Decorating one’s home can be a carefully planned out affair with a team of designers, swatches for everything, and sometimes complete and utter chaos. Most of us live with a design that could be described as homey but in reality consists of shoes where they aren’t supposed to be and lovely, whimsical fridge art.
However, if you’d prefer to leave the designer out of it and create a decor theme for your home, it’s not as difficult as it may sounds. Perhaps you love the beach so you paint your walls in cool shades of blue and purchase beach house style pieces of furniture. Or maybe you like the rustic look with exposed beams, leather furniture, and a whiskey bottle chandelier.
Despite the number of directions you can take your home decor ideas one of the most stylish and fun of these is the English countryside style. Whether you’ve been to England or are fans of British shows like “Downton Abbey” then you have an idea of the style and this is how to recreate it in your own home.
Furniture
When you hear the term “period pieces” does your wallet cringe a little? It’s true that buying furniture that is truly from a specific period that existed before 1970 can be expensive, but there are many crafty ways around that.
Hit up local flea markets and estate sales and look for sofas, couches, and chairs that have that quaint, British look. Think tufted cushions, embroidered chair seats, wooden armrests. Unless these items are really falling apart, buy them and have them reupholstered and tufted if necessary. The result is a lot less expensive than you think.
Art
No classic British country house is complete without impressive works of art, but these were probably passed down through generations and are worth a fortune. However, you too can have your own artwork that looks like a million bucks, minus the million dollars part.
Again, hit up flea markets, thrift stores, and estate sales and look for paintings. Any type of painting will do but pastoral landscapes and portraits of people in old-timey clothes will work the best. Also keep an eye out for antique picture frames. If you don’t find one head over to your local craft store. Buy an antique wooden frame and a can of gold spray paint. Before you know it your walls will be a picture-perfect English country house.
Hunt Motifs
In the days of old British people and many others across Europe hunted foxes from horseback. It was very much a community gathering and the members of the hunt took such great pride in it that hunt decor was seen in every home.
Regardless of your view on fox hunting, no English-styled home would be complete without a few pieces of decor. Perhaps you’ll find a hunt print during your art search or you could choose these delightful fox throw pillows from Weston Table. A piece of saddlery would also be an excellent touch.
Know the Difference Between Whimsical and Clutter
English country homes always have that lived-in look that toes the line between whimsical decor and simple clutter. However, one aspect of the English decor is that it really has no distinguishable theme but yet it still comes together in that very special look.
Try using old, china tea cups as candles, mismatched chairs at your dining table, fresh flowers, books stacked on an end table, and other items that make you feel like you’re at home in the English countryside. Have fun with whimsical decor but don’t let it cross the clutter line.
Patterns and Fabrics
Chintz may have lost favor in the United States long ago but it’s still the go-to fabric for curtains and upholstery in the standard English cottage. There’s no rule that you have to use it but if you find a print you like definitely consider it, especially for curtains.
The English are still very fond of wallpaper even though it’s fallen out of favor in the United States. One of the most popular designs in wallpaper is toile, which features colors and patterns that may feature people, landscapes, animals, and more. It’s a classic English look and while you might struggle with where to put it remember that the ceiling of a nicely painted room might be the perfect place.
Decorating your home in the English style is easy and fun and the results will be a lived-in look full of interesting items, patterns, textures, and more. Utilize some of these tips to get on your way to your dream house.
