Mulberry, plum, ochre, chocolate brown; autumn offers one of nature’s most striking colour palettes, filled with rich hues that inspire creativity while also embodying comfort. Here’s how to embrace seasonal shades in your décor

The shades of the season

While I find beauty in every season, I must admit that the autumn colour palette is one of my favourites. There’s something so comforting about the rich, warm, earthy, and vibrant tones that define this time of year, especially when temperatures start falling and nights are drawing in.

As nature transitions from the subtle pastel shades of summer to the intensity of autumnal tones, I like to reflect that shift in my floral arrangements too. There are so many beautiful colours to choose from; chocolate brown, ochre, plum, fig, and mulberry are just a few of my go-to picks. These tones also look incredible when contrasted with a neutral space or ceramic vase and they lend themselves to antique-inspired home furnishings.

The power of colour

One of the reasons why the autumn palette is so popular is that the colours included tend to evoke positive emotions. The shades most associated with this time of year strike the perfect balance between being warm and welcoming but also energising and optimistic. Here are the just some of the meanings traditionally linked to autumn’s richest hues:

Red – Deep mulberry and ruby shades symbolise both cosiness and motivation.

Orange – Pumpkin and burnt orange are connected to positivity, joy, and fun.

Yellow – Amber, ochre, and mustard yellow are connected to energy, hope, and optimism.

Brown – Mahogany and chestnut are linked to health, stability, comfort, and safety.

Green – All shades of green are associated with wisdom, peace, and wellbeing.

Purple – Violet and plum are often reserved for royalty but are also related to mysticism, luxury, and ambition.

By exploring these meanings, it’s easy to see why the autumn colour palette has such wide-ranging appeal. Whether you associate the autumn months with getting cosy at home or always enter this time of year with the sense of renewed energy that can come with that new term feeling, you’ll find a shade to suit your mood.

Autumnal faux floral picks>

While there are many faux florals that I love using in my autumnal arrangements, these three always stand out in my mind thanks to their stunning use of colour:

Faux Dried Mulberry Hydrangea

With their abundant petals and distinctive shape, hydrangeas always make a spectacular addition to an autumn arrangement. In nature, their colour is affected by the pH of the soil, and I love the painterly appearance they have as a result.

Our Faux Dried Mulberry Hydrangea>is unique as it offers a multitude of seasonal shades in just one flower. Each features a beautiful gradient of colour with rich, deep, and warm tones of plum, burgundy, brown, and green. Not only does this effect allow you to enjoy autumn’s richest hues but it also adds to the realism of this faux flower, which has been expertly crafted to look, feel, and even sound exactly like the real thing.

Faux Plum Cimicifuga

Less well known than hydrangeas, cimicifuga is a dramatic perennial and can be displayed on its own or combined with the complementary aubergine tones of our Limonium and Burnet Spray stems to create a striking arrangement. Our Faux Plum Cimicifuga is wonderfully intense with deep plum-coloured leaves that look almost black in low light. It’s lush, layered, and textured with cut-out leaves and richly hued stems that are sure to attract attention. I recommend reflecting its moody vibe with a graphite grey or black vessel like our Flatford or Occold vase.

Faux Dried Moss Green Hydrangea

While there are many beautiful colours to use in autumn faux floral displays, I often find myself craving greenery. The colour green is one of the most powerful and can impact your mood and wellbeing, bringing a sense of calm and grounding that I find adds so much to a busy space like your kitchen or a room that is designed for rest like a bedroom.

That’s where our Faux Dried Moss Green Hydrangea comes in; it delivers that shot of green that I need but still feels appropriate for autumn thanks to its grey and brown tones. Simply display a few stems in a large vase – our Darsham vase is my go-to – and you’ll have a simple but effective seasonal arrangement in seconds.