Three trends in fall event design

Luxe, minimalist and retro trends top the charts this year in fall event decor, according to the design pros at CORT Events.

Experts with the furniture, lighting and accessories rental company based in Chantilly, Va., say that event planners are mixing rustic design with industrial motifs this season. In addition, they advise that art deco trends are offering partygoers a whimsical escape to the Golden Age, and that the 1980s are making a comeback.

“Our clients are always looking for ways to make the standard event feel exciting and new,” says Kevin Dana, executive director of marketing and product development at CORT Events. “The best way to add drama to an evening is to make the details count. Start with gorgeous, customizable bars, like the Midtown Bar. These illuminated bars set the mood of an event and can easily be branded with custom graphics or logos. To play up the art deco theme, mix marbles and metals and dress up classics, such as a Wilshire Sofa, with eccentric touches like Garbo Stools. Cozy up on faux fur rugs and pair with metallic accents to create an ambiance with a warm glow that feels refined and inviting.”

To pull off the season’s hottest trends, CORT experts offer these suggestions:

• Fashion an event featuring metallic finishes and dramatic colors, utilizing pieces that glint and sparkle, such as CORT’s Alondra cocktail table. Pair dramatic colors such as deep blues, greens and reds with metallic, and add a feeling of luxury and sophistication with geometric patterns.
• Mix rustic with industrial to create a look and feel that is modern yet accessible. To accomplish this, event planners will want to refine the outdoorsy feel of rustic decor for a more eclectic look that feels comfortable for guests, yet still modern and updated. Metallic gold accents pair effortlessly and transform a simple event space into a chic and curated gathering place, and wood laminates further incorporate the rustic feel into a stylish design plan.
• Transition the summer’s 1970s trend into the 1980s trends of the fall with pops of patterns and colors. Event planners can transition through the decades by playing with iconic shag rugs and color pallets that feel retro and radical. Warm metallics such as gold, bronze and rose gold will pop with the fun and funky patterns and colors.
• Amp up mid-century furnishings with colorful accents for events while not being overly thematic. “Danish modern pieces complement autumnal hues like deep purple, warm yellows and spicy oranges,” Dana says. “Don’t be afraid to mix trends in with a traditional seasonal feel.