5 Living Room Styling Mistakes to Avoid This Autumn
- Lynne Kelly
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
When the cooler months arrive, your living room becomes the heart of your home — the space where you relax with a cup of tea, entertain friends, and curl up on the sofa in the evenings. But even the most beautiful spaces can lose their magic if they’re styled without intention.
The good news? Most Autumn living room styling mistakes are easy to fix — once you know what they are.
Here’s your designer-approved guide to the 5 most common living room styling mistakes to avoid this Autumn, plus simple, stylish fixes to create a space you’ll love all season.
1. Firstly, Ignoring the Seasonal Colour Shift
Keeping the same light, summery palette into Autumn can leave your space feeling disconnected from the season. Soft pastels or coastal blues might have worked in July, but they don’t bring the same cosy, grounded feel in October.
Autumn is the season for richer, moodier tones. Think deep rust, olive green, mustard yellow, and plum. You don’t need to repaint your walls — instead, swap in seasonal accessories like velvet cushions and textured throws. These small updates instantly shift the mood of your room and are easy to switch again when the seasons change.
Layer colours from the same tonal family for depth — for example, combine burnt orange with muted terracotta and soft caramel.
2. Overcrowding the Space with Accessories
We’ve all been there — adding “just one more thing” until the room feels busy and cramped. Clutter not only distracts from your best pieces but can also make a room feel smaller.
Edit your accessories so every piece has impact. Choose a few hero items — like a statement vase, an artisan candle holder, or a striking piece of wall art — and give them space to shine.
Group accessories in odd numbers (3 or 5 works best) and mix heights and textures to keep arrangements interesting.
3. Neglecting Lighting Layers
Relying solely on your ceiling light creates flat, harsh illumination that can feel cold and unwelcoming — especially in Autumn when natural daylight fades earlier.
Think of lighting as part of your décor and combine three layers:
Ambient lighting — floor lamps or overhead lights to fill the space.
Task lighting — table lamps for reading corners or work areas.
Accent lighting — candles, fairy lights, or picture lights to highlight focal points.
Choose warm-toned bulbs for a cosy glow, and consider decorative lighting pieces from our home accessories range to double up on function and style.
4. Forgetting to Add Texture
A living room that’s all smooth surfaces can feel flat and lifeless — especially in cooler months when we crave tactile comfort.
Layer textures to add depth and warmth. Start with a base (your sofa and rug) and build from there:
Keep a balance — if your sofa is smooth leather, go heavier on soft fabrics; if it’s already plush velvet, use lighter linens and knits for variation.
5. Playing It Too Safe
A perfectly neutral living room might be calming, but without a focal point or bold element, it risks feeling bland.
Introduce one statement piece to bring your room to life. This could be a patterned statement cushion, an oversized wall mirror, or a bold rug. A well-chosen focal point draws the eye and makes the rest of your styling feel intentional.
If you’re nervous about going bold, start small with accessories — they’re easier to swap than large furniture pieces.
Avoiding these five common styling mistakes will instantly make your living room feel more inviting, seasonal, and effortlessly stylish.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire space — just make intentional swaps, edit thoughtfully, and embrace a mix of colours, textures, and lighting to set the perfect Autumn mood.
Our Autumn Collection is full of rich, textured, and beautifully crafted pieces to help you avoid every one of these mistakes — from plush cushions and throws to artisan accessories.
Join our waitlist now to be first to shop when it launches.
Love,
Lynne Kelly Interiors
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