Fall Design: Five Ways To Bring The Outdoors In This Season

Leaves gently cascade downwards and coat the ground in a warm sea of muted orange. And, as the first leaf hits the ground, it’s official: Fall is here. The days are getting shorter and colder, but thoughtful fall design considerations can help you bring the best of the Okanagan outdoors inside this season.

“We have an inherent draw to nature. It’s something we all try to bring inside when it’s time to close the windows and turn the heat on,” says Nicole Begrand-Fast, principal of Kelowna’s award-winning design firm Begrand Fast Design.

With more than 20 years of experience, Begrand-Fast is an expert in creating inviting and sophisticated spaces. Here are Begrand-Fast’s five fall design tips to bring the outdoors inside this season.

---

1. Let In The Light To Create An Airy Living Space

Pull back the curtains and welcome natural light into your space for an airy fall design. Natural light plays a big role in making a living space feel open.

Use mirrors adjacent to or opposite your windows to open the space even further and create a room that feels larger than life. At night, supplement the loss of daylight with soft lamps for reading or desk lamps for late-night computer work to create cozy, lived-in comfort.

“We’re lucky in the Okanagan,” says Begrand-Fast. “Most homes have an amazing number of windows. Keep your windows open even when the sun starts to set.”

2. Fall Design With An Organic Touch

Follow the biophilic design philosophy of connecting with the natural environment.

As the weather starts to cool, bringing your outdoor plants indoors bridges the gap between the indoors and the garden. If you have the space for a larger plant, Begrand-Fast says, it’s one of the best fall design tips to help breathe nature into your home.

Forage for branches, barren or leafy, and bring them into your everyday routine with a stunning fall centrepiece. Add aromatics like cinnamon or sandalwood to help create warmth in your space.

Living and preserved moss walls are easy solutions to welcome even more greenery into your home and can help keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

---

3. Texture Is Everything

We’re used to layering fabrics and fall design elements around the holidays. Shift your focus to texture and natural elements to create a timeless design that looks good all season long.

Get back to nature by layering jute or seagrass area rugs. If you have a glass dining set, a linen table runner and an unfinished wooden bowl can bring your space to life. Achieve casual and sophisticated elegance with stone and brick elements throughout your living space.

Begrand-Fast also believes in layering textures for a better night’s sleep.

“I use linen bedding year-round,” says Begrand-Fast. “There’s a certain weight that just feels nice. Layer your linen sheets with big knit throws to create an organic coziness.”

4. Select Natural Hues Over Vibrant Colours

Fall colours don’t have to be bright. Save the vibrant colours for your artwork and turn your attention to natural earth tones.

Consider mixing and matching metal tones to add an element of warmth to your space. Soft golds and dark bronze make great accent colours, whether it’s on a full-body mirror or side table decoration.

“Tans, creams, and splashes of black really let the greenery and texture in a space shine,” says Begrand-Fast.

---

5. Bring The Elements Indoors​

There’s nothing like sitting around a fire table on a summer night. So, when the leaves begin to fall, bring the fire indoors and enjoy quiet time around the fireplace. If your home isn’t fitted for a gas fireplace, electric fireplaces are an affordable solution with numerous options on the market.

“It doesn’t matter what style of home you have—whether it’s a condo, a luxury estate on Okanagan Lake, or a heritage home on Abbott Street—these fall design practices apply to any style,” says Begrand-Fast.

---