Photo: decorilla.com The English style combines several trends and manifestations of art that have flourished in England from the Middle Ages to the present day. In fact, it is a mixture of different eras, especially Victorian and Georgian styles, which over time became classic. Interiors in the English style evoke thoughts of majestic and noble aristocratic castles.
Color spectrum
Due to the abundance of wood in the interior, the basis of the color scheme is brown and its shades. Deep, muted tones of green, blue, and burgundy are chosen as companions. Orange shades are often used - terracotta, ocher, copper, brick.
An overly dark interior can be diluted with light, complex tones - ivory, beige, cream. Pure white is rarely used, mainly only as a background - for example, on upholstery with an ornament.
Materials and finishing
Interior design in the English style begins with the renovation of the room:
Ceiling
At the beginning of the 18th century, white surfaces with moldings and stucco were considered traditional. With the development of colonization, beam structures came into fashion, adding dynamics and volume to high ceilings in private mansions.
Walls
There are several ways to decorate walls in English style:
- Tree. Wood panels with symmetrical moldings are a classic, often used in living rooms or offices.
- Wallpaper. Definitely with a pattern: flowers, checkered, striped, flowered.
- Dye. Both plaster and wood are painted in a single deep shade. Options can be combined: for example, use wood below, bright wallpaper on top.
In the photo the walls are decorated with wooden panels
Floor
When decorating living spaces in the English style, choose natural parquet or parquet boards. Tiles (usually black and white) are acceptable in kitchens and bathrooms.
Windows and doors
Interior doors and, especially, entrance doors are massive, preferably made of natural wood or veneered. The design is classic. From strict straight forms with glass, to smooth ones with panels, rosettes, capitals. Color: dark wood or plain white.
The windows are often white, large, and simple rectangular in shape. Less often - arched.
Character traits
- Zoning the space in the room. For example, the living room should have several zones: a place for reading, a table for board games, tea drinking and relaxation.
- There are certainly stained glass windows and partitions here.
- Natural wood is used in the decoration of the room. Ideally, noble species: bog oak, mahogany and walnut.
- All items must be positioned symmetrically. Starting from the doors located in the corridors and ending with the arrangement of decorative interior items.
- Textiles are one of the important details; we’ll talk about suitable materials later in the review.
- The accent in the room is the fireplace.
- Special attention is paid to the decor (paintings, family photos, framed mirrors).
What furniture, appliances and plumbing are suitable?
The main element of English design is furniture. It is the accent that is placed on any room - from the hallway to the bedroom.
Cabinet cabinets, shelves, chests of drawers - either built-in or bulky, free-standing. The work tables are good quality closed ones, reminiscent of cabinets or secretaries. Magazine and dining rooms - on beautiful carved legs. All wood products.
Upholstered furniture is round. The armrests of sofas and armchairs are massive and clearly visible. The upholstery can be plain leather (often with a capitonné tie) or textile with a pattern. Traditional chairs - with soft satin seats and high, beautiful backs.
The photo shows a leather Chester sofa
A classic kitchen set with columns, cornices, and balustrades will harmoniously fit into the cooking area. The equipment is selected to match it - deliberately modern objects with chrome parts will look ridiculous.
The photo shows a kitchen with aged appliances
The same applies to plumbing - recreating the English style, choose retro collections. Such toilets and sinks are more expensive, but they are 100% suitable for the task.
What textiles should I use?
The most important part of decor in the English style is fabrics. The most noticeable element is the pillows. They are sure to decorate a soft sofa, armchair, bed.
Don’t forget about the furniture itself: bright textiles on the upholstery effectively attract attention.
Coziness is complemented by thick curtains: fabrics with a pattern can be left as is, and plain ones can be decorated with tiebacks, tassels, and lambrequins.
Carpets with strict geometric or abstract floral patterns are laid in living rooms and bedrooms.
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.
Lighting Features
If you read the description of the English style, you probably noticed that it originated even before the active introduction of electricity into homes, so initially the rooms were illuminated with candles and lamps. Hence the favorite chandeliers in the design, reminiscent of candelabra.
But central lighting alone is not enough. To create a cozy lamp atmosphere, floor lamps, sconces, and table lamps are added to the ceiling lamp - sources of muted, cozy light.
What decor to choose for the interior?
The English style in apartment interiors can be called decorative, because in addition to textiles, rooms are decorated with many other accessories:
- family portraits in frames (sequence of generations);
- paintings, posters (main themes - hunting, nature);
- books (the library should be large and visible);
- beautiful expensive dishes (located in antique sideboards, buffets in dining rooms or kitchens);
- figurines (on the floor, table, consoles, open shelves).
In general, just remember: in the English style there is always something lying or standing on the surfaces. Whether it's a dining table, a work table, or a secretary lid, decorate it.
In the photo, wall decoration with images of birds
Symmetry is the basis of style
The English love for correct forms and proportions is manifested in the symmetry of design elements in the interior. Windows, furniture, paintings - everything looks harmonious and cozy. You can choose a luxurious option for paired armchairs and sofas at Lifestyle-Unice.
Photo: i.ytimg.com
How does it look in the interior of the rooms?
The embodiment of English design depends on the room with which the work is being done: according to the British, the room must first of all correspond to its functionality.
Kitchen design examples
English cuisines are classic. With a large set, beautiful rich curtains, practical tiled floor. The dining group is placed depending on the layout: it can be left right there (if the space of the room allows), taken out into a separate room (if there is a dining room) or placed on the border of 2 zones in the studio.
Living room design options
The main and largest room of the house should be conducive to relaxation, communication, and receiving guests. Upholstered furniture, a coffee table, and bookshelves are required here. It is advisable to install a bar and fireplace. The staircase, if there is one in the house, also opens into the living room.
Bedroom design
Bedrooms can be small or spacious. The main thing is that they fit a comfortable bed and nightstands. The remaining elements - a lounge chair, a dressing or work table, a chest of drawers - are positioned whenever possible.
Examples of nursery design
The children's room is as discreet as the other rooms. For boys, it is advisable to choose checkered and striped prints. Girls will love the floral design.
English style in the interior of the hallway and corridor
Since the style initially originated in mansions, the hallways were quite large and more like halls: they had enough space not only for a closet and a mirror, but also armchairs with a console - this was where waiting guests were located.
The photo shows a spacious square hallway in English style
Despite the fact that corridors are passage rooms, the decor in them will not be superfluous. Hang several small posters or one large painting.
English style bathroom design
Bathrooms initially also occupied large areas, so traditionally, in addition to plumbing fixtures, they contained an armchair with a pouf, a dressing table, and a linen closet. It is advisable to take the bathtubs themselves free-standing, but if there is not enough space, it is permissible to replace them with a built-in bowl or shower stall.
As for the toilet, models with a high hanging cistern or floor-standing toilets with rough straight edges will fit most harmoniously.
English style office
Most often, it is the cabinets that are awarded English design. Characteristic features of England are massive tables, leather work chairs, comfortable sofas, an abundance of wood in decoration and furniture, cabinets for books and documents.
The British were able to preserve all the charm of their traditional style: perhaps that is why today interiors a la Baker Street can be found not only in London, but throughout the world!
Wall decoration
To finish flat surfaces, it is customary to use natural materials: wooden panels, paper wallpaper, plaster or water-based paint. To decorate a modern room in the English style, several techniques are used:
#1. The plane of the wall is divided horizontally, with the lower part covered with oak or walnut panels, and the upper part painted with matte light paint.
#2. The wall is visually divided using overhead moldings, after which they, along with the surface, are painted in the same color.
#3. To visually raise low ceilings, striped wallpaper is used; in rooms with high ceilings, patterned wallpaper with monograms or floral patterns is used.
