Capture The Look Of New England Style Homes
By Ana Zuravliova
An introduction to New England interiors
New England interior décor is an American twist on traditional colonial style. Whether you’re looking to capture a soft nautical theme, or something more magnificent from the country, New England interior design provides you with the freedom to make your space your own – think JFK glamour meets shabby chic. With its emphasis on comfort, we see heavy use of plush furniture and nautical colours, alongside smooth tongue and groove panelling throughout New England décor. The style is adaptable to fit your environment, so whether you are located on the south coast of Cornwall or in the middle of Yorkshire’s countryside, New England décor can easily enhance your home.
Nautical inspired colour palette
Since five of New England’s states border the Atlantic, the use of blues and whites are key to recreating today’s look, blurring the line between the indoors and the outdoors. With a range of navy blues to powder blues used in this style, fitting New England themes into your personal style will be much easier than you thought. Sticking with whites and lighter shades of blue on the walls helps to create a ‘breath of fresh air’ in the room. From here the implementation of darker shades of blue adds depth and three dimensionality to the space. For a warming touch, use deep shades of orange to capture and recreate the colours of the sun setting over the shimmering blue ocean.
Key features of New England style homes
Made up of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, New England is home to a range of styles and environments which can be beautifully blended into a distinct New England style. The main theme running throughout this style of interior design is comfort, with plush furniture taking centre stage followed closely by delicate soft furnishings. The objective is to make your home a relaxing sanctuary by borrowing from different interior design trends ranging from the coast to the luscious countryside. This flexibility allows you to play equally with a wide range of trends including nautical themes and country plaids, or colours from pale coastal blues to rich reds. The end result is a space that’s truly unique and comfortable.
Plaid & stripes
Pattern plays a significant role within many interior design styles. It is a wonderful way of adding dimension and character to the room, without the hassle of redecorating the entire space. Plaid and stripes are the two main forms of pattern we see throughout the New England trend. Due to their ‘go-with-everything’ charm, they can be incorporated with ease into any recreation of New England décor.
When it comes to adding plaid into your space, go for a larger repeat pattern. Going for a smaller repeat pattern can end up looking too twee and tame and detracts from the clean and decluttered style that New England décor represents. Stripes on the other hand can be as congregated or as dispersed as you would like, the only trick when adding a stripe to the New England look is to go for one that is soft, almost faded. This adds to the ‘weathered, beachy look’ of the trend.
Window dressings
Window dressings play a vital role within New England inspired interior design. To achieve the beach hut side of this style, the use of shutters and window coverings with slats is a must. Not only will they help to block the suns’ beams, they also add in an elegant aesthetic and an extra level of safety to the home. Wooden blinds will also support any countryside elements of your décor.
Ruffles and gathers are also an important factor within the New England style, so implementing them through pencil pleat curtain headings is a simple yet effective way of achieving the New England style.
New England décor as we know it is very versatile, allowing for adaptations from both coastal and countryside environments. Using the colourways and patterns above, while importantly maintaining a decluttered look will put you in good stead for achieving a perfect New England aesthetic. New England décor is a fun, bright and refreshing style and the bonus is you don’t need to live there to enjoy it!
Shop some of our products inspired by the New England style:
