Decorating & Design
Bring On The Layers! 50 Ways To Cozy Up Your Space With Textiles
Author: Jessica Flower
Published on September 26, 2017
Come autumn, we all get the urge to nest at home and bring on the hygge. One of the best ways to transition your interiors into colder seasons is with soft furnishings. From plush velvets to heavy wools in rich colors, here are our favorite ways to update your home with cozy textiles.
1. Layer with abandon. A modern wingback gets a moody update thanks to its charcoal velvet upholstery, orange pillow and grey-blue throw.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home December 2016
Designer: Mazen El-Abdallah
2. Incorporate plaid. Small hits of the rustic, heritage pattern instantly warm up a white space.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home December 2009
Designer: Tommy Smythe, Sarah Richardson Design
3. Bring on the buffalo check. A cold weather classic, black and white buffalo check is just the pattern to cozy up classic white bed linens.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home December 2009
Designer: Tommy Smythe, Sarah Richardson Design
4. Soften up seating. Throw a knitted blanket over the back of a plain settee and add a printed bolster pillow for instant warmth and comfort.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home January 2010
5. Swap in a seasonal rug. A traditional rug of reds and ochres warms up a sparse modern space — and feels great underfoot.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home January 2010
6. Think about texture. Cozying up a black and white room is possible! A charcoal grey coverlet, with a faint check pattern, and a knitted cream-colored throw transitions the room from summer to fall.
Photographer: Stacey Brandford
Source: House & Home March 2017
Designer: Shirley Meisels
7. Add a faux fur throw. A plush blanket and patterned throw pillows bring depth to aubergine grasscloth walls.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home February 2016
Designer: Allison Willson, Sarah Richardson Design
8. Decorate with autumnal hues. An inky blue sofa topped with yellow oversized knit pillows is the perfect spot to curl up with a good book.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home February 2015
9. Add hits of gold. Chartreuse is an unexpected yet welcome splash of color in this living room. Its warm golden tones are less traditional than ochre or mustard but perfect for autumn.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home January 2013
Designer: Jeffery Douglas
10. Add coziness with grey. A grey jersey bed skirt and headboard relax a quite, modern bedroom. Cotton ticking curtains, a grey throw and rich blue pillows add visual interest.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home January 2013
Designer: Jeffery Douglas
11. Go tone-on-tone. Grey suiting has the immediate look of autumn — elevate the look with wool throw pillows in the same shade.
Photographer: Drew Hadley
Source: House & Home February 2017
Designer: Scott Yetman
12. Add a hide rug. Bring warmth and texture underfoot with this stylish classic.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home January 2013
Designer: Tristan Fuller, Boychuk+Fuller
13. Swap out your duvet. A ruched bedspread in a deep aubergine injects a tactile quality into this girl’s bedroom.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home March 2014
Designer: Erin Feasby and Cindy Bleeks, Feasby Bleeks Design
14. Add a single pop of color. Earthy colors and soft textures combine for a cocooning feel in this bedroom. A bright blue coverlet and rich sapphire velvet pillow inject vibrancy into the space.
Photographer: Jean Longpré
Source: House & Home October 2012
Designer: Les Ensembliers
15. Decorate with jewel tones. Rich, saturated colors combine to create a truly stunning and welcoming area. Bright colors inside keep summer’s warm vibes going all year long.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home January 2016
Designer: Samantha Farjo
16. Layer chairs with throws. This oh-so-soft Hermes blanket dresses up a simple metal frame bistro chair.
Photographer: Mark Burstyn
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Robert Tanz
17. Soften hardworking spaces with textiles. Plump pillows in a bright forsythia pop against an olive green waxed-linen banquette. Kitchens, with their walls of cupboards and industrial appliances, are an ideal spot for some plush autumn textiles.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Philippe Beauparlant
18. Opt for tan leather. The rich, burnt orange hue is perfect for fall. In this Cape Cod Saltbox, a leather bergère chair mimics the warmth of the wood.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Architect, Dan Costa
19. Keep blankets at the ready. Sally the dog takes pride of place on the bed. Rustic white linen bedding is made ready for autumn with a heavy wool blanket, folded on a bench at the foot of the bed.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Architect, Dan Costa
20. Bring in natural texture. A charmingly rumpled pillow, done in a flax linen or similarly textured fabric, relaxes the clean lines of a modern sleeper sofa.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Architect, Dan Costa
21. Let the textiles steal the show. The striped kilim rug and richly colored accent pillows bring some much-needed pattern and life to this den. A simple grey throw placed on the upholstered ottoman means the sofa goes from daytime to move night in a snap.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Pheona Wright
22. Choose classic patterns. A rotating cast of throw pillows with year-round appeal look good no matter the season. A green-hued leopard print one is paired with faux furs and pale blue ones, creating an evergreen display.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home February 2016
Designer: Allison Willson, Sarah Richardson Design
23. Display your collection of wool blankets with pride. Hanging them over a bannister keeps them within reach and also helps to air them out, avoiding any musty smells.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald and Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home October 2012
Designer: Bev Hisey
24. Add rustic charm with a checkered wool carpet. The fall print done in a scale this size has instant autumnal appeal.
Photographer: Kim Christie
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Effie Genovese
25. Pick up a Pendleton blanket. A nice contrast to the crisp white bed linens, this nubby throw brings this bedroom from summer to fall. Blue and white ticking pillows are perfect for summer through winter — their icy blue tones are classic.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home February 2017
Designer: J Gibson
26. Soften your walls with a textile hanging. This warm grey-beige bedroom is made even cozier thanks to a quilt by Lindsay Stead hanging on the wall like art. A graphic check throw pillow and Pendleton blanket also help add some texture to the room.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home February 2017
Designer: J Gibson
27. Layer rugs. For a snug living room, designer J Gibson went beyond the typical floor treatment. To get things extra cozy underfoot, he layered two rugs on top of each other.
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home February 2017
Designer: J Gibson
28. Bring in darker tones. This fresh blue and white duvet cover, perfectly light for warmer temperatures, is cozied up with a darker blue top sheet and accent pillows.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2015
Designer: Jay Hodgins
29. Mix materials. Summertime linens can be paired with grey animal prints and faux fur pillows.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2015
Designer: Jay Hodgins
30. Bring in burnt orange. Pumpkin orange throws adorn the back of grey slipcovered chairs for a softer take on the classic harvest color palette.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2015
Designer: Jay Hodgins
31. Add a sheepskin rug. A blue sheepskin is an unexpected pop of color but a welcome addition in this inviting living room.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2015
Designer: Jay Hodgins
32. Keep blankets in bins. On a porch, a bin of knitted throws means the space can be used once the temperature dips. Woven pillow covers in a variety of Nordic-themed colors and motifs are the perfect compliment.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home March 2015
Designer: Jay Hodgins
33. Choose chinoiserie textiles. The woven gold-toned textiles would elevate the humblest of chairs and settees.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home March 2017
Designer: U31
34. Warm up summer furniture. Layering up textiles — like this vintage throw and hide — on a simple canvas chair is a simple way to take your summery pieces into fall.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Pheona Wright
35. Consider a quilt. A quilt just oozes charm and warmth. Choose a contemporary one, like this piece by Lindsay Stead, and match your throw pillows for a light yet toasty setting.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Pheona Wright
36. Decorate with winter white. In this west coast den, a nubby pillow, pouf and throw add warmth and tactility to a white living room.
Photographer: Janis Nicolay
Source: House & Home March 2017
Designer: Kyla Bidgood and Mary McNeill-Knowles, Bidgood + Co.
37. Put a vintage rug in your bathroom. For an instant hit of color and warmth, an exotic rug is the perfect addition to any bathroom.
Photographer: Tessa Neustadt
38. Or, add a sheepskin rug. It’s enough to instantly warm up a bright powder room.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Pheona Wright
38. Warm up your entryway bench with a sheepskin, thick pile rug or blanket, for a welcoming vignette.
40. Bring the foliage indoors. Russet-colored velvet pillows are the perfect complement to a breezy beige and white study.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home March 2014
Designer: Scott Yetman
41. Stick to a toasty palette. Layers of bed linens in browns, beiges and yellows pick up on the artwork in this bedroom and liven up the whitewashed walls.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home March 2014
Designer: Scott Yetman
42. Layer pattern on pattern. Curtains, throw pillows and an ottoman all done in the same fabric suit the rustic charm of this panelled guest bedroom.
Photographer: André Rider
Source: House & Home March 2014
Designer: Scott Yetman
43. Say yes to slipcovers. Sunbrella slipcovers stay on these chairs year round and are warmed up with a tactile woven throw.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Margot Bell, Katelyn Hermant and Dasha Ricci, Peaks & Rafters
44. Make a statement with bold, global textiles. In the principal bedroom of this Muskoka, Ontario, cottage, a mix of family heirloom rugs and patterned bedding add variety and interest to white shiplap walls.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Margot Bell, Katelyn Hermant and Dasha Ricci, Peaks & Rafters
45. Warm up outdoor spaces. An all-weather porch is cozied up for the fall with throw pillows in various shades of cream and raspberry.
Photographer: Donna Griffith
Source: House & Home September 2016
Designer: Margot Bell, Katelyn Hermant and Dasha Ricci, Peaks & Rafters
46. Choose seasonal patterns. A riot of patterns — including one forest-themed, one Missoni-striped and one fall garden-inspired — makes for a fun and casual perch to relax on.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home February 2015
Designer: Tommy Smythe, Sarah Richardson Design
47. Toss throws instead of folding them to create a cozy, inviting look in your living room.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Samantha Sacks
48. Bring summer textiles into fall. If you love your summer linen and cotton linens, simply add a faux fur throw to keep things easy and constant.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Samantha Sacks
49. Soften hard surfaces, like a hallway bench or chair. It’s the little additions of textiles throughout a home that make it immediately more welcoming and cozy.
Photographer: Alex Lukey
Source: House & Home November 2015
Designer: Samantha Sacks
50. Swap out white bathroom towels for a moodier set. Indigo blue towels in a woven basket create a nice contrast to the spectacular freestanding tub.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home December 2015
Designer: Silvana D'Addazio