British design: decorate your house in true English style

British design for the interiors is elegant, urban, rustic and many other things at once. Let’s find it out together.

What does English interior design call to your mind? Maybe a modern loft in the center of London, or perhaps a romantic cottage in the countryside, among moorland and fields. Here we want to sum up all the main characteristics of the British interior design, imagining a house that sums it all up: the modern city attic and the rustic country house, together in a harmonic and eclectic style. in both of its version, after all, the British touch cloaks every environment of regal sophistication, without however weighing down the space. If you will want to follow our tips, the result will be impeccable. So irreproachably and perfectly English that you could easily invite Queen Elizabeth for teatime at your place.

Lived-in is the way

We mentioned elegance and refinement, and now we suggest lived-in style? That’s right! Just think about it: brand-new furniture can hardly echo the English decor. Don’t get us wrong: we are not thinking about your old great aunt’s furniture. An integral part of English charm is the patina of experience that London houses ooze. It is not very evident: it is more of a soft perception that evokes a lived-in atmosphere. To recreate this feeling in your home, choose a dark parquet flooring: the wood gran will add the lived-in effect, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You can use the same material for doors and window. Cover your walls with tapestry: wallpaper always reminds of the old times, and with a delicate color, such as green or light blue, it will look lovely.

Look at more wallpapers by Jannelli & Volpi here.

Do you want to look at more ideas for wallpapers design? Take a look at this article about the most original tapestry decoration for your interiors.

Rustic, but not too much

Following the lived-in style vibe, it is only a small step from shabby-chic. Exaggerating with country accessors could risk to kill the general style, but that shabby aftertaste typical of the British design for the interiors is not to be discarded. The kitchen is definitely the room for which the shabby-chic style is more suitable. Wood cabinets and drawers can be painted all in white, to make the environment look bigger and have the furniture reflecting the natural light that comes in. rustic decoration elements like copper color pots or pottery are welcomed, but always observe moderation and sobriety.

Check out more kitchen designs by Minacciolo here.

V for velvet

There is one material that can feel both high-end and lived-in at the same time: velvet. This fantastic fabric has a unique texture and a fantastic look, especially as an upholstery cover. Velvet is one of the most used materials in British design for interiors, since it can magically combine the regal style of the Windsor family with the shabby-chic feeling of a countryside cottage. Plus, it is soft and cozy as nothing else can be.

Find out more about Chehoma creations here.

Classic colonial bathroom

The bathroom is the one that best suits the sub-genre of the colonial English. You do not necessarily have to get a cast iron bathtub with chrome feet: for a retro-style bathroom you can also use modern looking furniture, if you know how to combine it. The most important thing is to maintain a creamy white color for the sanitary ware and porcelain objects, and choose designs that can both be minimalist and old-style. the bathtub must always be the protagonist of the bathroom. The result from cottage is insured.

Take a look at more products by Victoria + Albert here.

A touch of green

English people love gardening and filling their interiors with plants. So, to recreate their unique way of decorating, you have to add a touch of green to your interior design. Try to include plants and flowers in every room. The green touch will add a lot to your interior design in many ways: it will make the rooms warmer and more welcoming, transforming everything into a floral gem. Have fun choosing flowers and plants vases to mix and match in every room of your home, change them according to the season, to your mood, or to the color trends of the year.

Check out more interior decorations by Kahler here.

Urban-chic bedroom

A perfect English bedroom does not have to be dominated by a bulky canopy bed. Do not be commonplace and try not to indulge in obvious choices. Remember? We wanted out perfect British design house to be a combo of classic and contemporary. So, we will decorate the bedroom as if it was in a fancy attic in London, modern, classy and unique; in one word: urban-chic.  Remember that minimalism is always classy, and that natural looking wood can never be a bad idea.

Find out more about the furniture creations by Artisan.

Home office

In the era of remote jobs and freelancing, home offices have become more common every day. a home office can certainly not be organized as a real work place, but still it needs to be practical and efficient.  At the same time, we also want it to be cozy and stylish: things supposed to make the job easier while maintaining an aesthetic design in tune with the rest of the apartment. Simplicity, clean lines and a comfortable chair, just in front of  window, for the optimization of the natural light available during the day.

Look at more furniture design by Gubi here.