Hibernation Chic
As temperatures dip, design takes a deep breath. Light softens, hearths glow, texture reigns, and rooms start whispering, “stay awhile.” Call it Hibernation Chic—an elevated approach to coziness that makes slowing down and staying in look (and feel) incredibly good.
Above image: Romy Sofa, Sunpan
That timeless adage, bring the outdoors in, still applies—but the palette shifts as the landscape does. Brighter hues give way to nature’s quieter tones: berry, forest, amber, earth, and char. These are the colors that linger after the leaves fall, inviting warmth and intimacy indoors.
Theater room designed by Indigo Pruitt Design Studio | Faux Twig Display, Anthropologie | Gunungan Lamp made from salvaged railway ties, Blaxsand thru Cohab.Space | Rust Red Ultra Vintage Runner, Unique Loom | Velvet Jacket, FuTario | Halbrooke bed with upholstered headboard in ochre poly velvet, Riverside Furniture | Winslow coverlets and shams, TL at Home | Fabrics offered at Verellen: Banks velvet in olive, Affair Teak faux fur, Cambridge mink leather, Verellen | Xolani dining chair, Modus Furniture | French Beret, Love Affair, Forest Floor, Benjamin Moore
It’s also a season made for foraging and gathering—branches, pinecones, seed pods, and hearty produce that hold their own indoors. Many of fall’s fruits and vegetables are sturdy enough to style into mantlescapes or table centerpieces, lending that old-world, still-life feel. Just keep them away from heat and flame; warmth hastens ripening. Personally, I’m partial to pears—the ultimate autumn muse.
Interior designer Amy Barney of Collective Interiors in Asheboro looks no further than her own property.
“We’ll walk the long driveway with the dogs—and cats, too—and fill pockets with acorns, feathers, moss, leaves… really whatever catches our eye,” she says. “I have little collections in pottery platters and tuck the rest into plant arrangements. Right now, the camellias all over our property are bursting with blooms, so there are cuttings in crystal vases and a few floating in a big platter on the counter. It feels old-fashioned in the best way.”
One of the most satisfying ways to bring those deep shades indoors is through textiles. Designer Amanda Thomas Whalen pulls out velvet and faux-fur pillows for the sofa, while Tiffany Brown of Brown Builders Design in Charlotte takes bed layering seriously—mixing coverlet, duvet, and a waffle blanket for depth, color, and comfort.
At 7′-9′ long, a runner in the kitchen adds instant warmth, softness and visual interest. These are from (l to r) Feizy Rugs, Capel Rugs, Annie Selke and Unique Loom.
With more time spent inside, comfort meets function, balancing togetherness with mindful activities. The social energy that was summer turns inward toward books, puzzles, and other quiet pursuits.
Barney transforms her dining room to mark the season:
“As the weather starts to turn and I feel fall settling in, I get this little spark to make the house feel warm, glimmery, and alive again,” she says. “That’s when the crystal comes out. Lighting candles over dinner and dimming the chandelier instantly slows everyone down and reminds us that conversation matters. It helps us linger longer and reconnect as a family.”
With short days and early darkness, candlelight is always welcome. Image: Pixabay
Maybe that’s the secret of Hibernation Chic—it’s not about hiding from the cold, but creating spaces that invite us to stay present.
All the brands featured above are members of HPxD, committed to being accessible year-round.
