The Fall Of Whimsy – Colour Autumn With Fairytales

Feather Charm

5 days ago

6 min read

Hello Everyone!

With the seasons changing and the bright and vibrant greens of summer turning to even brighter reds and browns, our homes are now starting to reflect these changes, with décor reminiscent of the beach and coast being switched out for pumpkins, dead branches and black cats. While this isn’t a new phenomenon, what I’ve discovered recently is that some design inspiration stem not from the changing seasons, but from fairytales. It looks like the design world is gearing up to try and keep the magic of spring and summer from wilting this autumn with patterns, colours and textures that reflect the beauty and splendour of nature.

Of course, that’s not the only reason colour, patterns and even caricature pieces are coming back. It is also in the whimsy of magic and fairytales, heralding the coming and going of the spooky season. Gone are the ideas of ghosts and coffins, but instead a more whimsical and fantastical approach and attitude are accompanying our excitement for Halloween. With designs of blossoming flowers accompanying abstract portrayals of animals and mythological creatures, it’s no wonder now is the time of the fall of whimsy.

What Am I Talking About?

Ok, so let’s drop the magazine speech for now, what am I talking about? Well, first of all, as you all know, I’m slowly dipping my feet into the world of design, particularly interior design and architecture, considering I’m building houses in The Sims 4, I would like to keep up with the trends in that area, and I recently subscribed myself to a magazine that deals in all things interior design and art. I recently received their latest publication, and as I was flipping through it, I noticed a pattern in the products they were showcasing and advertising. A lot of it was based and deeply rooted in folklore and fairytales. Not to mention, the showcase piece they featured had a lot of floral patterns in their fabric textures, and while these patterns aren’t as bright and cheery as ones you’d probably see in Spring, they were still rather reminiscent of the season.

In fact, the images they showed, in the magazine, reminded me of vintage floral patterns you’d see on walls of old Victorian houses, or on the skirts of old Victorian dresses. It’s fascinating to see these patterns coming back. They really highlight the world “nostalgia”, at least for me. I mean, who hasn’t walked into a house covered in detailed patterned wallpaper and think “vintage” or “antique”? In all honesty, it does beg the question, are we, as a society returning to the traditional sense of maximalism?

The Quiet And The Loud

Nowadays, everyone is putting an emphasis on function, I’m no different. I do think that furniture pieces and decorations should serve a function, even if it’s a simple art piece on the wall. If it doesn’t draw your eye to the room, then it’s redundant. Of course, however, modern interpretation of function is minimalistic in nature (you can thank the Bauhaus movement for that as well as the concept of Zen from Asia), however, from what I can see, many interior designers and decorators are combining the two concepts in a very interesting way. You can have minimalistic furniture, like Japandi designs and pair it with maximalist decorative pieces, like gold and glass wall mouldings or even a crystal chandelier. Why not?

If you’ve read my previous post on Minimalism vs Maximalism, you’ll know that I can’t decide which I would go for, and honestly, the clash of the two, in a room is a wild idea. It could go so horribly wrong, or if done right, would be an amazing composition. I mean, I would love to have a statement floral wall as the backdrop for minimalistic designed furniture, with an arts and crafts mirror or painting hanging above it, and small crystal chandeliers hanging over the side table or sitting over a central table, with the decorative pieces of autumn ornaments on its surface. It’s definitely a statement. Of course, that’s just my interpretation of what this clash could look like, it’s an entirely different story to actually have it done in your home, when you don’t have the budget for something like it.

Clutter Vs Kitsch

For many of us, this sort of clash comes because of years of nostalgia, collections and hoarding. That’s right, I said it, many of us (especially millenials) hoard our clutter, not only because it’s sentimental, but also because you never know when it'll come in handy (and don’t worry, I’m guilty of it too). Even I hoard my own arts and crafts pieces, because they’re items I’d made by hand, and I’m proud of them, but when does that pride turn into clutter? When do our collections become too much? Obviously, it’s when it overwhelms us to the point where we can’t even move in our own homes, but even so, many of us live with it, because we can’t bear part with what we have. That’s why this year’s autumn season isn’t about filling our homes with the standard Halloween decorations, it’s about bringing out that nostalgia of fairytale and fantasy.

I know, I went off on a tangent there, but you can see it all coming around, right? After all, over the last decade or so, the emphasis, in the design or decorator’s world, has been on making things simple. “Organise your wardrobe”, “store away all your clutter”, “keep your walls bare, except for a few important photographs”. While it makes sense, and it does keep your home clean and tidy, it doesn’t give it any personality. You might as well live in a catalogue. Now, however, with millennials, like myself, growing up, starting to own our own houses (not me, though) and developing our own sense of what makes up art, we are claiming our whimsy back. We are filling our homes with patterns, imagery and art that evokes the nostalgia of childhood and fairytales.

Bring Back The Nostalgia

As someone who grew up loving all things fantasy and fairytale, I say do it. Bring that nostalgia back and create those cringy memories for your little ones. Add that touch of whimsy to their lives and inspire them with magical tales of wolves dressed as old ladies, or of princesses in glass slippers. No, I’m not talking about the watered down Disneyfied versions, I mean the old core fairytales that saw Cinderella’s stepmother & stepsisters dancing forever in hot iron shoes, or Rapunzel’s prince going blind after throwing himself out of her tower, when the old witch tricked him. I guarantee you, these versions are not tame things and are actually appropriate for Halloween.

Yes, you can still have your stories about vampires, werewolves and ghouls, but if you’re not into the gory horror genre, and just want a chill spooky season, celebrate it with fairytales. After all, that was what Halloween was originally intended for. The Samhain season was originally supposed to be a celebration of the harvest season, and a transition from physical to spiritual, using things like fairytales and folklore to ward those spirits off, and teach young ones about the dangers of going out at night and causing mischief and chaos. So, with that in mind, decorate your home this Halloween, not with plastic pumpkins and skeletons, but with caricatures reminiscent of the old fairytales. Inspire your little ones to use those dead twigs they pick up and create a beautiful art piece for your wall or side table. Create homemade wreaths to hang on your door and fill those vases with flowers and twigs that speak of the changing seasons.

It's Time To Add The Whimsy

With so many of us turning away from big corporations and their quick big money schemes, this autumn bring back your childhood by making your decorations yourself. Add that touch of whimsy to your home. Pick up those twigs and dead leaves, and create something out of them, just like you did when you were a child. It doesn’t cost anything, except your time, imagination and creativity. So, get to work, and you’ll find yourself with decorations that make your home stand out and feel cosy this Autumn.

Well, that’s it from me today, I’m going to go for a walk in my local park and see if I can find a pretty leaf or two, to make a small fairy bed. Who knows, maybe I’ll even find a rock that I can use in a jewellery piece for myself. Of course, while I go do that, please don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment, share and follow me, here on Feather’s Charm, on my YouTube channel, on my Twitch channel, on my other social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok), and on Patreon. Your support really does help me make more content like this, for you guys.