Today, there are many options for interior design of the apartment. In order to make your home ideal for a comfortable stay, you need to have imagination, and, of course, financial resources. 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 this room design option is characterized by ethnic notes, 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. It can make your home more interesting and attractive.
A bit of history
Modern English style in the interior is a mixture of styles such as baroque, realism, gothic and classic. As a separate direction, it began to form inthe reign of Queen Victoria, under which the British aristocracy flourished. Therefore, an integral part of the style is luxury in everything, from the choice of finishing materials to the purchase of furniture. In addition, it is mandatory to have various decorative items in the rooms that will emphasize the we alth of homeowners, as well as expensive materials: ivory, mahogany, luxurious carpets and others.
In the period from the XII to the XIII centuries. England pursued an active colonial policy, conquering various countries around the world, which, in turn, affected the life of the British. Outlandish overseas objects began to appear in the homes of we althy citizens, which were brought to Britain from Australia, India, Africa and North America. They not only fit perfectly into the houses of the Victorian era, but also gave rise to the future English style in the interior. All these items were carefully stored and passed down, so antique furniture is another integral part of this trend.
When planning to create an English-style home interior, 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 items in it.
Who is the English style for?
This is quite an interesting question. It should be noted right away that the interior design in the English style is not suitable for all categories of citizens. First of all, hetargeting the following people:
- Collectors. British houses of the early 20th century are characterized by a large number of dolls, antique furniture, expensive dishes and various colorful interior items. So if you're a collector, your hobby will help you create the perfect Victorian room design.
- Avid 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 its own extensive library, which acted not only as a place of rest, but also served as an office. Books were placed on large wooden cabinets, near which there was always a ladder, allowing you to get to the topmost shelves. In addition, the library must have a massive wooden table and a comfortable chair.
- Owners of small apartments. English houses have always had small rooms, because they were much easier to heat, and it is more comfortable to live in them in the conditions of the climate of Foggy Albion. Therefore, if you live in a cramped home, then it is the best fit for interior design in the Victorian style.
- To lovers of everything natural. Furniture and household items in England in the 18th century were made of wood, and the walls were hung with carpets or upholstered with fabric. Therefore, when decorating the interior of your apartment, it is very important to purchase furniture in the English style. You should not spare money on it, because you are not buying for several years,but for centuries.
Victorian house design trend will also appeal to lovers of the classics, whose popularity never goes away. After all, it combines two completely opposite sides: minimalism and luxury.
Fundamental Principles of Victorian Style
Why do many landlords choose this design? The classic English style in the interior is based on the following principles:
- all rooms should be divided into separate zones;
- windows are designed according to the principle of stained-glass windows;
- natural wood is used for flooring and fabric upholstered walls;
- one of the rooms must have a real or decorative fireplace, above which there will be a shelf with various collectibles or family photos;
- lighting should not be too bright and slightly dimmed. A floor lamp should be installed in the bedroom or near the reading area;
- all interior items should be thoughtfully placed so that living in a room is practical;
- when choosing fabrics for wall upholstery, give preference to natural materials. Cloths can be both plain and colored, striped or with small drawings;
- to decorate the room using photographs, paintings, pots of flowers, various figurines and luxurious vases. An English-style bedroom is simply unthinkable without a large mirror.
By adhering to the above principles, you will be able toperfect for decorating your home in Victorian style.
Planning features
The basic principle of planning is symmetry. Interior doors, windows and living spaces 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, 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, to move between which a luxurious staircase with a carpet will serve.
A few words about colors
The colors most often used by the British in the design of residential premises of the late 17th and early 18th centuries were brown, beige, sand, dark green and terracotta. All rooms, regardless of purpose, were decorated in dark colors. However, one rule applies here: rooms located in the southern part of the house were finished in cool colors, such as green, gray or blue, and for rooms located in the northern part, warm colors were used, creating a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Living spaces with light interiors used to be a rarity, but these days many famous designers are implementing very successful projects based on the use of gentle tones. As a rule, white, beige, as well as various shades of gray are chosen for wall decoration. But here it is very important that furniture and other household items are in good harmony withwalls, floors and ceilings, so when buying finishing materials, you need to decide in advance what you will furnish your home with.
Wall decoration
It is best to use natural materials for surface finishing. Wood paneling, paper wallpaper, and water-based paint are ideal choices.
To create an English style in the interior, use the following techniques:
- Walls are divided horizontally into two parts - lower and upper. The first is sheathed with wooden panels, and the second is pasted over with wallpaper or painted.
- For dividing the walls, moldings are used, which are painted in the same color as the main surface.
- If the ceilings in the room are too low, then this deficiency can be corrected. Striped wallpaper will help, which contribute to a visual increase in the height of the room. In the case of a high ceiling, you should choose tapestries with various patterns or ornaments.
It is worth noting that English-style wallpapers in the interior are more common than fabric materials. In addition, they are much cheaper, so it is better to use them, and spend free funds on purchasing more expensive furniture.
Ceiling trim
How to perform this process? In the houses of the Victorian era, the ceiling was simply whitewashed. It is also allowed to use light-colored water-based paint. 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 apartmentdecorated in a rustic style, the ceiling is upholstered with wooden planks.
Finishing the floor
English style in the interior of the apartment involves the use of natural materials for flooring. It can be a polished board, stone tile or decorative parquet. Nowadays, in hardware stores you can buy a large number of composite materials that are stylized as a natural texture. For example, in the living room you can use laminate or parquet. Ceramic tiles are well suited for the cooking area and bathroom. In the bedroom, the floor covering is not of fundamental importance, since this room simply must have a fleecy carpet made in oriental style.
Lighting
As mentioned earlier, lighting is a very important part of decorating a home in the style of colonial England. It should not be too bright and muted. The English style in the interior is based on the zoning of space, so for each zone you can choose different sources of diffused light. This is especially true of the living room, where people spend most of their free time. It can be divided into a zone for rest, tea drinking, reading and so on. With a sofa or armchair, you can install a floor lamp, and hang sconces on the walls. A large luxurious chandelier will look very impressive in the center of the ceiling. But this is only suitable for rooms with high ceilings. An English-style bedroom can be illuminated by a small chandelier. Above the bed is to hang a sconce. The same applies todining room.
Choice of curtains
Textiles are another indicator of we alth in Victorian England, so don't skimp on them. Curtains in the English style should be sewn from heavy fabrics, such as damask, chintz or tapestry. They can be either plain or patterned. But here it is important that the drawings blend well with the interior.
Most often, textiles are used to decorate the bedroom. The windows are covered with heavy straight-tailored curtains. The bed is covered with a bedspread and decorated with pillows. Near the window, you can put an armchair with an ottoman, where you can relax or spend time reading a book. And in the corner it would be appropriate to put a dressing table with a mirror.
Furniture recommendations
And now we have come 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 from natural materials. This is due to the fact that the British do not buy tables, sofas or cabinets for several years, but in such a way that they serve several generations. The 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 decorating 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 the bedroomroom is a must.
Interior decoration accessories
The following items are perfect for decorating rooms:
- mirrors with massive frame;
- paintings and photographs;
- various collectibles such as dolls;
- luxury vases.
What kind of accessories to use to decorate your home when decorating it in the Victorian style is up to you. Any exotic items brought from India, Africa or Asian countries will do. And of course, don't forget the fireplace. It's great if it's 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 decorating an apartment in the English style. If you follow all the tips and recommendations given in this article, then you will certainly succeed in making your home elegant. If financial resources allow you, then you can hire a professional designer, but even without his help, making the interior cozy will not be difficult.
