LIFESTYLE • HOME IN CANADA • AUTUMN 2019
Just before it gets underway, the planets Jupiter (expansion) and Neptune (vision) will tangle. Exactly on September 21 but active until the end of the year, this combo can expand our creative horizons exponentially. It is a wonderful time to lose ourselves in showrooms and vision boards, to dream the impossible dream home. The trouble is, optimism may overshadow such practical concerns as budget, and we can easily overlook important details. Which may lead to being misled, either by fast-talking sales associates or contractors, or by our own unrealistic or inflated wish lists. This is where practical Saturn, which gains strength in mid-September, can come to the rescue. It is in its home sign of sensible Capricorn, which doubles down on the management skills. This energy helps us think about investment possibilities and resale value. And contrary to Jupiter, this one is all about minimalism, perhaps to the point of austerity, getting by with only the bare necessities. These two planets are on parallel tracks this fall. Our challenge: to balance the Saturn practicality with Jupiter-Neptune vision, inspiration with common sense, expansion with aceticism, and so on. And it is during the time of Libra, the sign that is all about equilibrium, that we will have ample opportunities to do so. The new moon in this sign on September 28 kicks off a month-long period particularly favourable for all design efforts.
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But decorating is about more than a single season or fleeting fad. Here’s a look at what the planets have to say about trends that should not only feel right in fall 2019, but have staying power into the next decade. Multi-purpose spaces: This trend should surge in coming years. Saturn and Pluto are in the frugal, efficient sign of Capricorn, and in December, Jupiter will join them. A dining room or bedroom that sits unused most of the time? Such waste! Expect ingenious solutions way beyond the Murphy bed to help them do double duty. Organic shapes and materials: With so many planets in earth signs, it’s all about authentic materials. Wood, stone or whatever, we want them in as close to natural state as possible. And with Neptune in the water sign of Pisces, flowing lines help us connect with nature and spirit. So, the trend towards furniture and accessories with rounded, curving lines and architectural arches should continue. Globally inspired: This one took off with Jupiter in Sagittarius, a sign with gypsy in its soul. Until the end of 2019, the trend towards exotic ethnic and tribal-inspired touches, especially prints, should continue. The following year’s Capricorn concentration could shift the focus to those that reflect our own culture or ancestry. Boho and maximalism: Jupiter in Sagittarius likes to keep things on the fun and casual
side. It also inclines towards excess. Adding lots of colour, pattern and personality may feel right now, but by next January might not. However, the dip should be temporary as these trends likely will return, although with less force, mid-2020. Geometric shapes: Not a new trend, but one that in 2019 took on presence with bolder colours and oversized patterns. It likely will veer towards simplicity in 2020, what with the earth sign preponderance. Some trendwatchers are seeing the triangle and diamond replacing the omnipresent octagon and hexagon. Extreme texture: Uranus is sojourning in Taurus, the most sensual of signs, and will do so for years. Our homes must appeal to all the senses, especially the tactile one. First, it was velvet upholstery and chunky knit accessories. Now, think big statements such as textured wallpaper or tiles, furniture with rough-hewn wood surfaces and so on. Bold vs. moody colours: Both are trending now. Early indications are that there soon will be a softening on both fronts, the bold becoming less vibrant, the moody less brooding. Behr says its 2020 paint collection reflects a desire for work-life balance while Sherwin-Williams talks about “palettes that bring joy, serenity and focus.”
THE AUTUMN ISSUE
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