History of appearance
The English interior style has developed over three centuries. It covers four generations of English monarchs: Queen Anne, Kings George I and George II, and Queen Victoria.
The Queen Anne era is a Baroque era. Luxury and grandeur. Abundance of ornamentation, gilding, ornate furniture. This is the style of palaces and residences.
George I and George II were of German origin. George I didn't even speak English. It was they who brought to England what we now call the true English style: practicality, toughness and restraint. Their era is the era of Rococo and Classicism.
The century of Queen Victoria's reign became the century of the Victorian style. This eclectic style combined Gothic, Baroque and Rococo with a colonial style. The development of machine production made it accessible to the middle class.
In the end, everything came to what we now call the ethnic English style. Practicality and comfort, restraint and consistency.
General lighting rules
The English style is characterized by dim, diffused lighting, which instills peace and tranquility in the owner. Lighting fixtures consist of small lamps with lampshades, floor lamps, and bedside sconces. A crystal chandelier is often placed on the ceiling in the center of the room, providing the main light. Its size depends on the size of the bedroom.
Armchairs in the bedroom are placed near the window or fireplace
It is worth remembering the principle of symmetry. If a lighting device is placed in one part of the sleeping room, then on the other side there should be a similar lamp. In a large room there are several different zones - a place to sleep, relax, a dressing table, and so on. Each such area is equipped with additional lighting.
Features of the English interior
The main concept of the English style is an ideal life in an ideal home. Everything that surrounds a person should be cozy and practical, but at the same time good and solid.
In the British understanding, this means:
– an abundance of wood (red, walnut and oak), richly but restrainedly decorated;
– upholstered furniture: armchairs, poufs, sofas with rounded shapes;
– traditional patterns: stripes, checks, paisley and flowers;
– colonial motifs;
– and, of course, a fireplace
Furniture for an English living room
If you have seen versions of such halls in person, or have already looked at photos of English living rooms, you have probably noticed that the furniture is high-quality and elegant.
This is achieved through:
- Use of solid walnut or oak, elm or maple.
- Upholstery made of expensive materials, genuine leather, velvet and corduroy.
- Use of gilding and bronze.
- Carved backs and legs.
- Massiveness and smoothness.
Who is the English style suitable for?
English style is the style of a family nest and a cozy nest. It is reliable, durable and calm.
This style carefully stores photographs of family members on the mantelpiece, and keeps the family dinnerware and collection of porcelain figurines behind glass cabinet doors.
An easy chair by the fireplace and the ringing of a grandfather clock will suit connoisseurs of tradition and noble comfort.
Decoration
Traditionally, soft carpets of creamy colors are chosen, on which small-sized floral patterns are applied.
As accessories in this style you can use:
- Various soft pillows
- Images and paintings, always in carved and gilded frames
- Figurines
- Sconces, floor lamps, various vintage lamps
- Variety of silver trinkets
- Lots of book materials
- Candlesticks, rugs, furniture covers, guns and much more.
By choosing an English style for decorating a living room, you will show excellent taste, respect for ancient English traditions and dignity.
Basic principles of English style
We have already looked at examples of English interiors here. Therefore, let’s go over the basic points, without which the English style is unthinkable.
Comfort comes first. Upholstered furniture is arranged so that it is convenient to have a conversation while gathered in the living room.
Bright accents. When there is a gray sky and rain outside, vibrant colors are so pleasing to the eye.
Wall decoration
There can also be many options here, for example, painting or wallpapering, textile upholstery, wood panels (the latter option is only for a large and spacious living room). Surely you can get inspired by looking at photos of living rooms in the English style.
You can also consider more inexpensive design methods. For example, there may be an imitation of wooden panels using paint. A small checkered pattern or alternating stripes (narrow and wide) will also look original.
Upholstering the walls with fabric used for curtains is a rather expensive and luxurious option. But you can also use a strainer, which will be much cheaper.
A stone wall in the living room will also look original.
Features of the layout in the English style
English style can be implemented in an apartment. Historically, living rooms in English houses were of modest size to make them easier to warm in winter.
You can move freely between the living room, dining room and kitchen. They are separated by either an arch or a door with glass inserts.
But the bedroom and office are behind a solid wooden door.
How to recreate the English style in a small apartment?
If the area of your apartment does not allow you to use all the characteristic elements characteristic of the English style, then you can easily apply stylization. To do this, you need to know some techniques, choose the right furniture, work on the color scheme, and use traditional decor.
Selection of colors
To visually enlarge a room, make it lighter, fill it with air, just choose the right color scheme. As for the English style, it is traditionally dominated by calm, moderately saturated shades of red, green and brown. If you use their pastel colors as the main ones, the room will become brighter and more spacious. To make the interior expressive, add small elements made of natural dark wood. It is best to keep the floor in medium tones, and leave the ceiling white or cream.
small room living room with fireplace room with beige furniture
Furniture selection
When using English style in the interior of a small apartment, pay special attention to the choice of furniture. It is important to maintain a “golden mean” here. Furnishings should be of good quality, solid, but moderately massive. So, it is best to choose rectangular shapes for sofas and armchairs. The English style in them should be indicated by decorative wooden elements, curved legs, small pillows of traditional colors, and upholstery material.
Install light wood cabinet furniture in the living room and office. The English style is characterized by narrow bookshelves reaching the ceiling height. They won't take up much space and will create a special mood. It is better to leave some of the shelves here completely open, and some to be glazed. This way you can create an interesting design using classic techniques.
original furniture
As for the bedroom, the bed will help create a special mood. Its size is not important. What you should pay attention to is the style. The headboard must be wooden, with carvings characteristic of the English style. It is a good idea to purchase nightstands and dressing tables to go with the bed.
Kitchen furniture should also be stylized. For a small apartment, you can purchase a set of standard sizes. It is advisable to give preference to light wood tones. Paneled facades will give the entire kitchen a special English elegance. All that remains is to choose a simple dining table and chairs without unnecessary decor.
antique furniture living-dining room bright living room with fireplace
Interior decoration
If the living room area allows, you can install a small fireplace. It can be decorated with carved wood or marble. It is advisable to place shelves for souvenirs above the fireplace. Porcelain figurines will look great on them. Hang one large painting on the wall. This way you can recreate a special mood in a small apartment.
2 armchairs in the interior
Characteristic of the English style is a large amount of textiles. These are carpets on the floor, rugs, curtains with frills and tiebacks, decorative pillows. All this can be used in a small apartment. However, it is important to remember proportionality. Let the sofa in the living room be decorated with pillows, but there should not be too many of them. You can hang voluminous interesting curtains on the window, but in this case they will dominate. This means that the rest of the interior should be more modest. If the windows are not completely open, then it is better to hang unobtrusive Roman blinds with a characteristic pattern, and use something else as the center of the composition.
sofa as a bright dominant feature elegant furniture stylish living room design
So, the English style in the interior of a small apartment will look quite appropriate if you thoughtfully approach the choice of furniture, decor and finishing materials. Follow the basic rules and you can create an atmosphere of understated sophistication in your home without lacking in home comfort. But before you choose this style, think it over carefully. Keep in mind that in this case you will have to use only high-quality materials, mostly natural. This means that the cost of repairs will be very significant.
Lighting organization
During the era of George I, the classic English basket chandelier appeared. It contains a minimum of bronze and a maximum of glass.
An English living room is unthinkable without elements of the Victorian era - a floor lamp and table lamps.
Choice of colors
This style is characterized by warm shades.
Thus, during the Gregorian era, blue and light blue, as well as pale yellow, were relevant.
Already in the Victorian era, the variety of colors was greater; gold and terracotta, burgundy, emerald, mustard, beige, and pink were added. Plus, there might even be raspberry!
Correct selection of furniture
The furniture has rounded and soft shapes. An ottoman for the feet in front of the chair is appropriate.
All household items are put away in the closet. Only beautiful service and accessories are visible.
Let's not forget about the carpet brought from the English colonies.
Decorating the living room: curtains and accessories
A living room in the style of England of the 19th century is decorated to a certain extent in a classical way - vases, columns, paintings, poufs, books, lamps and traditional decorative elements are also appropriate here. Floor lamps made in steam-punk design look original in this interior. Their conservative appearance fits best into a Victorian setting.
It is also worth choosing a classic window design - draperies, multi-layer curtains in the living room will be decorated with lambrequins, cords, and tiebacks. The color of the curtains should be harmonious with the main palette. Most often these are rich tones of brown. If the room is decorated exclusively in light colors, thick curtains made of heavy materials are suitable.
Don’t forget about the original accessories – in the 19th century these were souvenirs from the British colonies. Similar products would be appropriate in the interior today.
Accessories and decor
Classic English decor includes paintings and tapestries on the walls, a thousand little things on the mantelpiece, candlesticks and vases.
You probably looked at all these photos and thought that English interiors are a little old-fashioned. The traditional English house is often guilty of this. But it’s hard to come up with something more comfortable and homely. British design is not about impressions and outrageousness, but about limitless duobism. It’s not for nothing that Nina Campbell, the British design guru, says: “An English home is when you can climb onto the sofa with your feet up.”
Unacceptable and not recommended parts
For the classic English style, steel decorative elements or furniture are unacceptable. The popular black and white color scheme also cannot be present in such a bedroom. It is not recommended to use multifunctional ultra-modern furniture and modern technology. If it is necessary to place it, it is disguised as antique. Regularity and peace are what its owner should feel in the bedroom.
Such a room cannot contain details that clearly characterize a different style or another era. For example, a Russian stove in an English interior will look ridiculous.
Color palette
[ads2] The color palette in a bedroom with an English interior can be different. Traditionally, amber, chocolate, copper and coffee shades are used.
The bedroom interior, close to a rustic version of the English style, is decorated in a lighter palette, where blue, white or beige is used as the main shade. Emerald and chocolate tones are often found in this design.
When choosing the main palette, do not forget that warm colors will visually reduce the space, while shades of the cold spectrum, on the contrary, will help expand the boundaries of the room.
Who is the English bedroom suitable for?
There is an opinion that the English style is preferred by mature people over thirty years of age.
Interior design specialists are confident that such an interior will appeal to many people. This kind of decor will appeal to connoisseurs of the classics, because the design of rooms in this style contains home comfort and aristocratic laconicism.
This is an ideal solution for collectors and owners of small apartments: decorative items can be placed in any quantity, and the rooms have a feeling of some “clutter.”
People who are fond of reading will be able to install shelves, racks, and bookcases in the bedroom.
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