A place where there are roses and honeysuckle around the door in summer, with a freshly baked cake for tea is a set-up for an ideal English country décor. The English Country Cottage décor is very cosy and welcoming. In the winter, a log fire will burn in the grate, and a soft wool shawl will be draped over the back of the sofa for that little extra warmth. If you get the traditional English décor look right, your guests will immediately feel at home. They flop down in a comfortable chair, put their feet up and ask for a cup of tea. In fact, don’t be surprised if refuse to leave your home!
Jokes apart, the English country home décor is eclectic and has maximum takers as it guarantees warmth and a welcoming aura to your home sweet home. So if an inviting home is what you aspire for, then YOUR search ends here!
Let’s understand English country style interior design.
What Is English Country Décor?
Suppose you are looking out for a mix of old and new, very dated elements in a modern home, then the English country décor is meant for you. It is also certified by editor ‘Fionna B’[386] of the book “The House Book”. Due to picture perfect cottage look, it is also called English cottage décor. English cottage-style décor provides the required warmth and cosiness in your house.
Interior design and décor are usually interchanged, but they can be different. The difference between a living room’s interior design and décor can help to know it better. So now, let’s understand what happens in English cottage decorating ideas.
Elements to Make Cozy English Cottage Interiors
Interior Designer ‘Jennifer F’ in the article “11 Classic Elements Every English Country Home Decor Should Have” has jotted down a few exciting elements. The pattern is one of the critical ingredients of English cottage decorating ideas. So many different elements can be successfully combined with furniture, such as woven woollen plaids, Indian and Turkish rugs, tapestries, plain and floral cotton fabric, damask and lace, and some paint twisting could help to create English country style interior design.
We are going to understand them in depth now.
Accessories and Furniture
The furniture and accessories passed down through the family for several generations help to create an impression of the English country home furniture. If you are starting from scratch, shop around at antique markets, boot sales and craft fairs. The right framed mirror or China bowl can make all the difference and need not cost a fortune – imperfections, chips and worn-out edges enhance the English cottage-style home look. These artefacts can create a centre stage for themselves in English cottage décor. However, learning ways to make artefacts the key elements would serve the purpose.
Upholstery
English cottage decorating ideas include floral patterned fabrics produced in soft, faded colours. You could also find genuine vintage fabrics at jumble sales or flea markets. One old chintz curtain can make a whole set of plump cushions if you’re handy with a sewing machine. This is one of the most pocket-friendly ideas to set up English country décor. Well-arranged cushions add extra charm, and valuable tips for choosing and arranging cushions can provide you with a crash course on the same.
Windows & Mirrors
Low ceilings and small windows can make rooms dark and gloomy. This can be an impediment on your path to achieving a perfect English décor, because abundant natural light is one of the trademarks of English décor. However, you can overcome this hurdle by painting window recesses glossy white. This can virtually double the amount of natural light in the space. Another trick is to position mirrors opposite windows to reflect the light back into the room.
There are more mirror decorating ideas available; look at
Creating Walls Like English Cottage Style Home
The distinctive feature of old English cottage décor is exposed beams. Well, if you don’t have a narrow beam that is typical of English country cottage décor, then do not worry. You can still achieve the English country-style décor by considering the room’s proportions. Remember, even the boxiest plain room can look a lot cosier with the right wall treatment, colours and lighting.
Paints & Panels
Walls can be tongue-and-groove panelled up to picture rail height with a shelf running above the panelling to provide English country home décor. A rough textured paint can be applied, after rough plasterwork to create an impression of an uneven surface. These walls, which are rough plaster-painted in white, pink or creamy yellow radiate cosy English cottage interior feel. The key colours are taken straight from the cottage garden: soft powder blue, cream, all shades of pink, pale, moss and grass green, brown and brick red.
Stencil
Stencilling works well on rough surfaces and fits perfectly in an English country décor setting. Editor ‘John. P. H, ‘[400] in the book “Decorating 1-2-3” encouraged the use of patterns to get the style right. The patterns can either be cut at home or brought ready-cut. If you want to create your stencils, we have covered how to do a colour block wall.
Final Tip For English Cottage Décor
Find an old second-hand chair, repaint and varnish it, and then choose a floral-patterned fabric that will give the feel of English country decor. Try out the English country look in any room of your house–even your study room-and trust us, you’ll retrofit all the rooms in your home to this style!
To give a new vibe to your home periodically, look out for
Design Change Ideas To Refresh Your Home
Author Bio
Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.