English country style is popular in many places in the world, not just England, because of its warmth, coziness, and character. This style started in the rural parts of England and feature an abundance of antique, vintage, and/or thrifted traditional floral prints, natural materials, and classic furniture pieces that seem to be collected throughout the years. Here are some interior designer tips & tricks for how to decorate in an English country style in your home. Furniture PiecesThere are several classic furniture pieces commonly found in English country style homes. These furniture pieces are typically antiques. A common English country sofa is a brown leather chesterfield sofa. Other options include a roll-arm sofa or a slipcovered sofa with a skirt in a white, khaki, or cream color. Wingback chairs are very popular in living rooms. Bookcases, or perhaps an entire library, is very common in the English country style. The bookcases are filled with mostly vintage or antique books. Smaller English country homes often have a vintage or antique farmhouse table in the kitchen. Many larger homes will have a billiard or card table. Bedrooms often have a four poster bed. Choose a Warm and Inviting Color PaletteEnglish country style homes are decorated in soft and natural colors that have a comforting and natural feel. Muted pastel colors like pale pink, soft blue, and sage green are perfect to use in an English country style, since they mirror the colors of the blooming flowers and lush greenery of the English countryside. Don't forget the white or cream colored accents so the room does not look too dark. Earthy tones like terracotta, rust, and mustard yellow are also great options, as they create a cozy and inviting ambiance. A neutral brown stained wood color is also prevalent in furniture as well as architecture. Embrace Natural MaterialsUse natural materials when decorating your English country style for the most authentic look. Look for pieces made from wood, leather, wicker, rattan, and other organic materials that add a sense of warmth and texture to your home. Stained wood furniture pieces are a great choice for an English country style, however older wood pieces in poor repair can be repaired and painted to give them new life. Wood or stone floors are most common in traditional English country homes. Brick flooring is also a good option. Stone interior walls or fireplaces are another natural feature of many English country cottages. ArtThe most popular art for an English country home is a framed oil painting #ad. These paintings usually have an ornate antique gold or stained wood frame. The subject matter of these paintings are typically family portraits, landscapes, or animals, such as dogs and/or horses. Don't worry too much about your artwork matching, since art that looks collected throughout the years is very common. Add Floral PrintsOne of the most popular repeating elements in an English country style home is the use of floral prints and floral patterns. Consider decorating your home with floral patterns on your upholstery, curtains, bedding, and/or wallpaper. Popular flower types used in the English country style are the rose, peony, lily, lavender, poppy, and iris. You can mix and match different floral patterns in your room for a unique eclectic look that is one-of-a-kind. If you don't want to cover your room with flowers everywhere, try decorating with just a few floral patterns through accessories like throw pillows, blankets, or rugs. A needlepoint pillow #ad or seat cushion with a floral pattern is very common in English country decorating. Layer TexturesFor a cozy English country room, make sure to layer your textiles instead of just using the same fabrics throughout your room.Decorate with different textiles (like wool, linen, leather, velvet, and cotton) to create a room that feels collected and eclectic. Mixing and matching different textiles adds depth and interest to your space. For example, a wool plaid/tartan blanket draped over a linen sofa creates a cozy and inviting spot to sit for a while and read your favorite book. A linen pillow on a leather sofa creates a nice textural contrast so the leather sofa does not look so formal or uninviting. Choose Cozy LightingLighting is an important element in any design aesthetic, but it is especially in an English country style. English country style homes tend to be a little dark and moody, perhaps because England is known for its dark and dreary weather. Make sure to use multiple sources of lighting instead of just your overhead light bulb in the center of your ceiling. Many designers prefer to not use ceiling light at all except for when bright light is required, such as when cleaning. Table lamps, floor lamps, uplighting on something with an interesting texture (a stone wall or a potted plant), chandeliers, and wall sconces are great lighting options. Make sure that all of your light bulbs are the same color of light, listed as a number followed by the letter K. For a warm aesthetic, you will want light bulbs around 2700K. Mix and Match PatternsMixing and matching patterns is one of the characteristics of English country style since many of the items have been passed down from generation to generation. Don't be afraid to combine floral prints with stripes or plaid patterns with checks. When mixing patterns, don't select patterns with the same scale, else the patterns might feel too cluttered. Instead, select a large scale pattern, such as a floral, with a medium scale pattern, such as a plaid/tartan, with a small scale pattern, such as a small stripe print. The key is to keep the colors cohesive so the patterns don't clash. Experiment putting different items together to see how they look. You never know which items might unexpectedly look good together! Incorporate Vintage and Antique PiecesDecorating your home with vintage and antique pieces is the best way to get the English country look. These pieces add character to your home since they are unique and often a much higher quality than items made today. Look for vintage artwork, old-fashioned lighting fixtures, and classic furniture pieces to create a lived-in and comfortable environment. Understand the difference between distressing and damage. Distressing is when furniture or decor is altered over time from standard wear and tear. Damage is when furniture or decor is altered all at once, such as your dog chewing on the leg of your table while stressed out due to scary loud weather. Distressing is good since it showcases the heritage of the piece. Damage is bad and should be repaired. WoodworkWoodwork is very popular in English country homes. Exposed ceiling beams that might look a little rustic are very common. Some larger homes have stained wood paneling on the entire wall instead of plain drywall walls. Smaller homes will often have painted paneling, such as beadboard or wainscotting. This paneling sometimes covers the entire wall but other times is only on the bottom third of the wall. The woodwork is often painted white or a light color to make the home look lighter & brighter or a darker color to make the home feel a bit cozier. Add AccessoriesDon't forget to add many accessories to your English country-style home since many homes of this style tend to be nearly cluttered with an abundance of stuff that has been passed down to them for generations. Look for items like floral-printed cushions, woven baskets, and vintage knick-knacks to add personality and character to your space. Walking sticks, equestrian items, Staffordshire dog statues #ad taxidermy, antique books, pottery, classic hunting items, floral china, and a grandfather clock are common English country home accessories. Embrace ImperfectionOne of the defining characteristics of English country style is its imperfection since many of the high quality pieces of furniture and decor have been used by the family for many decades. Embrace the lived-in and almost shabby look of antique and vintage pieces. Look for furniture with patina and character and don't be afraid to mix and match different styles & eras. English country homes are typically not perfectly curated and well designed. More commonly, the items in the home have been collected over decades and tend to look a bit cluttered and a tiny bit messy. Imperfection adds personality and charm to your space and gives your home a sense of history. Live Plants and FlowersEnglish country style celebrates the outdoors, especially during the cold winters. Adding potted plants #ad can make a sterile room feel more alive and happy. You can also add fresh flowers for a colorful touch either weekly or on special occasions when you have guests. Consider planting your own cut flower garden so you can bring seasonal flowers inside your home. Roses are a very popular flower choice for a cutting garden. Other articles you might like: How to Decorate a Dining Room How to Decorate with Neutral Colors and Not Look Boring Decorating Mistakes that Make Your Home Look Messy
From classic and traditional to modern and eclectic, the design options are absolutely endless when it comes to modern fireplace ideas. 💫
Eclectic home design is a unique and creative approach to interior decorating that blends a variety of styles, textures, and periods to create a cohesive and personalized look. Often, the overarching style incorporated into eclectic styling is Bohemian decor. However, there are also modern staples such as glam or industrial which shine through as well. Really, eclectic is based on providing a true representation of the person living in the space. While some may falsely gather that eclectic means an assortment of random objects, gathered without thought to a theme...
In the realm of design, the dining room has long been a canvas for personal expression, a place where the intimate gatherings of life unfold. As we embrace Spring 2024, we find ourselves at the cusp of a design renaissance, where the dining room becomes a gallery of individual narratives, articulate
Our traditional wallpaper is screen printed by hand on coated paper for a luxe, hand-painted look and feel. We use eco-friendly ground paper that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and manufactured carbon neutral. Highly durable and fade resistant Washable with mild soap and water Download our wallpaper spec sheet for more detailed product information. Note: Samples are provided for review of the material and print technique—they are not intended to be used for color matching purposes. There can be slight shifts in color between runs, so your wallpaper may vary slightly from sample coloring. Please ensure that you order the correct amount as we do not guarantee that rolls printed in different batches will be an exact match.
Each room looks like a museum...
Step inside this vibrant and colorful Italianate home for sale in Kennebunk, Maine! Looking at homes on Zillow that I’ll probably never live is one of my many hobbies. I’ve had this stunning old home saved as a favorite for...Read More
Create a Cozy Eclectic Living Room: Tips and Tricks Creating a Cozy, Eclectic Living Room Hey there, home decor enthusiasts! Are you craving a cozy, eclectic living room that feels like a warm hug? Well, buckle up because we're about to embark on a journey to create a space that's equal parts inviting and uniquely
Interior design trends 2024 herald a new way of living, with luxe textures, soothing materials, and lots of color
Interior designer Fran Keenan blended a variety of styles to create an eclectic look for Spanish-style home in Birmingham.
Uncover the charm of eclectic style interior design in our latest feature. See how combining a range of different design aspects—both classic and modern—can work together to produce something new, energetic, and inviting. From today's twist on vintage classics in living rooms to fusion-style traditions in the bedrooms and kitchens filled with bold textures and colors, let the inspiration shake up your space and pack it full of personality.
I’m a big believer that you should be floating and swimming in your own personal style in your home. It’s exciting to get started on a new project with one of my favorite clients who ha…
Explore recent settlers' 1007 photos on Flickr!
Discover how to infuse your home with the vibrant and eclectic charm of kitsch interior design. Explore ideas for transforming living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens into playful and personalized spaces, full of bold colors, unique patterns, and quirky decor. Perfect for those looking to add a touch of whimsy and individuality to their home interiors.
A well designed living room should have at least one focal point and that focal point should NOT be your television. Focal points are items in a room that are unusual, interesting, eye catching, and/or unique. They are something that you would not find in every other home in your neighborhood. Here are a few ideas for focal points for a living room. ArtworkAn oversized bold piece of artwork can be a focal point. The artwork should grab the attention of people entering the room. You can use one large piece of art or multiple pieces of art used together as one piece. A popular place for a large piece of artwork is hung over a living room sofa or over the living room fireplace. Art with bold colors can not only be the room's focal point, but also set the room's color scheme. A grand ornate or boldly colored mirror can also be a living room focal point. Some people like to use a gallery wall to display smaller pieces of art. A gallery wall can be a living room focal point, as long as the art pieces are clustered together and are visually one art installation instead of spread throughout the room. FurnitureA unique piece of furniture can be a focal point. You can use an ornate antique armoire, an artistic modern chair, a grand piano, or a bold painted chest as a focal point. Some furniture is sculptural and almost like a piece of art. BookcaseA properly decorated bookcase can be a living room focal point. Don't make your bookcase look like a library or book store with all books arranged vertically on the shelves. Arrange some books vertically, some horizontally, and some can even go at a diagonal. Decorate your bookcase not only with books, but with other items of interest. You can decorate your bookcase with art, photo frames, baskets for texture, artifacts from your travels, items from nature, or whatever appeals to you. Don't clutter your bookshelves with a lot of little items, but decorate them with a few larger items instead. FireplaceA fireplace is a very popular focal point in a living room. In order to make it a beautiful focal point, make sure that it is unique and different than a boring builder grade fireplace. You can paint your fireplace wall an accent color to highlight it. You can also replace the cheap tile around your fireplace with something more custom. For an even more grand fireplace, you can tile above and below the fireplace, put wood paneling above the fireplace, or get a unique mantle. Bold Color or PatternA bold color or pattern on an item will make it a focal point. You can have a bold rug, curtains, or pillows. You can even paint an entire wall a bold color, paint a unique pattern on the wall, or create texture on the wall by covering it in brick veneer. LightingAn oversized or unique light fixture can be a focal point. Instead of boring can lights, consider using a chandelier in your living room for added appeal. View OutsideIf you have a large picture window and something beautiful to look at outside, let your view be your focal point. Your outside focal point could be a gorgeous sculptural old tree, a bird bath, a pretty plant, mountains in the background, or whatever you have in your environment. Don't let your interiors compete with nature. Make sure to use simple curtains to draw a person's eye and highlight the view. Consider using outdoor lighting so the view outside is a focal point during the dark of night as well as the daytime. Other Articles You Might Like How to Create a Focal Point in a Room The Art of Accessorizing: Tips for a Polished Look One Day Home Makeover Ideas Here are some more living rooms for decorating ideas......
Tasked with decorating a nineteenth-century stone cottage in Pembrokeshire, John McCall made use of an unusually creative method to conceive its understated and eclectic look.
Uncover the charm of eclectic style interior design in our latest feature. See how combining a range of different design aspects—both classic and modern—can work together to produce something new, energetic, and inviting. From today's twist on vintage classics in living rooms to fusion-style traditions in the bedrooms and kitchens filled with bold textures and colors, let the inspiration shake up your space and pack it full of personality.
Explore the art of mixing styles in a mid-century modern eclectic living room. This guide offers inspiration and tips for blending retro chic with contemporary elegance, creating a living space that is both vibrant and sophisticated. Learn how to combine timeless furniture with eclectic accents for a personalized and stylish room that celebrates the best of different design eras. Perfect for those looking to add unique character and flair to their living area.
Jewelry and fashion designer Ambre Dahan didn’t even hire a contractor to help make over her family’s 1920s-era house in L.A.
We could not be more excited to share this amazing home tour with you all today! Stephanie of @BloomingIvyLane shares her new build home with classic details that bring so much character and have you questioning the age of the home.
In the realm of design, the dining room has long been a canvas for personal expression, a place where the intimate gatherings of life unfold. As we embrace Spring 2024, we find ourselves at the cusp of a design renaissance, where the dining room becomes a gallery of individual narratives, articulate
From the charming cottages of coastal Maine to stately Connecticut mansions, these traditional New England interiors showcase our nation’s style roots. For more great American design inspiration, read on.
Seattle-based interior designer Heidi Caillier has created a warm family home filled with soothing colors
In a Seattle home, a designer brokers a peace between a couple’s warring tastes without compromising style
Designed by Vinithra Amarnathan of boutique firm Weespaces, these connected apartments in Bengaluru are eclectic yet lived in.
To help ward off cold Canadian winters, this saturated house is supposed to feel like the “personification of a hug”
We could not be more excited to share this amazing home tour with you all today! Stephanie of @BloomingIvyLane shares her new build home with classic details that bring so much character and have you questioning the age of the home.