During the COVID-19 pandemic, an obsession has developed among people who are extremely online with an interior design feature whose heyday occurred more than 50 years ago: the conversation pit.

At the end of 2020, the Pantone Colour Institute announced its 2021 Colour(s) of the Year: Ultimate Gray (17-5104) and Illuminating (13-0647), "A marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting."

Kiss 2020 goodbye and embrace calm in 2021, with the latest trends from the world of home décor.

Aly Velji, principal designer with Alykhan Velji Designs, continues to focus on creating inviting and timeless spaces, but this year, comfort is more important than ever.

When it cools off outside, it's time to warm up inside with a seasonal update to home décor.

"Fall is a great time for design in general because you can start to layer," said Alykhan Velji, principal and senior designer for Alykhan Velji Designs. "Just like in fashion, where you can start adding scarves and such, with an interior you can start adding more textural items – layering on more pillows, throws and artwork."

Here are three of Velji's top design trends for fall:

How eco-therapy can warm the soul during the holidays

Whether you believe in gift giving or not this is the time of year to be thankful for your garden and for nature. And the physical benefits gained aren't limited to things we have to buy.
Here is a seasonal selection of garden gifts to ponder:

Winter

Chelsie was at the landfill in late November when she noticed someone else had left large birch branches behind. Knowing these could be striking additions to her seasonal garden containers, she swapped out her waste for someone else's, and happily left with a few striking white branches. Later, she included them in her seasonal outdoor pots and planters.

Why you should stick with the greiges when it comes to selling your home

If you've ever sold a home, you were likely told at some point to keep it neutral – meaning although you may have loved the lightness of a lime green dining room or the sensual feel of a dark red bedroom, you went with beige, grey or greige.

And for good reason, say experts.

"Neutral-coloured spaces allow us to feel a sense of connection with nature and experience pleasant or calming emotions, both of which facilitate a desire to stay in a space," said Katherine Schurer, a registered psychologist with Calgary's Now in Colour Psychological Services Inc.