English Furnishings: How to Give English Charm to your Living Space
The charm of English interiors consists of the elegance of solid furniture paired with the coziness of colorful patterned textiles. If you want to create a small romantic island with a rural flair at home, you are in the right place. Find out what is important in the English style of furnishing and which decorative items should not be missing in any case.
What makes the English Country Style?
Walks through flowering meadows, shopping at the market in the nearest fishing village and, while it starts to rain outside, a cup of tea in the living room; this is the idyll of British country life. With an English interior, you’ll bring the cozy feeling of life into your own home and make yourself comfortable.
What is the English Interior Style?
English country style combines apparent opposites: elegant and cozy at the same time, rustic and luxurious, simple and elaborate, classic and modern, full of patterns and yet symmetrical. A living room in English style manages to make motley furniture, decorative objects and colors look neat and sophisticated.
An integral part of an English interior is the romantic touch from the 19th century. This is reflected in the flowing shapes and decorations of furniture, natural motifs, especially flowers in all shapes and sizes and all kinds of decoration. Often there are one centerpiece in the room, such as the Fireplace or a sprawling sofa, around which are positioned all other pieces of furniture.
Also striking is thegenerous use of patterns on pillows, blankets and upholstery, wallpaper, curtains and carpets. Checks and floral elements, paisley, stripes and baroque pattern. The fabrics and materials may also be mixed colorfully. From Leather to velvet everything finds a place in a British furnished room and creates a wonderfully unique atmosphere.
What is often found in English living rooms?
As individual as the composition of furniture and patterns, there are a few classics that are characteristic of the English interior. The most important piece is the Chesterfield sofa, which is classically made of leather and has buttons in a diamond pattern – by the way, also available as an armchair. It is against him that the other pieces of furniture are measured. Massive and soft they must be and best of all old to antiquarian and made of dark wood. High bookshelves, that extend to below the ceiling also provide ample space for likewise old Books, vases and knickknacks. Walls are decorated not only with magnificent wallpaper, but also with Image galleries, consisting of heavy and adorable frames decorated.
Tip: If you are looking for inspiration for hanging paintings, you can find ideas in our post about pictures for the living room.
What Colors are Typical in the English Interior?
Typical colors in the English interior are dark, rich colors,
that radiate venerable tradition. Shades of brown and green are popular, but a bold blue or rusty red can also set the basic tone of an English-furnished room.
You can combine the dark coziness with inviting, bright splashes of color from cream or pink to lilac and colorful splashes of blue, green or yellow. Best you choose a dark base tone that you combine with a lighter color. Pick up the same color scheme in different furnishings, so the combination will look stylish without spreading monotony.
Despite the large pieces of furniture and loving decoration, the English interior should not look cluttered. Everything has its place. Then nothing will stand in the way of the effect of colors and patterns.
Cozy, cozy, Cottage - How to make the English Interior successful
You want to decorate your home in English style? We have tips for you, how the composition of furniture, wallpaper and accessories succeed.
Dark furniture and chesterfield armchairs
For your English interior, choose antique furniture with carvings and curved shapes. Shelves and side tables are made of wood, usually in rather dark shades. For armchairs and sofas, the focus is on coziness. Soft upholstery, dreamy patterns and generous cuts invite you to sit and linger. Here you can also use a modern, straight seating furniture, as long as the coziness factor and the size are right.
Wallpaper and Wall Design
Whether it’s raining outside or the sun is shining, the walls of an English living room are always an eye-catcher. Patterns and flowers and bold colors can not be missing here. Pick up the color scheme of your interior in the choice of wallpaper and give your home in this way a coherent and yet never boring character. Matching wallpaper motifs in different colors can be found at KunstLoft: abstract and floral wallpapers, that suit your taste.
Image Galleries
The wall design does not end with the wallpaper, pictures may not be missing. Whether as a single large painting or combined into a gallery, the pictures are usually framed in magnificent gold frames or dark wood frames to match the furniture.
Typical motifs in the English style are classically influenced by nature, such as by Flowers, landscapes or Maritime. Family photos or portraits also look wonderful on an English decorated wall. If you like, you can also decorate pictures with Wall plates or Wall mirrors combine. Thus, the colorful mix becomes complete.
Light and Lamps
In keeping with the dark colors, the light in an English country house is also rather subdued. This is ensured on the one hand by heavy curtains and on the other hand by indirect light sources, such as candles and smaller lamps on side tables, on shelves or on wall and mantelpieces. Lampshades made of fabric immerse the room in warm light and look cozy and inviting even when switched off. The offer of KunstLoft has just the right thing for you:
The only exception to all the softness are chandeliers. Wonderfully suited to illuminate a dining table or a larger arrangement of sofas and armchairs, a chandelier is most likely to come into its own when high ceilings and large rooms are to be illuminated. For those who do not want to do without the noble lights even in a smaller living room, a wall chandelier can be placed on either side of the main piece of furniture or the fireplace.
Pillows, Blankets and other Textiles
At least as important as the sofa on which they are draped, are the fabrics and patterns of pillows and blankets, and in general textiles in the English interior. They make the English country style complete and are the real highlight. Therefore, they should not be shortchanged. Large and small check patterns, floral prints and magnificent baroque patterns are the most popular fabric decors, but also monochrome pillows and lacy knits may mix in.
Here it depends on the composition. If you prefer subtle, choose cream-colored textiles and small-scale patterns; if you are looking for a contrast to the carpet, sofa or wallpaper, take larger motifs and stronger colors.
Books, Watches, Vases and more
Ceiling-high shelves stand between pictures and magnificent wallpaper – filled with books, preferably old books for leisurely afternoons of reading at home, but not only. In between, elegant vases, a ticking retro clock, grandmother’s porcelain service, a dried hydrangea and a petroleum lamp lighten up the bookscape. The decoration in the English interior is elegant to curious, traditional to exotic, but always purposeful. Choose items that match the color of your decor and perfect the English look without falling into kitsch.
English Interior Decoration from KunstLoft
Whether picture, deco lights or Wallpapers, at KunstLoft you will find suitable furnishings to decorate your home in English style. Get inspired in our store and find more ideas and tutorials in our magazine to make your home shine anew:
Image credits: © KunstLoft