Ask The Expert: Fall Decor Trends from Urban Barn’s Sébastien Fauteux

We chatted with Urban Barn’s merchandise manager Sébastien Fauteux about autumn’s top decor trends.

Front and centre for the retailer’s fall preview, the Liberty sofa in Anastasia Pastel (below) was as an unexpected introduction.

“We tend to organically gravitate toward warmer tones for fall. But one of the exciting things about this fall is that a softer colour palette is being introduced and has been well received by our customers, coast-to-coast,” Fauteux says.

“This softer colour palette is shown in our Jack & Jill colour story, where there is a balance of navy blue with the softer ballet pink,” Fauteux said of the Fleur duvet set. “The result is casual yet sophisticated, romantic without being too feminine. Ballet pink is also an easy colour to introduce if you have a very neutral palette in your space.”

Here, Fauteux shares more on what’s trending for fall.

“Another colour that packs a punch this season is Cumin. It’s an extension of the brass metal trend, but interpreted through textiles as with our Clooney toss.”

“Mixed materials also add personality and give a piece an extra element of design. The tone of metals has also evolved over the years. Not that long ago, the first thing that came to mind when speaking of metals was chrome but now black metal, aged brass and pewter are in favour.” (Pyramid console table above).

“Texture is another key element on trend right now. Whether it is wood with a more rustic finish, the tactile appeal of a boucle fabric or velvet, or the aged look of a pull-up leather, texture adds aesthetic appeal.”

During the preview, I grew smitten with the new Dolly armchair and ottoman in Wooly Natural. Fun fact: the faux wool pair are named after the first cloned sheep.

But how does one find room for all these on-trend updates?

“Being exposed to furniture daily, I often fall in love, but I don’t always have the space, so it sometimes feels like I need to run a bit of a business on Craigslist or Kijiji on the weekend in order to make room for new furniture!” Fauteux admits.

“This just happened a few weeks ago when I had to make room for the new Austen chair in Pewter: it’s my new reading/wine drinking chair. Over the years, I’ve been making a lot of my friends very happy with like-new furniture.”

And, looking for gift ideas for your host this Thanksgiving and holiday season?“A good rule of thumb is that when are taking flowers for your host, take them in a vase. That way your host doesn’t have to drop everything to trim and arrange a bouquet in the middle of the party. The hammered brass of the Kehlani vase will play up the rich shades of fall and winter blooms beautifully.”