Bringing British Country Style to Your Home

Sometimes the things we love most about design elements are impractical and not very comfortable. Consider our fondness for British country living, with classically leaky thatched roofs, low cozy ceilings and dark stone rooms that often always feel wet and cold. We love the look but not the feel, right? These elements bring the best of British country to your home in look and feel for a comfortable, nostalgic look that will make anyone want to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.

Image via Oracle Fox.

There is one thing in abundance in Britain: sheep. Sheep skins and wool throws not only make for great warm clothing but also comfortable home goods that add a rustic accent to any room.

Photo via Bible of British Taste.

British fabrics will include, aside from wool, tweed and other heavy fabrics that will often be bright with floral or Eastern patterns - remnants from the Victorian age where accents from the entire British empire were popular to have in homes. Don’t forget a big Irish Wolfhound gracing your doorstep (or sofa!).

Photo via Architectural Digest.

As the home of the Arts and Crafts movement, you’ll also find excellent mill work in the form of custom furniture and setees, crown moulding for ceilings, railings and bannisters, and other fine items that look hand made by skilled craftsmen. The Arts and Crafts movement also loved prints - again, Victorian in nature - which gave rise to Chinoiserie and Pacific-themed wall coverings and textiles.

Photo via Country Life UK.

Stone houses with thatched roofs are common in a country rich in clay and stone and not so much in forests. You’ll often find multiple chimneys to keep out the constant chill of living in the British environment.

Photo via The Polo House.

Another classic decor theme apart from items of a Colonial past are figures from ‘the hunt’, a royal tradition in Britain. This can include vintage rifles, sculptures of hunting dogs, and stuffed quails.

Photo via the GlamPad.

In the era of British country homes, glass was fragile to move and expensive to make, which meant that the largest sizes weren’t much bigger than a photograph. This meant they’d be fitted into frames, which gave rise to a classic grid look.

Photo via Atlanta Magazine.

British homes, both modest and grand, love the mix of fabrics such as velvet, cotton, linen, wool and tweed. Mixing colors and patterns, especially tartan, is also a common theme. And we can’t forget grand fireplaces with wainscoting throughout.