British style is elegance and practicality, comfortable, luxurious furniture made from durable, natural materials, restrained colors and clear lines, but at the same time it is unforgettable comfort and warmth. English living rooms are conducive to both solitary reading of your favorite book and an intimate conversation with a close friend. The interior of British living rooms is a timeless classic, timeless and fashionable. What elements are inherent in living rooms in the English style - read the article.
Who is the English living room suitable for?
An English-style interior is suitable not only for owners of country apartments and spacious apartments with high ceilings: typical English houses are small rooms. Therefore, an English living room may well appear in a small apartment, making it even more comfortable.
The English style will be appreciated by:
- Lovers of paper books, because one of the main elements of furnishing a British living room is a library or literary room;
- Connoisseurs of country comfort (due to the key element of the British living room - the fireplace);
- Adherents of classic, conservative design and restraint.
In addition, the interior elements of English living rooms will appeal to lovers of fashionable novelties and extraordinary design solutions, because the English style can be used both “in its pure form” and in collaboration with modern interiors. For example, classic British sofas upholstered in genuine leather will fit perfectly into spacious loft-style living rooms; English checkered textiles and decorative elements in a hunting style will perfectly complement the country interior; Wooden coffee tables with thick decorative legs are the perfect decorative piece for an art deco living room.
Style Features
English style is elegance and laconicism of forms, a quality that is always at its best. The accumulation of various details is necessarily thought out to the smallest detail, and there is a sense of proportion in the design. There is calm and comfort in such interiors. And people who prefer this direction in design adhere to conservative views and traditional values. An example of an English-style living room in the photo.
Curtains made of heavy expensive fabrics with lambrequins, fringes and tassels are typical for the interior of a living room in the English style
The style has evolved over more than one century. Therefore, it bears the features of many historical eras. Thus, Gregorianism left a memory in the form of high-quality and simple furniture made of natural wood. English Gothic gave rise to elongated shapes of armchairs and carved wooden elements. And the era of Queen Victoria brought into the interiors many exotic trinkets, colorful textiles, and wonderful rugs made of Scottish wool.
Living room in English style with fireplace
Creating an English living room interior: interior design
The interior of an English living room is, first of all, natural materials. British living rooms have a certain archaic charm. Therefore, modern materials and finishing methods will not be appropriate here.
The main palette of the English interior is natural, natural colors: here we will not see bright, trendy colors like indigo, only muted, restrained shades of autumn foliage, natural wood, grass, marsala.
To decorate the walls of classic living rooms in the British style, most often they choose wallpaper in pastel shades and interior paint in muted blue, green, and burgundy tones. Three-level walls are also characteristic of the British style, where the first, lower level is made of wooden panels 75 cm high, the middle level is wallpaper (a red-green stripe is considered a traditional ornament), and the top level is decorated with decorative cornices.
Modern, glossy surfaces are not suitable for English-style ceilings. Often, decorative plaster or interior paint in beige, peach, and sand shades are used as finishing materials. If the ceiling height allows, the ideal solution in the spirit of England would be coffered, wooden ceilings.
The flooring of British living rooms is most often represented by parquet, laminate, or deck boards. Patterns are encouraged in floor design; the main colors are shades of brown.
Doors in English living rooms should be made of the same material as the floor, and the door frames should be in the same style as the floor skirting boards.
Walls
The British were among the first to wallpaper the walls of their houses. They prefer classic designs printed on thick paper. There are several traditional patterns that decorate English-style wallpaper:
— Wide stripes. Typically, this pattern is used in rooms designed in a strict style. The stripes on the wallpaper should be wide and contrasting with each other. The following color combinations are usually used: wine and white marble; brown and dark beige; dark green and light marsh;
Wide stripes on British style wallpaper
- Monogram. Decorating walls with monograms is a tradition that came from noble houses. English aristocrats placed special orders at wallpaper factories. Heraldic symbolism was taken as the basis. In modern design, wallpaper with monograms is also not uncommon. They are used for pasting walls in spacious rectangular living rooms. To avoid the feeling of excessive diversity, in this case the interior is decorated with plain carpets and curtains;
— Floral patterns . Cute, pastoral motifs are suitable for the central room in a country house. The English style is characterized by wallpaper with images of roses, rose hips and lilies. The color scheme is warm shades of red, blue and beige.
Delicate flowers in the living room
Advice! The most English option for decorating the walls would be to cover them with wooden panels. It is not necessary to decorate the entire wall with them, right up to the ceiling. You can cover the upper half of the wall with fabric or wallpaper. It will turn out very English!
Furniture for English living rooms
Furniture is a hallmark of English living rooms. The British interior is characterized by wooden shelving, low and wide coffee tables on decorative legs, display cabinets, and bedside tables in a classic style.
Fittings in English living rooms should give the impression of heavy, antique elements. The main colors for classic modules are dark brown, amber, and beige.
Basic requirements for furniture in the English style:
- Use of natural wood;
- Carved, decorative legs
- Clarity of lines;
- Restraint and monumentality.
Upholstered furniture for English living rooms is chesterfield sofas, armchairs with high backs and soft armrests, ottomans, “wings”, banquettes, comfortable couches both with and without backs.
Fabric for upholstery of upholstered furniture - genuine leather, velvet, chenille, damask. Primary colors are brown, muted green and red, shades of coffee with milk, butter, cinnamon.
A living room that is always cozy
An English living room with a fireplace always looks elegant and cozy. Antique furniture, high-quality accessories or works of art are synonymous with good taste, luxury and elegance.
Soft sofas, armchairs and pillows are not only pleasant to the touch, but also absorb sound, creating climatic acoustics. The presence of natural materials has a beneficial effect on the psyche, the fire in the fireplace is blissful, and warm colors allow you to relax.
By arranging a living room in this design in accordance with the instructions above, you can get a warm, cozy and elegant interior that will delight not only residents, but also guests. This will be the perfect place for family gatherings or relaxing with a book in hand.
Living room interior in English style: decorative items
The British have always tried to combat grayness and high humidity outside the window. Therefore, it is impossible to imagine an English living room without a cozy fireplace with a portal. The fireplace can be made of brick, stone, marble. The main requirement is clear lines, stucco molding, forged, decorative grilles covering the portal. As additional decorative elements, you can place collections of figurines, black and white photographs, and decorative plates on the fireplace. Often the central place on the fireplace is occupied by a luxury clock in a wooden case with metal or gold plated elements.
Textiles also play an important role in the English interior: checkered, woolen rugs; warm, cozy carpets, an abundance of pillows, covers for armchairs and chairs, heavy curtains with tassels and fringe - these are the decorative elements without which it is impossible to imagine the design of a traditional British living room.
If the living room is large, then a grandfather clock with a wooden case, pendulum and chime can serve as a decorative element.
Execution options
It is gratifying that modern stores are simply teeming with various models of fireplaces. Having decided on the necessary functionality and general requirements for the device, here you can choose a suitable device, or order yourself an exclusive handmade model.
Wood-burning devices. Classic wood-burning fireplaces made of brick in the form of a massive structure are built by connoisseurs of the classics, but for lovers of something more modern, manufacturing companies offer cast iron and steel structures. All of them are necessarily equipped with a chimney that removes combustion products. The appearance and design of such fireplace systems can be very diverse.
Pipe hanging from the ceiling
Broken pipe
Niche in the wall
Underwater mine
Strange shape
Gas appliances. Gas fireplaces are more modern; they operate either from the main gas entering our apartment or have replaceable cylinders. Natural gas is an excellent fuel, the fire from which is the most natural. Note that for systems with main gas, a chimney is required, while cylinder devices do not need it. Which gas fireplace to choose for your apartment is, of course, up to you, but you should choose a design that suits the overall interior of the room.
Decorated seating area
Double-sided version
Interesting shape
Direct flame access
Extraordinary shape
Biological models. Biofireplaces are designed specifically for the home; during their operation they practically do not emit harmful substances and only slightly dry the air. The modern design of these products allows us to find interesting solutions for introducing bio-fireplaces into the architecture of apartments and houses. Original, beautiful fireplaces with real fire create a unique atmosphere, but most importantly, they are as safe as possible to use.
Round form
Fireplace in a coffee table
Biofireplace in a suitcase
Triangular shape
Using a niche in the wall Good to know: Cassette-type fireplace, its operating principle, pros and cons, installation
Electrical apparatus. Unlike all of the above options, electric fireplaces do not have real fire; here an imitation of flame or smoldering coals is created. At the same time, such a composition often looks no worse than fireplace systems with real fire. Electric fireplaces can perform not only a decorative function, but also heat small rooms. Such devices most often look like classic analogues.
Stone finishing
Black Portal
Country style
Modern apartment
Stone portal
False fireplaces. By the way, if ready-made purchased options are not available, you can come up with and make an imitation fireplace yourself. This does not require special skills; you can easily assemble a beautiful structure yourself from cardboard, boards, drywall, or any available materials. To decorate the resulting structure, you can choose from: wallpaper, paint, plastic panels, tiles, stone or its imitation. Well, in order for such a dummy to look decent, it should be properly decorated inside and outside, and if possible, assemble an interesting imitation of fire.
Finishing the portal with brick
False fireplace made of wood
Fake fireplace in the apartment
White portal
Portal with candles
Lighting elements in English living rooms
Lighting in an English interior is a way to make the room warmer and more comfortable. The light of the devices should be soft and natural. As central lighting, you can use pendant chandeliers with five shades, exquisite lamps with forged elements.
Elegant floor lamps, table lamps and wall sconces are suitable as additional lighting elements. It is better to give preference to lamps with trapezoidal shades made of textiles: such elements can guarantee warm, diffused light.
If you want to add light above the seating area, designers advise buying an identical pair of sconces and placing them on the wall parallel to each other.
Biofireplaces in the interior
More recently, biofireplaces have appeared on the heating equipment market - devices that can be installed in any room, even those where there is no ventilation. The only condition is the presence of opening windows to ventilate the room from time to time.
Biofireplace in the interior of a studio apartment
Biofireplaces do not emit smoke, ash or soot into the atmosphere; They have an aesthetic appearance, making them an additional decorative element of the interior. Such units operate on plant-based fuel, which is considered environmentally friendly.
According to the placement option, biofireplaces are:
- floor;
- wall;
- island;
- desktop;
- street
A biofireplace placed behind glass looks very interesting
Advice! Tabletop biofireplaces are recommended to be used not as heat sources (in this regard they are of little use), but as decoration. The presence of a “live” fire in the room is especially important during the New Year and Christmas holidays.
Luxurious living room in English style (video)
English design will be appropriate both in a spacious country house and in a high-rise apartment, because even a small detail in the British style - be it an exquisite wooden clock or elegant leather armchairs with wings - can add a touch of discreet nobility to the interior of the apartment. It is worth decorating your living room in the British style, and you will get an elegant, cozy room in which it is pleasant to gather with your family, relax alone and meet with friends!
Fireplaces in Provence style
Provence style is simplicity of form, lack of frills and pomp. When creating such a fireplace, every detail is taken into account. The color must be white or a light, calm shade of yellow, green, blue, etc. The effect of faded paint is allowed. The cladding is made with natural materials: ceramics or natural stone. Less common are options made from expensive types of wood. Forged compositions are used as decoration. They prefer to artificially age a fireplace in the Provence style, giving it a slight charm of comfort.
The firebox in this style is open, which gives the fireplace the effect of a regular stove. To cover the fire, forged grilles or screens are used, which not only protect against sparks, but also serve as the finishing touch to the design.
Living room design in English style (interior photo)
- Author: admin
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