Fall decor gets personal: ‘Your house now your story’

Pattern

“I love that maximalism is taking over as minimalism phases out,” says New York designer Courtney Sempliner. “The pattern play that I’m seeing with upholstery, the layering of patterns of varying scales and the bold use of color is exciting and much more interesting.”

It also allows more of a homeowners’ personality to come through.

Regional and global tribal patterns continue to get attention; textiles for living and sleeping spaces feature these eye-catching and often story-driven designs.

“The Navajo are among the finest rug makers in the world, featuring loom work and design on par with the best Persian rugs,” says Atlanta-based design writer Leanne Potts, a contributor to HGTV, Gardenista and other outlets. “These Southwestern masterpieces feature designs and colors that work with many decor styles.”

Joanna Mahserdjian, founder of Upstate Rug Supply in Hudson, N.Y., agrees.

“Hang one on the wall as art, place one on the floor in a midcentury-modern home, or layer them with Persian rugs, as Ralph Lauren does,” she suggests. “They work equally well anchoring a pair of Danish modern chairs as they do placed in a study under a rich, camel-leather Chesterfield sofa.”

You’ll find Native American and African tribal motifs on upholstered pieces, as well: Anthropologie’s Ulla chair has a mudcloth-inspired print. Sundance’s kilim-covered mango-wood sofa marries the handwoven with the tailored, and there are vibrant woven baskets here too, made by a Ghanaian women’s collective.