.

There’s more cross over between fashion and homeware thanks to the 1970s.  It has been labelled “the decade that style forgot” but this is clearly not the case. Nostalgia plays a big part in its enduring appeal and the generation who spend most on homeware came of age during this period.

 Roksanda, Coach and Marimekko are rocking the retro look in their latest clothing and bag ranges and it is still prominent in the trendiest properties.  Must-haves include G Plan’s Sixty Two armchair, now reissued and named after the year it first went on sale. It is known as “the world’s most comfortable chair” and for good reason. You can find it at The Home, Salts Mill in Saltaire., and it’s well worth the £1,340 price tag

Vintage stores are also doing a roaring trade in teak wall units, mirrors and Ladderax shelving systems.

While there is synergy between what we wear and how we dress our homes, not all trends translate.

Concrete is an obvious one. Polished concrete has long been a stylish option for floors, table tops and kitchen islands and this season you’ll see more of it in the form of jars, candle holders and even clocks.

Here are some other standout trends for autumn winter:

Blue and baby pink

Midnight blues and the softest baby pinks are predominant colours. Habitat and M&S have used a lot of them in their collections, as have Biba and Calligaris.

Autumn florals

You could be forgiven for thinking that it’s still summer if you check out the new look books from fabric and wallpaper manufacturers.  Their latest designs are full of light, bright florals and that could be just what we need in the depths of our cold, wet winters. Sanderson’s new Waterperry collection of fabrics and papers is exquisite.

Hygge

Pronounced “hue-ga”, this Danish import means “living cosily” and it’s a lovely concept. Think real fires, sheepskin rugs, knitted and woven wool blankets and candles. For more details, there is a raft of freshly-published books on the subject.

Handmade furniture

Celebrating the beauty of craftsmanship is something we have embraced wholeheartedly and this looks set to continue.  While the outlay is larger than it would be if bought mass-produced furniture, it is an investment in quality and longevity. Yorkshire is rich in gifted furniture makers, including the Beverley-based Galvin Brothers. www.northernfurniture.org.uk is a good resource for those looking for handcrafted pieces.

Mother Earth 

Patterns and natural colours found in sea, sky and landscape are presented in abstract form on everything from paper products to fabric and ceramics.  This look is captured perfectly by Yorkshire designer Ruth Holly, whose art work can be found on cushions, lampshades and wall hangings. www.ruthholly.co.uk

More shades of grey

No-one does shades of grey walls better than Farrow and Ball and they have many shades to choose from, though Elephant’s Breath is a favourite. Grey has been popular for a few years now and it shows no sign of slipping out of fashion. It sounds cold but has the ability to add warmth and interest to a room. Farrow and Ball can be a budget buster at £67.50 for a five litre tin of estate emulsion.

Look to the East

Oriental influences are obvious in many homeware collections. There are decorative and delicate patterns and colours on Japanese and Chinese-inspired ceramics, fabrics and on furniture. The subtle Camille cabinet, £499, from Marks & Spencer is beautiful but you can’t beat Bradford-based Shimu, which has both new and vintage furniture. www.shimu.co.uk. Home Sense is good for accessories.

Explorer

Maps and globes hold great appeal for those with a wanderlust and designers have tapped into this. Almost all the high street retailers have something that appeals to your inner explorer. The best choice of globes can be found at Stanfords.co.uk. They have everything from floor-standing to astronomical and bar globes. As for maps, we love the cross stitch map from Suck UK, which allows you to “record your travels in thread”, £25 at John Lewis.

Faux plants

It’s worth splashing out on the more realistic versions. After all, they will last forever. Abigail Ahern’s are especially good, www.abigailahern.com.

**If you’re looking for interiors inspiration head for the London Design Festival, which runs from September 17 to the 25th. It is made up of over 400 events and exhibitions including some of the best interiors trade shows, such as 100% Design, Tent and Decorex. These attract designers and makers from all over Britain and beyond and there is a great Yorkshire contingent. There are also seven Design Districts spread across the capital. They each organise their own activities and events and latest area to embrace the idea is Brixton. The V&A is partnering the festival and has installations, workshops and talks from designers. www.londondesignfestival.com