Rome To Rio: The English Countryside

Colour

Colour forms the foundation of traditional English design. Deep tones of red and green coupled with yellows and dusty pink shades are fantastic starting points. Neutral tones can be used to tie everything together but it’s important to be bold with colour when introducing this style into your home.

Fabric

This richness in colour can be mirrored with luxurious materials. Heavy wools and velvet are two of the best materials to consider when making your compact Chartwell.

Don’t be timid when it comes to fabric or mixing your chosen materials. Many of the items and statements made in stately homes were curated over generations and not necessarily with one theme in mind. Let this ancestral courage guide you in your quest.

Pattern

As you may expect, the bravery we’ve discussed earlier transfers to pattern too. Pattern is something used to great effect in traditional English design, especially busy nature-inspired prints such as florals and paisleys.

As we’ve said in previous blogs, patterns are a great way to enjoy multiple colours in one place. Why not try to find a few items that include your primary and secondary colours in one funky floral design?

Form

Form is the final component of classic style. Like old Aston Martins and curvaceous table lamps, curves and soft angles are the perfect addition to this trend. Two of the best ways to easily add such shapes to your home are with curtains and lampshades. What’s excellent about both of these items is that you can find them in the colours and patterns we’ve recommended above.

As traditional English style is about layers of history, be sure to muse over layering items. Throws on a sofa with multiple different styles of cushion and combining a roman blind with a curtain on your windows are easy and affordable places to start.

Include different cultures

The history of Britain is entwined with that of many countries around the globe. As a result, many country estates take inspiration from different cultures and peoples, especially those found in today’s commonwealth countries.

While there is nothing stopping you from following suit, you can use this internationalist approach to your home using elements of the popular Global Nomad trend which celebrates the use of different cultural approaches to interior design. The Looking To The Future: Global Nomad Style has more tips and tricks on how to enjoy this trend to the max.

Easy Ways to Enjoy English Cottage Interior Design

Contrary to Hollywood movies, not everyone in the English countryside lived in giant houses. For centuries people beyond the confines of urban areas would often live in quaint cottages which, like the homes of their aristocratic counterparts, enjoy a particular style of design.

Where the stately homes are about grandeur and bold décor, cottage style is a little more reserved, a little more muted.

3 key principles of Cottagecore

In 2021, there is clearly a longing to return to the simpler times embodied by country cottages. Most prominently, this longing for simplicity is embodied in the increasingly popular Cottagecore trend. Our Trend Focus: What Is Cottagecore? blog gives a more in-depth assessment of the trend but the key principles are:

1. Use neutral colours as the cornerstone of your design with dusky accents of blue, pink and soft greens.

2. Fall in love with florals. Where the classic country design is about bold floral prints, the cottage world is a bit more fun. Look for playful alternatives to enjoy in a Cottagecore space.

3. Celebrating the bounty of nature is also important. Natural woods can be used in your furniture and window furnishings to great effect!