The Seasonal Palette | Autumn

I've always believed that some of the best interiors take their cues from the world outside our windows. The colours, textures and light we experience in nature have an incredible ability to influence how we feel, so why not bring a little of that into our homes?

It felt rather serendipitous, then, when nature photographer Julia got in touch to introduce her work and explore ways we might collaborate. Starting a blog has been on my to-do list for a long time, and as I launch Philippa Ann Interiors, it felt like the perfect moment to finally begin.

So, welcome to the very first edition of The Seasonal Palette: Autumn.

Orange and golden Japanese maple leaves in autumn

Japanese maple in autumn | Photography © Julia Morrison, Tangle & Bloom

I had to look up when autumn officially starts and was rather surprised to discover there are actually three different ways of defining it. Meteorologically, it begins on 1st September, astronomically on the autumn equinox (23rd September this year), while nature simply follows its own timetable, known as phenological autumn. This is when nature decides for itself, marked by changing leaves, ripening berries and all those subtle seasonal shifts happening around us.

Personally though, autumn doesn't really begin for me until the clocks change. Does anyone else feel the same?

When I think of autumn, I think cosy evenings, slower days and preparing our homes for the cooler months ahead, while still enjoying those beautiful October days when the sun catches the changing leaves. Deep reds, burnt oranges, golden yellows and rich browns begin to appear outside, and I naturally find myself introducing those warmer, more comforting tones into my home too.

So often we're told to look online for inspiration, but some of the most beautiful colour palettes already exist in nature. Learning to notice them can completely change the way you approach decorating your home.

In each seasonal edition, Julia will be sharing her expertise on the colours that define our gardens, the flowers she loves photographing most and the varieties that thrive at that time of year.

Inspired by her insights, I'll create an interior colour scheme, putting together a mood board and showing how that translates into a design concept for a specific room. The aim isn't to recreate a garden indoors, but to borrow nature's palette to create spaces that feel warm, inviting and unmistakably autumnal.

I'll also be sharing a collection of simple, budget-friendly styling ideas to help your home embrace the season without the need for a complete redesign. Because sometimes it's the smallest changes that make the biggest difference.

Meet Julia

Hi, I’m Julia Morrison, a Berkshire based photographer and founder of Tangle & Bloom, a collection of fine art nature photography and artwork designed to bring the beauty of the outside world into your home. From garden flowers to changing seasonal details, I love capturing the close up details and textures in nature. My artwork is available as prints and framed pieces, as well as bespoke artwork created to sit beautifully within your home and its design.

Rich red Virginia creeper leaves in early autumn photograph by Tangle and Bloom

Photography and artwork © Julia Morrison, Tangle & Bloom

Framed fine art nature photograph by Tangle & Bloom

Peach and coral dahlia flower photographed in autumn photograph by Tangle and Bloom

Dusky pink hydrangea flowers in autumn photographed by Tangle and Bloom

Autumn through my lens

For me, autumn begins with the leaves. I’m always drawn first to the rich reds in early autumn: such as the fiery leaves of Japanese maples and the wonderful Virginia creeper that transforms a wall into a stunning cascade of crimson. Then come the burnt oranges and golden yellows, catching the lower autumn light and making even a familiar walk feel magical.

But autumn is not only about the bold colours. I love photographing flowers as they change with the new season, such as hydrangeas, where bright pinks become dusky rose and fresh blues soften into faded, almost vintage tones. Some may see flowers fading, but I see a new kind of beauty. The grasses are equally lovely, their summer greens deepening into warm browns and seed heads that glow in the light.

Another favourite of mine are dahlias, whose joyful colour keeps the garden alive right up until the first frost. Alongside them, nerines, asters and chrysanthemums offer welcome late-season colour. They are perhaps not the obvious choice for a cosy autumn palette, but for those preferring vibrant colours, they offer a good option.

Take time to be outdoors this autumn and notice what draws your eye. Is it the drama of changing leaves, or the more subtle beauty of fading flowers and grasses? Nature offers endless inspiration and through my artwork, I hope to bring a daily reminder of whatever brings you joy indoors.

Artwork for your home

If you’d like to discover more about my photography artwork, you can find my website here: https://www.tangleandbloom.co.uk. I also have some practical tips on choosing artwork in general and what size to go for - you can check out my blog here.

Need help choosing artwork? Philippa and I can work with you to find the perfect wall art for your home - something that complements both your interior design and the way you want the space to feel.

The Autumn cloakroom design

So, how do we take all of that wonderful inspiration from Julia and actually translate it into an interior?

For me, it starts with looking beyond the individual flowers and plants. I'm not trying to recreate an autumn garden indoors, but instead pulling out the colours, shapes, textures and overall feeling of the season and using those as the starting point for the design.

I started the mood board by bringing together the rich reds of changing leaves, golden autumn light, darker foliage and warm grasses. I thought about how I wanted the room to feel: like being wrapped up warm, but with a little drama, balanced with touches of freshness to keep it uplifting.

The wallpaper was my starting point for the cloakroom itself. Its trailing pattern immediately reminded me of foliage climbing across a wall, echoing the Virginia creeper Julia describes without being too literal. That burnt terracotta-red also brings in the richness we associate with autumn, which I've carried through onto the woodwork with Spanked by COAT, a deep, slightly blackened terracotta.

But I didn't want the whole scheme to become red, orange and brown. I've introduced blue through the towel and plant pot, giving contrast to those warmer tones. Alongside the red-orange and the yellow-orange coming through in the glass tiles and brass, it creates a more colourful take on an autumn palette.

The materials were just as important. Dark wood adds depth and warmth, while the antique brass and glass tiles reflect light around the room. I particularly love the slightly irregular surface of the tiles — they have that lovely golden quality you get when the low autumn sun catches leaves and grasses.

There are little references to nature in the shapes too. The glass pendant has a delicate, flower-like form, while the mirror subtly reminds me of the shape of leaves. They're not obvious botanical references, but together they continue that connection to the natural world.

And that's really the point of this design. Taking inspiration from nature doesn't mean recreating what you see outside. It's about noticing the colours, shapes, textures and feelings you're drawn to, and finding ways to translate them into a home that feels completely your own.

5 simple ways to style your home for autumn

1. Layer your textiles

As the temperature drops, introduce additional layers through throws and cushions. Think wool, bouclé or velvet in deeper, warmer tones. You don't need to replace everything — shop your home first, or simply add one beautifully textured throw to change how the room feels.

2. Warm up your lighting

Autumn is the perfect time to move away from relying on the big light. Table lamps, floor lamps and wall lights create smaller pools of light and instantly make a room feel cosier. Warm-temperature bulbs can make a big difference too.

3. Bring the outside in

Take inspiration quite literally here. A branch of changing leaves, dried hydrangeas, seed heads or grasses gathered on a walk can make a beautiful seasonal arrangement — and it costs virtually nothing.

4. Introduce warmer materials

Autumn doesn't have to be all about colour. Darker woods, aged brass, antique finishes, woven baskets and ceramics can all bring warmth and depth without changing your existing colour scheme. Even the smallest details can make a difference — think a ceramic pine cone or a little trinket grouped on a woven tray and popped onto an ottoman or side table.

5. Shop your home first

Before buying anything new, have a look around your home. Move a lamp from another room, bring out a vase that's been sitting in a cupboard, swap artwork around or group objects differently. Sometimes simply seeing the things you already own in a new setting is enough to make a room feel refreshed for the season.

Seasonal styling doesn't need to mean seasonal shopping. Sometimes, simply noticing what you already have and looking at it in a new way is enough to make your home feel ready for the season ahead.

I hope you've enjoyed the first edition of The Seasonal Palette. I'll see you in winter.