The English interior in the bedroom is an example of rigor and elegance. Restraint and severity emphasize the good taste of the apartment owner. The style contains a tribute to tradition; some design elements come from the Victorian and Gregorian eras. The design direction changed several times, but always remained calm, even with elements of luxury and claims to a classic style. This style is suitable for calm and balanced people who are not used to saving money - the English style looks and is expensive. It will help you find harmony in your soul and relax after hard working days.
Basic principles of decorating a bedroom in the English style, advantages and disadvantages
Arranging an apartment is a necessary process. When choosing a design, you should primarily be guided by the preferences of the owners. You can decorate a sleeping area in the English spirit even in an ordinary apartment. With the right approach, this does not require a huge area. After all, the British, along with luxury, value restraint and conciseness.
The English style began to emerge in the 17th century - this was the period when Britain was the strongest country in the world. Colonial countries contributed to shaping the taste of the inhabitants of Foggy Albion. That is why, along with European severity, it contains oriental motifs.
Lovers of classics and conservatives will like the English style
Some of the basic principles of design are symmetry, strict zoning of the room, natural materials (in particular wood), dim, subdued lighting, and calm tones. In ancient castles, small rooms prevailed, which were easier to heat. Therefore, English-style bedrooms can be made in apartment buildings, where small areas of rooms are often found.
The British buy furniture to last. This means that it must be made of high-quality materials; interior items are passed on from generation to generation. A massive bed made of solid wood or modern analogues is placed in the center of the room along the largest wall. Next to it are bedside tables.
A very popular solution for an English-style bedroom is the presence of a fireplace, real or false. Classic armchairs most often stand next to it. The walls are decorated with stucco or its equivalent, and there may also be a tartan or floral print. The interior is dominated by brown color with dark green or burgundy accents.
The advantages of such a relaxation area include elegance, furniture arrangement strictly thought out with British scrupulousness, good quality and luxury.
For lovers of a modern interior made in a minimalist style, this arrangement is not suitable. There is no place for clearly allocated free space and relevant functionality.
Necessary interior elements
For any bedroom, the main attribute is the bed. In the English style, it should be as large and tall as possible. Subdued light is provided by bedside or wall lamps. A sign of British classics is the fireplace. In a private house where it is possible to make a chimney, it can be real. In this case, it is necessary to prepare a place to store a small amount of logs.
In the English style, a sense of proportion is observed
Today it is possible to install an electric fireplace that is absolutely similar to the original. In the winter season, electrical equipment will warm the owners on cold evenings. To do this, there are two cozy armchairs nearby.
To create an ambience without heating functions, you can create a false panel on the wall, reminiscent of an English fireplace. Small figurines and a large carpet on the floor will be a reminder of eastern countries.
Characteristics
This design solution is distinguished by its high cost and laconicism. Such a choice is an indicator of the refined taste of the owners and calls for the use of natural materials and high-quality textiles.
Characteristic features of the English style in the bedroom interior:
- floral, “Scottish” motifs;
- large-sized furniture;
- snow-white ceiling with a stylish central lamp;
- voluminous curtains;
- fireplace;
- lack of household appliances and electrical equipment;
- balance between monumentality and graceful things.
In such a room, the location of each item is carefully verified. No clutter or kitsch - everything is practical and functional.
The atmosphere is created thoughtfully, slowly. The bedroom is furnished for a long time, during which any changes in the interior are contraindicated: the English style is very conservative.
Unacceptable and not recommended parts
For the classic English style, steel decorative elements or furniture are unacceptable. The popular black and white color scheme also cannot be present in such a bedroom. It is not recommended to use multifunctional ultra-modern furniture and modern technology. If it is necessary to place it, it is disguised as antique. Regularity and peace are what its owner should feel in the bedroom.
Such a room cannot contain details that clearly characterize a different style or another era. For example, a Russian stove in an English interior will look ridiculous.
Background color scheme and interior accents
In the English style it is better to use dark furniture that contrasts with light walls
Despite the apparent conservatism, the color scheme in each individual English bedroom can be very different. A classic is the dark brown wood color scheme, which is combined with thick green or rich burgundy color. The third tone should be a light color. Such a deep, dark palette adds history and mystery to the room.
There are rooms made in light colors, with brown or beige only highlighting some accents. The main requirement is the naturalness of the palette and the absence of bright flashy tones. After all, the English style was formed during the period when natural, unpainted furniture and fittings were used. The combination of British severity and oriental splendor is what you should get when combining different shades.
Please also pay attention to the material on the principles of designing a bedroom in a classic style:.
Accessories and decorations
An English-style bedroom can have a large number of different accessories. There is no limitation in this design as the details are very important to it. Thus, the walls are decorated with paintings in expensive gilded or simply massive wooden frames. Vases with fresh flowers, porcelain figurines in the form of animals, and hand-knitted accessories are relevant for the English interior. All of the above elements will give the interior greater comfort.
Selection of finishing materials
When creating an English interior, it is necessary to take into account the combination of colors, texture of the floor, walls, ceiling and other elements.
Floor covering
Parquet or laminate with a wood pattern is used as flooring. In a small room it is laid diagonally - in this case the room will visually become larger.
Rich decoration is something that is undoubtedly present in the English style
A mandatory attribute is a carpet with a dim oriental pattern. It will add coziness to the bedroom.
When decorating a bedroom in the English style, wooden panels are often used to decorate the walls or ceiling.
As an alternative, a light, plain carpet is often used. It is more difficult to care for, but such a floor will provide constant warmth and save you from hypothermia during the cold season. You can also lay a small rug on top of the carpet.
Wall decoration
You can guess the English interior by the massive furniture and floral wallpaper.
The walls in the English bedroom emphasize luxury and sophistication. To decorate them, expensive fabric wallpaper or silk-screen printing with a pattern or floral print is often used. Often the surface is decorated with moldings reminiscent of antique stucco or wooden panels.
The strict interior of a bedroom in the English style should be elegant
In recent years, the English style has begun to adapt to modern trends. Walls painted in a single color are rare. At the same time, they emphasize rare furniture and other interior details. The color is still done in calm tones.
Ceiling finishing
The ceiling is usually made in a plain white palette. It balances the excess of luxury in the interior. At the joints with the walls, a ceiling plinth or baguette is attached.
The white ceiling of the bedroom can be decorated with borders or moldings
Depending on the area of the bedroom, it can be of moderate size or, like other decorative elements, have voluminous shapes reminiscent of antique stucco.
Wooden beams on the ceiling are painted to match the furniture or other accessories
Another classic option is a ceiling covered with wooden boards. The effect of a medieval castle is created.
Basic requirements for materials and shape of doors and windows
The English style is characterized by symmetry. If there are several windows or doors in the bedroom, they should be decorated the same way. The British do not accept plastic structures. Therefore, windows must be made of wood.
The doors of an English-style bedroom window should not slide apart, but swing open
However, today you can find an alternative to natural material. The frames are equipped with ornaments - decorative strips, which are most often glued to the inside of the glass surface.
Doors are made from solid beech or oak. Moldings along the perimeter emphasize the respectability and overall style of the room. In a light interior, a white painted coating is allowed.
Details of the device and decoration of the fireplace
It is not possible to install a real fireplace that runs on wood in every private home. You can’t dream of such an interior element in an apartment. The electric fireplace was an excellent replacement. It has an identical appearance, from which comes heat, and in some cases, the sounds of burning logs.
Interior items in the English style should have a history and belong to more than one generation of the family
An imitation of a mandatory attribute of the English style is also used. Such a volumetric part is made of plasterboard, on top of which finishing materials are glued - brickwork, stucco, and so on.
Bed
The central place in the bedroom is always occupied by the bed, and the English style is no exception. The bed must be on legs, due to which the desired height is achieved. And also for the sleeping place its width is important.
In general, the bed should have the following features:
- big size;
- decorative headboard. This means carving, forging, upholstery with expensive fabrics and leather;
- a canopy or canopy attached to a special frame on 4 supports;
- solid wood of valuable species;
- luxury textiles (bed linen, bedspread).
An English-style bedroom involves the use of a large number of different furniture. So, bedside tables are placed next to the bed. They can be massive or elegant structures on curved legs with one or several drawers. Small lamps are installed on them. It is convenient to put a book on the cabinet. The English habit of reading in bed has been known for a long time.
A chest of drawers is used to store small linen and documents in an English bedroom. It, like the rest of the cabinet furniture, is made of valuable wood, most often oak. The fittings of the chest of drawers are expensive, metal, showing the excellent taste of the owner of the bedroom even in the smallest details. A mirror in an expensive frame can be installed on the surface of the chest of drawers. This allows you to use this piece of furniture as a dressing table.
Clothes are stored in large closets. Typically in the English style, they are tall, with massive legs and carved tops and doors. Part of the door can be occupied by glass, which on the reverse side is decorated like a curtain in colors close to the overall design. A laconic cabinet design made from solid valuable wood, without excessive decoration, is also possible. This option is used when it is not planned to focus attention on this interior detail.
If the owner of the house is used to tidying up her bedroom, then for these purposes she will need a dressing table. Its design is also carried out in accordance with English traditions in a discreet design, but with its entire appearance it shows the high status of the owner. Various jars, tubes and containers with cosmetics and perfumes are displayed on it.
Mandatory furniture for an English-style bedroom is a table and an armchair. Sometimes several chairs can be used, placed in such a way that the interlocutors can clearly see each other. If the bedroom is large, then it is quite possible to create a living area with a sofa and armchairs. As a rule, such an area is located near a window or fireplace, that is, where it is more convenient and comfortable to spend time. Nearby you can install a work bureau, a bookcase or a tea table. Particular attention is paid to the upholstery of upholstered furniture. It should be made of expensive material such as velvet, leather or tapestry.
Spotted! The British decorated their interiors with furniture from different craftsmen. Thus, in the bedrooms one could find a truly English bed and a banquette from an Indian master.
It is worth saying that although the furniture is in harmony with the rest of the English design, it is still selected in contrast. So, for example, when the walls are decorated with gilding, furniture items are chosen that are simpler without unnecessary decor and vice versa.
It is not necessary to select each item separately for such a room. Now on sale you can find entire sets that will decorate a bedroom in the English style. This will save time and money on purchasing suitable furniture.
Design features depending on the size of the room
Depending on the size of the room, there are a number of features when decorating in the English style.
Small bedroom
The interior of the room in the English style consists of natural materials
A small bedroom for the English style is a familiar room. After all, the British did not often have huge living quarters. In difficult climate conditions it was more difficult to warm them up. If you want to create a classic look for an ancient bedchamber, you will have to accept that there will be very little space.
A large bed can take up almost the entire space. In modern conditions, it is still recommended to maintain harmony. You should not place too massive and voluminous interior items. A narrow electric fireplace will simultaneously serve as a small shelf. You can skip the large carpet. Heavy curtains will become an unnecessary accessory; it is better to emphasize the style with decorative curtains on the windows.
The bed should occupy a central place. And most importantly, the condition of symmetry must be observed.
Large bedroom
The carpet in the bedroom should be of muted shades
In the large room there is room for flights of fancy. Large drawings on the walls will not spoil the interior. A high bed can be equipped with a canopy. A large carpet will delimit the space between the sleeping area and the relaxation area. There is enough space to install a luxurious fireplace and two comfortable armchairs.
Room decoration
Walls
So:
- For wallpaper, you should choose a color that imitates brocade. In this case, dark green, dark red stripes or heraldic designs are used.
- Other options could be painting or wood paneling. Be sure to include moldings in the wall decoration, which divide the wall into two zones. In this case, the lower part creates the main tone of the room, and the upper part is painted in a darker color and decorated with patterns.
- Friezes are suitable for stucco molding.
Tip: When decorating the walls chicly, you need to remember that they should not overshadow the entire interior.
Floor
It is made of simple wood or parquet, on top of which a carpet with an ornament or a discreet pattern is laid.
Tip: When decorating the floor, it is necessary to preserve the texture of the wood, which allows you to varnish or wax it.
Ceiling
It can be:
- Paint it white.
- Add stucco.
- Add curtain rods.
- Suspended ceilings look harmonious in combination with huge chandeliers.
Doors and cornices should be made of pure wood.
General lighting rules
The English style is characterized by dim, diffused lighting, which instills peace and tranquility in the owner. Lighting fixtures consist of small lamps with lampshades, floor lamps, and bedside sconces. A crystal chandelier is often placed on the ceiling in the center of the room, providing the main light. Its size depends on the size of the bedroom.
Armchairs in the bedroom are placed near the window or fireplace
It is worth remembering the principle of symmetry. If a lighting device is placed in one part of the sleeping room, then on the other side there should be a similar lamp. In a large room there are several different zones - a place to sleep, relax, a dressing table, and so on. Each such area is equipped with additional lighting.
Bedroom furniture options
Aristocratic British people have valued expensive antique furniture for a long time. It is believed that in past centuries, interior items were made from higher quality materials according to unique designs. In such a bedroom you can often find rare designs. An antique oak chest of drawers placed by the bed can become the most important accessory in the room.
The bed in the bedroom should have a high headboard
The men's bedroom most often has a calm design. It lacks small details. A bed, bedside tables, perhaps a chest of drawers and a wardrobe - that’s all that is necessary for the life of any man.
Velvet and leather are most often used for upholstery of upholstered furniture in the English style.
A woman's boudoir is characterized by the presence of more furniture. A four-poster bed, a small sofa or a pair of armchairs with a floral print, a dressing table, an ottoman and other furniture accessories will emphasize the luxury and grace characteristic of the female gender.
Textile
In bedrooms decorated in the English style, there is usually a carpet with geometric patterns or floral patterns, and floral prints are welcome.
The carpet can be laid in the center of the room, near the sofa, or placed over a small thick bright rug to the right and left of the bed. The carpet must certainly be of high quality, like the rest of the textiles.
It is better to choose silk or satin bedding, preferably with a floral pattern. Flower prints should stand out against matte fabric.
A down feather bed is often placed on top of the mattress, and a knitted blanket or soft blanket is covered on top. Pillows of various configurations and sizes with decorative embroidery are welcome.
The most popular patterns are small floral patterns and tartan.
Window openings are decorated with lush curtains with patterns or embroidery.
To decorate a bedroom you need to use expensive fabrics; a combination of several textures is possible.
Decor elements
Without the use of various decorative elements, the bedroom cannot have an English style. Textiles and other accessories will add the necessary accents.
Curtains and other textiles
The window openings of an English-style bedroom can be decorated with velvet curtains
For a bedroom made in the English style, it is recommended to use high-quality textiles made from natural materials. Large, heavy curtains decorate the windows. A canopy next to the bed is made from similar fabric. A luxurious bedspread and small pillows decorate a huge high bed.
Several options are used as a pattern:
- floral print - large or small inflorescences are repeated in other interior elements;
- oriental pattern - the original ornament is depicted on textile wallpaper or upholstered furniture;
The tartan check, popular all over the world, is a symbol of England.
- Tartan - Scottish check is the national ornament of part of Britain and is often present on various woven interior elements.
Accessories
The British have a positive attitude towards various types of accessories. Photo frames, antique vases, dishes, paintings, classic porcelain figurines, openwork napkins and much more will create real English comfort in the room. Such attributes are mandatory components for women's bedrooms. Men rarely use a large number of accessories, but some of the above are also present in their interior.
Bedroom accessories are preferable in warm colors
It is important that even small decorative elements are harmoniously combined with the overall style of the room. The larger it is, the greater the number of such items that can be placed.
Living plants
Prim Englishmen choose plants to match themselves. They rarely use brightly flowering potted plants in the interior. Preference is given to the strict Zamioculcas with dense leaves, the fashionable two-colored Sansevieria, the cycad with waxy feathery leaves, and the catchy, prim Alocasia.
Flowers will add fresh color to the bedroom
Such plants will not stand out and grow much, while helping to purify the air.
Large plantings are usually used in bedrooms with a colonial style.
Other
The use of stucco and moldings emphasizes the luxury of classic English room design. The same volumetric texture is repeated on the walls, doors, and in the bedside area.
Crystal chandeliers and night lights will add solemnity and airiness to the room.
You may also be interested in material on how to decorate a bedroom in an oriental style:.
Possible design options
Interiors in the English style look expensive and laconic. This design makes it possible to demonstrate excellent taste, bordering on sophistication, and requires the use of expensive materials and high-quality textiles.
When planning to decorate a bedroom in the spirit of English traditions, you need to decide on the basic concept: this style can be implemented in several versions. It has been formed over the centuries and has gone through several expressive stages that have left their mark.
The furnishings in the spirit of medieval England look elegant and solid thanks to numerous textures, also characteristic of the rustic style, and materials of natural origin. Wooden details are complemented by stone ones - fireplace mantels or wall masonry.
The furniture for interiors in this style is simple and restrained, with a somewhat rough configuration. Color is given by ceilings and beams made of wood and wall decoration made of a similar material.
It is not necessary to turn the bedroom into a room reminiscent of chambers in a fortress. The rustic variety of English style is characterized by light colors, numerous textiles of different colors, forged parts, and a pleasant configuration of furniture.
The interior components are distinguished by restraint and at the same time elegance.
In Gothic English interiors you can find carvings, skillfully made decorations, furniture and decorative elements made of dark, almost black wood.
A distinctive feature of such bedrooms are large beds with fabric canopies on massive, carved legs. The window openings are high, but not wide.
If you decide to decorate a bedroom in a modern house or apartment with a similar design, use dark wood and carved panels in the design. The most popular type of wood in those days was oak. The advantages of wood products and finishes include strength and durability.
During the Regency era, optional decorative elements were used. Lace, columns with graceful shapes, canopies or their imitation, products made by artistic forging, carvings, fur carpets on the floor - these are the main components of a bedroom interior designed in the English style, popular in the Regency era.
But the Gregorian direction is characterized by practicality, excessive restraint and asceticism: a minimal amount of furniture, simple configurations and an almost complete absence of decorative elements.
The design is dominated by red wood; mandatory attributes are a fireplace and panels on the walls. The bed is selected based on the size of the room, with a laconic headboard without carved patterns or other decorations.
The armchairs are replaced with chairs with long backs made of wood; small square-shaped pillows in muted-colored covers are placed on them. If you value comfort, it is preferable to choose half-chairs.
The design in the spirit of the Victorian era is radically different from the Gregorian one. It is dominated by an eclectic idea, combining various interior details into a bright picture. In such a room, carved furniture, unusual oriental-style curtains, and wool carpeting with an original pattern are appropriate.
The walls are often decorated with ancient weapons. An armchair with leather upholstery, a fireplace screen with carvings and other decorative elements characteristic of English classics add additional coziness to the room.
Combining the best features of all varieties of English style formed the design that is so popular today. It originated at the turn of the nineteenth century and now has quite a following.
Children's and teenagers' bedroom in English style
English style is not always prim and strict. The basics of British interior design in a modern design are suitable for a teenage room arrangement.
A spacious but laconic wardrobe, a forged chandelier reminiscent of lighting from a castle, checkered curtains and an original table will create a modern British interior. Upholstered furniture textiles with a pattern in the form of the national flag will create an English ambiance.
Modern London can be an inspiration when decorating a child's room
Another modern interior design without a hint of luxury and aristocracy presents an original bedroom for a boy. It contains the main features of the English style: the bed is in the center of the room, the obligatory carpet on the floor, symmetry in the design and a chandelier, like in an ancient English castle. The compositional center is a wall with photo wallpaper depicting the famous London Big Ben and a red double-decker bus.
Key Design Features
The first thing you notice when entering an English bedroom is the quality in everything. The furnishings of this room should be expensive, but not flashy or ostentatious, but discreet and tasteful. Everything here must be of high quality and expensive – from accessories to textiles.
This interior is further recognized by:
- floral, “Scottish” print;
- furniture massiveness;
- white ceiling with a beautiful chandelier;
- lush curtains;
- fireplace;
- only natural materials;
- the complete absence of modern technology and gadgets;
- a combination of monumentality and elegant details.
In such a bedroom everything is thought out, everything is in its place, everything is justified and functional. There is no place for disorder, chaos, arrogance, brightness, or bad taste.
Such an interior is built extremely thoughtfully, without haste or fuss. The room is decorated for a long temporary period, during which, usually, no changes are made: conservatism and tradition are another sign of the English style.
Important! In such a bedroom, no one will often re-stick the wallpaper, change or even simply rearrange the furniture.
For years here, all objects will be in the places once chosen for them.
The permissibility of mixing English style with others in the interior
Art Deco style quickly spread throughout Europe
English style is difficult to combine with modern furnishing options. But if you mix the described interior with elements of modernism, you get an art decor style. In this case, the use of shiny metal parts is allowed.
Mixing styles in one room should be harmonious
Eclecticism in the bedroom can lead to interesting solutions. So, by mixing English style with Scandinavian style, you can get a bright, light room in which there is a lot of light and free space.
Who is the English bedroom suitable for?
There is an opinion that the English style is preferred by mature people over thirty years of age.
Interior design specialists are confident that such an interior will appeal to many people. This kind of decor will appeal to connoisseurs of the classics, because the design of rooms in this style contains home comfort and aristocratic laconicism.
This is an ideal solution for collectors and owners of small apartments: decorative items can be placed in any quantity, and the rooms have a feeling of some “clutter.”
People who are fond of reading will be able to install shelves, racks, and bookcases in the bedroom.
Basic principles for decorating a modern bedroom in eco-style - with the brightest interior design ideas and arrangement options.
You can see a selection of photos of chalet-style bedroom interiors in this article.
