Today, there are many options for decorating the apartment. In order to make your home ideal for a comfortable stay, you need to have imagination, and, of course, financial means. Today, a lot of people in their apartments and houses use the English style. It is very popular due to restraint and grace. Despite the fact that ethnic design is typical for this design, it will look very stylish and modern. The English style in the interior of the apartment combines a wide range of colors, practicality and aristocratic luxury. With its help, housing can be made more interesting and attractive.
A bit of history
The modern English style in the interior is a mixture of such directions as Baroque, realism, Gothic and classic. As a separate area, it began to form during the reign of Queen Victoria, in which the British aristocracy flourished. Therefore, an integral component of style is luxury in everything from the choice of finishing materials to the purchase of furniture. In addition, the presence of various decorative objects that emphasize the wealth of homeowners, as well as expensive materials: ivory, mahogany, luxurious carpets and others, is mandatory.
In the period from XII to XIII centuries. England pursued an active colonial policy, conquering various countries around the world, which, in turn, affected the life of the British. In the homes of wealthy citizens, strange overseas objects began to appear, which were brought to Britain from Australia, India, Africa and North America. They not only fit perfectly into Victorian houses, but also gave rise to the future English style in the interior. All these items were carefully stored and handed down, which is why antique furniture is another integral part of this trend.
When planning the creation of the interior of the house in the English style, great attention should be paid to finishing materials, furniture, lighting and textiles. It is very important to create a sense of antiquity and solidity in the room, so there should not be any modern objects in it.
For whom is the English style suitable?
This is a pretty interesting question. Immediately it is worth noting that the interior design in the English style is not suitable for all categories of citizens. First of all, it is focused on the following people:
- Collectors. British homes at the beginning of the 20th century are characterized by a large number of dolls, antique furniture, expensive dishes and various colorful interior items. Therefore, if you are engaged in collecting, then your hobby will help to create the perfect design of the room in the style of the Victorian era.
- Inveterate readers. If you prefer to read books instead of using electronic gadgets and you have a large collection of literature at home, then the English style in the interior will be the perfect solution. The house of almost every aristocrat had his own vast library, which acted not only as a resting place, but also served as an office. Books were arranged in large wooden cabinets, next to which there was a ladder, which allowed access to the highest shelves. In addition, the library must have a massive wooden table and a comfortable armchair.
- Owners of small apartments. English houses always had small rooms, since it was much easier to heat them, and it was more comfortable to live in them in the climate of Misty Albion. Therefore, if you live in a close home, then it is the best suited for interior design in the Victorian style.
- Lovers of all natural. Furniture and household items in England in the 18th century were made of wood, and the walls were carpeted or upholstered with fabric. Therefore, while decorating the interior of your apartment, it is very important to purchase furniture in the English style. Do not regret money for it, because you are not buying for several years, but for centuries.
Lovers of classics, the popularity of which never leaves, will also appeal to the Victorian direction of designing house designs. After all, it combines two completely opposite sides: minimalism and luxury.
Fundamental Victorian principles
Why do many apartment owners choose the design in question? Classic English style in the interior is based on the following principles:
- All rooms should be divided into separate zones;
- windows are decorated according to the principle of stained-glass windows;
- natural wood is used to finish the floor, and the walls can be upholstered with fabric;
- one of the rooms must have a real or decorative fireplace, above which there will be a shelf with various collectibles or family photographs;
- Lighting should not be too bright and slightly dim. It is imperative to install a floor lamp in the bedroom or near the reading place;
- all home furnishings should be thought out and arranged so that living in the room is practical;
- When choosing fabrics for upholstery, give preference to natural materials. The canvases can be either plain or colored, striped or with small size drawings;
- To decorate the premises using photographs, paintings, flower pots, various statuettes and luxurious vases. An English-style bedroom is simply inconceivable without a large mirror.
Adhering to the above principles, you can perfectly design your home in the style of the Victorian era.
Layout Features
The basic principle of planning is symmetry. Interior doors, windows and living quarters should be in harmony with each other. At the same time, the rooms should not be too large, since in the UK during the reign of Queen Victoria, the houses were very small and cramped. At the same time, the English style in the interior of a country house will be closer to the truth if the cottage has several floors, a luxurious staircase with a carpet path will serve to move between them.
A few words about the color scheme
Most often, the British used colors such as brown, beige, sand, dark green and terracotta to decorate the living quarters of the late XVII-early XVIII centuries. All rooms, regardless of purpose, were decorated in dark colors. However, one rule applies here: the rooms that were in the southern part of the house were finished in cold colors, for example, in green, gray or blue, and for rooms located in the northern part, warm colors were used, creating a feeling of warmth and coziness.
Living quarters with a bright interior were very rare, but today many well-known designers are implementing very successful projects based on the use of delicate tones. As a rule, white, beige, and also various shades of gray are chosen for wall decoration. But here it is very important that the furniture and other household items are in good harmony with the walls, floor and ceiling, so when buying decorative materials, you must first determine what you will furnish your home with.
Wall decoration
For surface finishing it is best to use natural materials. The ideal choice would be wood panels, paper wallpapers, as well as water-based paint.
To create an English style in the interior, use the following techniques:
- The walls are divided horizontally into two parts - the lower and upper. The first is sheathed with wooden panels, and the second is glued with wallpaper or painted.
- To divide the walls using moldings, which are painted in the same color as the main surface.
- If the room has too low ceilings, then this defect can be corrected. Striped wallpaper will help, which contribute to the visual increase in the height of the room. In the case of a high ceiling, it is worth choosing trellises with various patterns or ornaments.
It should be noted that wallpaper in the English style in the interior are more common than fabric materials. In addition, they are much cheaper, so it is better to use them, and spend the free funds on the purchase of more expensive furniture.
Ceiling decoration
How to perform this process? In Victorian homes, the ceiling was simply whitewashed. It is also allowed to use water-based paint in light colors. To make the interior look more finished, the perimeter ceiling is decorated with gypsum cornices, which can be gilded or identical in color to the ceiling. If the apartment is decorated in a rustic style, then the ceiling is upholstered with wooden boards.
Floor finish
The English style in the interior of the apartment involves the use of natural materials for flooring. It can be a polished board, stone tiles or decorative parquet. Nowadays, in construction stores you can buy a large number of composite materials, which are stylized to a natural texture. For example, in the living room you can use a laminate or parquet. For the cooking area and the bathroom, ceramic tiles are well suited. In the bedroom, the flooring is of no fundamental importance, since in this room there simply has to be a fleecy rug made in oriental style.
Lighting
As mentioned earlier, lighting is a very important part when making a home in colonial England style. It should not be too bright and muffled. The English style in the interior is based on zoning of the space, so for each zone you can choose different sources of diffused light. This is especially true of the living room, in which people spend most of their free time. It can be divided into an area for relaxation, tea drinking, reading and so on. With a sofa or armchair, you can install a floor lamp, and hang sconces on the walls. In the center of the ceiling, a large luxurious chandelier will look very impressive. But this is only suitable for rooms with a high ceiling. The English-style bedroom can be lit by a small chandelier. A sconce should be hung over the bed. The same applies to the dining room.
Curtain selection
Textiles - this is another indicator of wealth in England during the Victorian era, so you should not save on it. Curtains in the English style should be sewn from heavy fabrics, such as damask, chintz or tapestry. They can be both plain and patterned. But here it is important that the drawings go well with the interior.
Most often, textiles are used to decorate a bedroom. The windows are curtained with heavy curtains direct sewing. The bed is covered with a bedspread and decorated with pillows. Near the window you can put a chair with an ottoman, on which you can relax or spend time reading a book. And in the corner it will be appropriate to put a dressing table with a mirror.
Recommendations for choosing furniture
And so we got to the most important thing when decorating an apartment in the spirit of Victorian Great Britain, namely, the choice of interior items. Furniture in the English style should be solid, expensive and made of natural materials. This is due to the fact that the British buy tables, sofas or wardrobes not for several years, but with such a layout that they have served several generations. An ideal choice would be mahogany, oak or walnut. Upholstered furniture should be luxurious so that it not only looks beautiful, but also emphasizes the high cost of the decoration of the room. As for the colors, the sofa and chairs can be striped, plaid or with various patterns. The presence of decorative pillows on them, as in the case of a bedroom, is mandatory.
Interior Accessories
The following items are perfect for decorating rooms:
- massive frame mirrors;
- paintings and photographs;
- various collectibles, such as dolls;
- luxurious vases.
It is up to you to decide which accessories to use to decorate your home when decorating it in a Victorian style. Any exotic items brought from India, Africa or Asian countries will do. And of course, do not forget about the fireplace. It’s just fine if it will be real, but if the features of the apartment do not allow you to build a heating source, then you can buy an artificial fireplace. It will make the room more comfortable and give it a little peace.
Conclusion
We examined the main points that should be considered when implementing a design project for the design of an apartment in the English style. If you adhere to all the tips and recommendations given in this article, then you will certainly succeed in making your home elegant. If the financial means allow you, then you can hire a professional designer, but even without his help to make the interior cozy is not difficult.