The design of the living room sets the tone for the entire house or apartment. It determines the character, talks about the preferences, status, and priorities of the owners. If you want to demonstrate to your guests your impeccable taste, worthy position, and at the same time enjoy complete comfort, living room in English style will be the ideal solution. It successfully combines restraint and luxury, sophistication and home comfort. The British are characterized by a certain stiffness and even snobbery, but this does not prevent the interior from being cozy and conducive to a pleasant stay.
living room in English style
General style features
Specific elements, finishes and shades for the design of a living room in the English style are selected taking into account the initial conditions and possibilities. But the basic canons of this direction must be observed. They provide the style with undeniable advantages. It is characterized by the following features:
- the dominant role of natural materials;
- natural rich shades;
- complex multi-level ceiling lamp;
- multi-layer curtains on the windows;
- high-quality furniture made of valuable wood;
- decorative finishing of ceilings;
- abundance of fabric decor;
- a large number of decorative elements.
living room in English style
The luxury and respectability of the interior is emphasized by natural materials, majestic chandeliers with lampshades in the form of candles, numerous crystal pendants, and stucco. The atmosphere of coziness and comfort is created by the warm tones of natural wood, textiles, decorations in the form of figurines, vases, paintings, etc. It is quite difficult to create a harmonious interior that includes many elements. Study professional design projects in photos of living rooms in the English style to avoid mistakes and not make the aristocratic design too colorful or cheap.
Correct lighting
The essence of the design is its coziness and a touch of old-fashionedness, so the light in the room should be distributed evenly and not hit the eyes, remaining soft. A central classic chandelier with numerous pendants on the ceiling is required, but numerous other light sources are also used: floor lamps, bedside lamps, sconces, table lamps, antique nightlights.
The English style is wealth, restraint, oak decoration, wooden wall panels, parquet, traditional elegant furniture with bent legs.
Directions in English style
living room in English style
Each historical era has certain characteristics. This could not but be reflected in the design of home interiors. The English style can reflect three main directions:
- classical gothic;
- Gregorian period;
- Victorian era.
The classic Gothic style is characterized by dark tones, elongated vertical shapes, and maximum restraint. In the interior it can be present in the form of lancet windows and panels in wall cabinets, elongated backs of soft chairs and armchairs, calm neutral finishing tones, mosaic inserts in doors, etc.
living room in English style
The Gregorian period had a significant influence on the formation of home interiors. He filled English interiors with high-quality upholstered furniture made from valuable wood species: walnut, oak, mahogany. blue living room in the English style ideally matches this trend . This color scheme was dominant in those days. The Gregorian era is characterized by grandeur. It was she who brought stucco, friezes, gilding, and other elements of pomp to interior fashion.
The reign of Queen Victoria brought its own changes. English interiors were replenished with elements borrowed from colonial countries. Luxurious carpets, expensive textiles, elegant floor vases, etc. appeared in the decor. New colors came into fashion: terracotta, golden.
living room in English style
When decorating an interior in English style , you don’t have to limit yourself to one direction. They can coexist perfectly in one design. It is only important to follow the rules of harmony, to avoid chaos and dissonance.
A few recommendations for English design
living room in English style
If your goal is a living room in the English classic style , you should take into account certain requirements for such a design. It should contain elements that characterize this direction:
- furniture made of natural wood;
- antiques;
- fireplace;
- discreet, elegant finishing materials;
- complex crystal lamps;
- forged elements;
- high-quality interior door made of solid wood;
- stucco on the ceiling.
You need to understand that creating such an interior will require considerable expenses. But it guarantees the house respectability, high status, and emphasizes the importance of family traditions.
living room in English style
Modern technology can help reduce the cost of decorating a living room. For example, furniture made of MDF, lined with natural veneer, will successfully replace solid wood products. The role of an antique will be played by a model made of artificially aged wood. Glass processed using innovative technologies is quite difficult to distinguish from natural crystal. Gas and electric fireplaces can serve as a natural hearth. But when choosing such replacements, it is necessary to pay special attention to the quality of the imitation.
The best option for this design is a spacious room with high ceilings. But you can also decorate a small living room in English style if you choose each element wisely.
Ceiling finishing
living room in English style
Professional designers consider tension, suspended structures to be the best option for this respectable design. Their decor uses molded cornices and plinths. But it is not necessary to choose models with ornate, complex elements. Skirting boards and cornices can be restrained and laconic. You can complement the design with a stucco rosette, which will emphasize the grandeur of the multi-tiered crystal chandelier.
living room in English style
Tension and suspension systems are not a prerequisite. If you are decorating a small living room in English style , a room with low ceilings, they can be whitewashed and painted white. In this case, the skirting boards are chosen to be narrow. If it is impossible to decorate the design with a multi-tiered pendant lamp, you can use an overhead model with crystal pendants. It is advisable to use a chandelier with a mirror reflector in the interior, which gives the shimmer of light in the crystal edges maximum luxury and chic.
living room in English style
Interior color solutions
In old England they preferred dense, dim, muted light. Natural wood colors, of course. Traditionally, beige and brown tones, red, green, and soft orange can be found in the interior. A little later, lighter and cooler colors appeared in the interior: blue, peach, light pink, lilac, but in a muted form. The colors are saturated, but not bright.
All furniture in the living room should be made only of natural wood, be it a coffee table, wardrobe, chest of drawers or any other item.
Walls in an English living room
Walls are the most important background element and deserve special attention. English-style living room uses several finishing options. The choice depends on:
- general design,
- financial opportunities,
- style direction.
The interior can be emphatically aristocratic, presentable and as homely and cozy as possible. For the first option, you can use plain plaster and wooden panels. This finish will be the ideal backdrop for furniture made of natural wood, luxurious oriental carpets, and crystal. In the second option, striped wallpaper with small plant, floral patterns, and ornaments can be an excellent choice. Patterns may include gold plated elements.
living room in English style
If you want to create a rich, high-quality interior of a living room in the English style, it is advisable to use high-quality textiles and tapestries for wall decoration. These materials combine well with wood panels.
When creating a design in a certain direction, it should be taken into account that in the Gregorian period patterns were not used on the walls. It is characterized by a monochromatic finish. It helps to fully reflect the advantages of furniture and its upholstery. In the Victorian era, on the contrary, walls were given the role of accent. They were covered with patterns of flowers, plants, and birds.
living room in English style
When choosing a direction, you can be guided by the characteristics of the room. If the room is small, a visual increase in space is required. A blue living room in English Gregorian style could be a great option. Floral decoration on the walls will make a large room more comfortable, striped wallpaper will visually raise the ceiling.
Traditionally, the walls in an English living room are decorated with paintings and mirrors in carved wooden frames. You can hang family photos. An excellent option would be photos on canvas. Finding a workshop ready to fulfill such an order is not difficult in any city.
living room in English style
Doors and windows
Window and door openings are decorated with wooden frames and trim. At the same time, solid wood is chosen for the doors, which is particularly solid, and the windows can be decorated with multi-colored stained glass. Openings in the form of arched structures will look beautiful and unusual.
The windows are complemented by wide, massive window sills.
Floor coverings in the interior
In giving the atmosphere solidity and presentability, floors play a vital role. In a living room in a classic English style you can use:
- natural parquet;
- natural stone;
- stone-like porcelain tiles;
- wood-look tiles.
If imitation of natural materials is used, it must be of high quality.
Classic Interior Design Layout
Parquet ideally matches the principles of home comfort. The texture and shades of wood fill the interior with comfort. This coating becomes an excellent backdrop for high-quality furniture, rich decorative elements, and an expensive carpet. The processing uses varnish, which gives the design the required chic.
Floor coverings made of natural stone look majestic and royal. The type and shade of the material is selected taking into account the shades of the furniture and the basic tones of the interior. Granite guarantees solidity to the design and emphasizes high status. Marble will provide elegance, sophistication, sandstone will add warmth, lightness, etc.
living room in English style
The use of imitations made using modern technologies allows you to save costs on decorating the interior of a living room in the English style . The use of new printing techniques and 3D format allows you to accurately copy natural analogues. Tiles and porcelain tiles completely replicate patterns and tones; visually it is difficult to distinguish them from natural parquet or stone.
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.
English style shades
living room in English style
The weather does not spoil the residents of Foggy Albion with sunny days. Therefore, in living rooms in the English classic style, warm, deep colors prevail, providing a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. The following shades can be used in decoration and furniture upholstery:
- wine, burgundy, dark red;
- emerald, rich green;
- honey, mustard;
- chocolate, beige, etc.
The choice largely depends on the specifics of the room and its location. Using light colors, a room can be visually expanded; dark shades add a touch of coziness to a large living room.
living room in English style
The location of the room must be taken into account. In a room facing north, east, warm colors are predominantly used. On the sunny south side, a blue English-style living room . It will ensure freshness and provide excellent conditions for relaxation in hot weather. The blue tones are characteristic of the Gregorian era; the design can take into account its features and provide the living room with royal grandeur.
When choosing shades for the interior, you need to take into account that the English style does not use neon, flashy colors. They are not even used to create accents.
Furniture in English design
living room in English style
Wood furniture is ideal for designing a living room in English style . But if its high cost does not allow such a purchase, you can buy high-quality MDF products finished with natural veneer. The preferred types of wood are: oak, beech, cherry, mahogany.
The choice of pieces of furniture is largely determined by the area of the room and the features of use. In a spacious room that serves as a living and dining room, you can install:
- wall;
- bookcases;
- TV stand;
- sofa and armchairs;
- coffee table;
- lunch group;
- buffet or chest of drawers.
living room in English style
Typically, matte polished products are installed in such an interior. It combines elegance and sophisticated chic. If space is limited, you can choose a wall with compartments for books. If there is no need to equip the dining area with a table and chairs, a buffet will not be useful.
When choosing furniture, preference should be given to products with bent legs, carvings, forged elements, glass inserts, and gold-plated fittings. The dining group should include a table with an oval or rectangular tabletop, soft chairs with textile or leather upholstery. The choice of finishing for upholstered furniture depends on the nature of the design, finishing, and textile decor. The preferred upholstery options are coda or striped tapestries with floral motifs.
Additionally
An English-style salon is a kingdom of accessories. This is one of the few trends in interior design where you don’t have to try to be moderate. On the walls can be antique clocks, gilded photo frames, floral wreaths and paintings with floral motifs or those dating back to the Victorian era.
A very characteristic decoration of an English-style room are soft pillows placed on sofas or chairs. Most often, like sofas and wallpaper, they have floral motifs.
Nothing else can create such a family and cozy atmosphere as floral curtains, decorative lace pillowcases, patterned tablecloths or a beautiful rug on the floor. The advantage of English-style curtains is that they perfectly highlight the decor, especially when they duplicate any pattern present on the sofa or armchair.
All porcelain items placed on cabinets or coffee tables are welcome in the room. A bouquet of bright flowers placed in a vase in pastel colors will also look beautiful. There should be different types of paintings on the walls, be it family portraits or still lifes. It is important that there are many of them.
The English style, in addition to trinkets and family souvenirs, is also distinguished by stylish accessories: lamps, candlesticks, fruit plates and, of course, porcelain cutlery.
As you know, such elements can significantly improve the appearance of the interior and make it cozy.
Stylish chandeliers and decorative trim
Lighting in the English style is primarily decorative crystal chandeliers. They hang proudly in the middle of the ceiling and are its main decoration. They are often found in the company of gypsum plaster, which appears around the chandelier.
More: How to arrange a small living room
Apartment owners who want their interiors to look like English castles also apply a plaster finish as the culmination of the wall right below the ceiling.
However, this solution is only suitable for high ceilings. Any decoration on the ceiling visually lowers it. In a typical apartment, where the ceiling height is about 2.5-2.6 m, such a decorative procedure will not look very good. However, if the room is high enough, then thanks to stucco molding you can achieve a luxurious effect.
Sconces and table lamps will work as additional lighting, preferably if they have milky white shades.
An irreplaceable topic
In a living room decorated in English style, various motifs must appear. Floral patterns are the most common, but stripes also look good.
If you have decided on floral accents, then it is not recommended to introduce anything else. You need to make sure that the theme you choose is included in many add-ons. Not only in the form of curtains, but also on pillows, china or upholstery.
Library in the living room
“An English room without books is like a body without a soul.” Library furniture is a hot trend in this style. This is not just a stylish accessory, but also an indicator of good taste. Durable library shelves combined with elegant classic and oak accessories create a unique atmosphere in every interior.
It will be a unique and worthy decoration to satisfy the needs of reading lovers, admirers of good literature and book collectors.
Textile elements in design
Comfort and coziness in the room are ensured by elements of textile decor. In English-style living rooms, these items are widely represented. The window opening is decorated with multi-layer curtains. The designs include:
- thick curtains;
- lambrequin;
- garters;
- translucent tulle, curtains.
living room in English style
The design of the material of the paintings is chosen taking into account the general style and shades. Synthetic fabrics are not acceptable in this style. Preference is given to wool, silk, and linen. They may contain artificial additives to ensure practicality. Curtains can be plain, striped or checkered, with ornaments, prints in a floral or plant motif. Embroidery with golden threads is appropriate. A good addition to curtains in the design of a living room in the English style would be fringe and tassels.
Additional decorative elements can be classic checkered wool blankets, tapestry or velvet bedspreads, decorative pillows with plain, colored, or embroidered covers.
living room in English style
into the interior of an English-style living room . It can be decorated with ethnic patterns, floral, oriental patterns.
Decor elements
The details decorating the room are designed to neutralize some of the conservatism inherent in the English style and give the room expressiveness and individuality.
Curtains and other textiles
Textiles are the connecting link between all interior elements.
Curtains give the living room the ultimate completeness, so their design - cut, length, color - should be thought out as carefully as the entire furnishings of the room and its spatial and coloristic solution. For multi-layered, lush curtains, usually decorated with shaped lambrequins with tassels, expensive fabrics are traditionally used - velvet, natural silk, brocade, wool, damask. Their shades are selected depending on the main ones for the room:
- general color scheme of the room;
- furniture colors;
- wall finishing tones.
In addition to the monochromatic option, traditional patterns of stripes, checks, and monograms are often chosen for curtains in English interiors.
The English living room is also characterized by an abundance of sofa cushions of soft shapes, the fabric of which matches the texture and color scheme with the rest of the textiles in the living room.
Accessories
Some conservatism inherent in the English style is offset by the originality of decorative elements, such as:
- porcelain - authentic exquisite products from Wedgwood, Royal Albert, Aynsley, Churchill, magnificent figurines and dishes from China;
- tapestries and framed paintings;
- floor globes and clocks, also found on wall and tabletops;
- vintage geographical maps;
- antique engravings;
- collections of insects and naturalistic frames with herbariums;
- mirrors
This wall clock fits perfectly into the interior of a modern English living room.
Frames, if accessories require them, are usually made of wood or metal. They should be noticeable, well decorated, but without the use of gilding. The photographs present in the interior are stylized as antique (sepia, black and white photographs).
Living plants
In living room design, living plants are not only appropriate, but also welcome. Preference is given to species with tall stems and large inflorescences: palm trees, callas, camellias, orchids, cyclamens. They are placed in voluminous floor vases made of ceramic, porcelain or natural stone.
From cut garden flowers they create compositions in colors that match the overall color of the room, and decorate the mantelpiece and tables with them.
Along with the bouquet in the vase, this living room is very decorated with arrangements of dried flowers.
Other
One of the walls of the room is usually reserved for an extensive library. As with other elements of decoration, in the design of shelves preference is given to natural materials. Book bindings must also meet the same requirements: among antique tomes in embossed morocco or modern editions bound in natural leather, the presence of printed works in covers made of paper or inexpensive polymers is not allowed.
The design of the library must adhere to strict forms, clear lines and relief elements, along with patterns on the glass of the cabinets, through which the covers of expensive volumes are visible.
In the music-playing area you can place a cabinet grand piano, a small piano or similar harpsichords, a spinet in a case made of expensive wood. Place the tool in such a way that the facades of upholstered furniture are directed towards it and there is free space for passage.
Fireplace in an English interior
A fireplace can be considered the best decoration of an English interior. It guarantees a high-quality recreation of the proper atmosphere and ensures the proper solidity of the environment. Photos of English-style living rooms will help you verify the importance of this element . In a country house, it is advisable to install a natural structure. It will not only decorate the interior, but also provide all the effects that make the fireplace popular:
- pleasant warmth from the firebox;
- the soothing crackling of logs;
- light, cozy aroma of smoke.
It is unlikely that it will be possible to build such a structure in a city apartment. But you can use modern fireplace models designed for installation in such conditions. Gas models are an excellent imitation of traditional structures. They allow you to admire the play of flames and are a source of heat. If it is not possible to install such a device, you can purchase an electric fireplace that has no installation restrictions.
living room in English style
Models that imitate natural ones must be decorated accordingly. In an English interior, stone and brick portals and solid mantelpieces look harmonious. You can place figurines, porcelain vases, an elegant tea set, and photos on them.
Lighting system
The lighting system performs an important function in creating comfort and coziness. When choosing lamps for the English style, you need to remember the respectability that every piece of furniture should emphasize. You can see successful options in the photos of living rooms in the English style . There are several recommendations from professional designers for designing an interior lighting system:
- models with plastic lampshades and shades are not used in this style;
- the room should have several types of lamps for all zones;
- preferred materials for diffusers are: crystal, glass, ceramics, textiles;
- Forged elements and gilding are welcome.
The optimal design decoration is a ceiling chandelier with “candles” and a large number of crystal pendants. But if you are decorating a small living room in English style , you can use an overhead model.
living room in English style
In addition to general lighting, the room should have local lamps to ensure comfort in different areas. Elegant sconces with bronze, gilded bases in an antique design are perfect for such a setting. The interior is successfully decorated with elegant tall floor lamps with textile lampshades and cozy table lamps with diffusers of the same type.
Living room furniture options
For the manufacture of furniture in the 18th-19th centuries. We used solid wood and luxurious fabrics. Characterized by their strength and durability, furnishings were usually passed on by inheritance.
Today, decorating a living room ideally requires antique furniture. In addition to the use of natural wood and expensive textiles, its best examples are characterized by harmonious proportions and a wealth of decorative elements and fittings.
Cushioned furniture
Armchairs and a sofa with armrests that smoothly flow into the backrest, banquettes, ottomans, low poufs-benches make up the necessary set for furnishing a living room.
Velvet, velor, tapestry fabrics or genuine leather are traditionally used for upholstery. Wooden elements are made from artificially aged material and decorated with relief patterns.
A large amount of upholstered furniture in the English living room is designed for the convenience of all members of a large family, as well as guests.
Storage space
The term “architectural” is often used to describe English furniture: its design contains elements that are externally similar to the finishing details of facades and walls: columns, pilasters, figured overlays. In general, the objects are characterized by reliability, combined with exquisite proportions and rich decor.
In addition to the classic soft group, cabinets are also required, of which there are also traditionally many varieties. They are designed to store:
- porcelain;
- table linen;
- books;
- bar with drinks;
- various collections.
Carved cabinet fronts usually have doors decorated with fine glazing. In addition to sideboards, cupboards, and chests of drawers, which have doors in their design, open shelves and racks on which numerous accessories are located are also appropriate.
The appearance of such a cabinet can really give a child the impression of entering a fairy-tale world, as described in the series of English fairy tales “The Chronicles of Narnia”
Coffee table
When decorating a living room, even its central part is not left empty. Therefore, the room needs several coffee tables designed for serving the traditional five o'clock - drinking tea at five o'clock in the evening, playing board games, placing smoking accessories, reading newspapers. Thanks to their compact size, tables form or complement cozy areas in any part of the living room.
Even in modern English living rooms, a coffee table is perhaps the most essential element of the interior.
Other furniture
Light shelves, consoles, and cabinets fit organically into the interior of an English living room. They usually contain lamps, vases, large boxes, figurines - accessories that enhance the overall impression of noble luxury.
This is what bookcases might look like in an English living room, designed to store frequently used books and interior items.
