Nature inspires the best in us, whether we’re penning a poem or painting a canvas. And while there may not be a more trusty autumn look than leaves and leaf motifs, this year, fall decorating offers more than the usual harvest gold and burnt orange palette.
“You can go very modern (or) very traditional” when it comes to decorating with leaves, says Chicago interior designer Michelle Williams.
Her calling card? Propping up classic cream, beige and brown color schemes with oversized lighting, artistic accessories, and lush, statement-making furniture. And there’s often a leaf motif in the mix.
“Nature never goes out of style,” Williams says. “It can be a huge print or a small print. There’s something for everyone.”
Connecticut designer, author and television show host Mar Jennings uses fresh and dried leaves to give his home and office a seasonal look. “There’s nothing better than actually foraging in your garden and incorporating (foliage) into your home,” he says.
Jennings likes to write the names of guests in metallic ink on heavy, glossy magnolia leaves to create seasonal dinner- party place cards. He arranges tall, bushy, dried oak-tree branches in vases, and he tucks daintier leaf clippings under ribbon for pretty, seasonal gifts. “Autumn colors — especially in an environment where the leaves actually change — can complement anything in your room,” he says.