Thanksgiving and Fall 2016: Color+Design

With fall in full bloom and Halloween just a memory, we now look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday and fall harvest activities. Traditions such as hayrides, wine and food harvest festivals – as well as visits to pumpkin patches – are still held dear to our hearts, even as we look to mixing in new trends to add to the excitement of this season. Here are a few of our favorite trends and design inspirations for this season.

Be Thankful

Sayings such as “Peace and Gratitude,” “In All Things Give Thanks,” and “Take Time to Be Grateful,” are found everywhere this season – from signs, to dinnerware, to greeting cards – and are a high point of the being mindful of the world around you trend. Celebrations go beyond the family and meld into the communities around us. Deliveries to neighbors and friends of homemade canned goods or cookies in fall shapes, such as pumpkins and fall leaves, bring joy and excitement to this season of sharing.

Decorate with traditional elements of leaves, pinecones, gourds and acorns. Layer with cheeseboards, clear glass, ceramics and canvas. Add dinnerware and accents with Thanksgiving messages to top off the theme.

Farm Fresh

The trends in farming as a career and farm-to-table dining have brought new, fresh approaches to the ideas and trends of health and wellness and homespun creativity. During the fall season, we find even more
opportunities to view these processes with behind-the-scenes tours, offering up long-forgotten lessons in basic skills.

Decorate with farm-ready elements starting with gingham, plaids and sunflower fabrics. Denim, cotton, and burlap feature a home-spun feel, as well. Layer in galvanized metal, worn-painted wood signs, and scarecrows staked out at the entry next to mums and pumpkins. Finally, decorate the barn with mini-lights, pumpkins, gourds and straw bales for the evening festivities.

Darkly Elegant

To add glamour to your fall feast, go to the dark side! Mix dark and midtone colors with highlights of jewel tones for layers of luxury. Create a base with trending velvets. Then add white and gold dinnerware, pears,
sage and rosemary leaves, silver or antiques brass metals, and an abundance of floral bouquets filled with exotic florals to create an air of decadence.

Modern Day Musings

Eschew tradition and create your own modern-style this season. Decorate with citrus, lemon and lime leaves in fresh spring greens over a crisp white base. Add pops of bright color such as teal or coral around
modern, simple settings. Display your modern art collection and remove all other traditional seasonal elements for a fresh design approach.

Happy Thanksgiving and Fall from all of us at Dunn-Edwards!