The main task is to create an atmosphere of warmth and enveloping comfort in the living room, as opposed to the dampness prevailing outside the windows. And this problem is solved by the choice of finishing materials in warm shades, the selection of appropriate furniture, the use of textile elements, a large amount of natural wood, and, of course, the installation of a fireplace - the main semantic and compositional center of any living room in an English house, giving warmth and precious feeling of a hearth.
The main elements of the living room in the English style
A proper English interior is not possible without the following elements:
- Chesterfield Sofa. The seat of the sofa is quilted with diamonds, there are armrests, and their height is equal to the height of the back. Legs are low, usually round. In the classic version, the upholstery has a brown tint, although other options are acceptable.
- Tree. All furniture in the living room should only be made of natural wood, whether it be a coffee table, wardrobe, chest of drawers or any other item.
- Fireplace. The English-style living room has a fireplace. Its location depends on the shape and size of the room, it can be installed in the center, near the wall or even in the corner. There is only one necessary condition - a fireplace is designed in a classic style.
- Flower pattern. A fine floral pattern is one of the characteristic details of the style. They can be present on wallpaper, on curtains, in other elements of decoration.
- Berger chair. This English chair is equipped with a high back, and, in addition, it has small “walls” and “ears” on the sides, as if surrounding the person sitting in it with warmth and comfort. This form of armchairs appeared in France, and received the name "Berger", but it was widely used in England, as it reliably protected from constant drafts.
The coffee table is sometimes replaced with a large pouf, which is located in the center of the living room.
The English style is wealth, restraint, oak trim, wall wooden panels, parquet, traditional elegant furniture on bent legs. Typically, the main interior of the living room in the English style is chosen beige shades, such as ivory.
Style features
Creating an English style requires pedantry in the selection of all elements, from finishing materials to accessories. The main criterion is quality, especially when choosing furniture.The design of the living room in the English style does not accept metal, large glass planes, and too dark colors.
After creating the project, the stage of choosing the finish for all surfaces begins, taking into account the appearance and quality of materials, as well as furniture, its quantity and quality. Along the way, you need to think over the details - textiles, accessories, accessories and even small decorations that you will use to create the atmosphere of old England in your home.
Tip. When choosing materials for decoration, try to avoid bright contrasts, active colors, large patterns, ornaments. If you want to avoid monotony, stop on the wallpaper in a small flower or strip.
Style details
Color
Given the fact that there is not much space, they try to use light shades as the main ones for decoration, helping to visually increase the room. Moreover, they must be warm, since the climate of England is quite severe.
Natural tones are preferred: ocher, beige, brown, terracotta, gray, olive, cream, ivory. Such colors as gold, yellow, bronze are suitable for these shades.
Ornament
The favorite flower of English ladies and gentlemen is a rose, but they also warmly relate to simple wildflowers. Wallpaper in a small floral pattern is a sign of style. In addition, simple ornaments in the form of stripes or cages are often used.
Floor
English-style living room floors are most often covered with typeset parquet - an expensive, but practical and durable option. Parquet can be replaced with ceramic tiles that imitate curly masonry. A large carpet is always laid on top of the flooring - this adds coziness to the damp atmosphere of the English home.
Walls
Old English homes often used fabric wallpaper, or panels wrapped in fabric in a small floral pattern. Sometimes, up to the middle of the height, the walls are covered with wooden panels, and above them with fabric panels. This is very practical, since it is the lower part of the walls that gets dirty more, and it is easier to look after a tree than a fabric. Nowadays, textured wallpaper is used with curls, stripes, or with small ornaments of flowers.
Ceiling
A wooden ceiling with heavy beams crossing it is one of the hallmarks of style. In this case, the tree is not painted, but only covered with wax, oil or varnish.
Window
The interior of the living room in the English style features large windows that can be rounded from the top. At the same time, the frames are rather narrow, and are divided into a large number of “squares” of binding.
These windows do not open by the hinged method, but by lifting and sliding: the frame is lifted up and fixed in the raised position. The height of the windowsill above the floor of such windows is usually much lower than that of European ones, and the windowsill is often used as a bench with decorative pillows placed on it.
Furniture
All pieces of furniture - large, expensive, upholstered furniture - pleasant to the touch. There is a lot of furniture, and sometimes it even seems that way too much - it clutters up the space. Preferably, the furniture is made of valuable wood. The shape of the objects is simple, usually rectangular, and only the legs are bent. This gives the furniture a charm and softens the severity of straight lines.
The design of the living room in the English style involves upholstery with velvet, leather or damask - these are rich in texture materials that give pleasant tactile sensations to the touches. With a restrained overall design, furniture can be the main decorative element, in this case, the color of the upholstery can be bright, and even have patterns. If there are patterns on the wallpaper, the upholstery is chosen in calmer tones, and without a pattern.
In every English living room, there are certainly, in addition to the obligatory sofas and armchairs, furniture items such as a large bookcase and console tables, often made of precious wood.
Shine
The lighting schemes in the style are complex, multi-level, with the obligatory use of floor lamps, a variety of sconces and candlesticks. A large number of table lamps are welcome.
Fireplace
The central element of the English-style living room is the fireplace. Materials for its construction can be any, for the decoration they use either carved wood or marble. The picture is complemented by a large mirror above the fireplace portal in a rich frame made of bronze or “under gold”.
Decor
England had extensive colonies, which was reflected in its interiors. Since the time of its colonial power, it has been customary to demonstrate in the living rooms various “curiosities” exported from subordinate territories. Sometimes there are even too many of them, but this is not considered a drawback.
Mandatory use of carpets, carved wood, tapestries, paintings in heavy frames. Gilding is welcomed in frames, chandeliers, floor lamps and table lamps.The interior of the living room in the English style has been developing for centuries, and reflects the nation’s love for the family and its commitment to family traditions, which is reflected, in particular, in the “portrait galleries” on the walls - these can be both paintings and family photographs.
Textile
The main textile elements of the decor are carpets and curtains. Carpets, as a rule, have an ornament of plant origin, plum shades and cream tones are preferred. It is good if the central part of the carpet is lighter and the edging is darker.
Dense, heavy curtains are used to decorate the windows. There should be a lot of fabric, it will form beautiful folds. Lambrequins, draperies are welcome. Often curtains are decorated with fringe and tassels.