- English country style decor has been around for hundreds of years. It comes from a time and a place where comfort was the most important feature in decorating a home. Today it has moved from the country to the city, and to countries other than England. The colors and the accessories are the same, yet they feel like they belong as much in this day and age as they did long ago.
- English country style features flowers and other natural elements. It is meant to make you feel relaxed and comfortable, no matter how formal the room is. The colors reflect the hues seen in nature . English country style is a way of bringing an English garden indoors.
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Furniture: English country style furniture is functional. The couches and easy chairs are soft, comfortable and well-stuffed. Tables are solid wood, with English walnut being a favorite. Dining room chairs are straight back without arms, and the dining table is usually covered with a plain tablecloth.
Fabrics: Floral themes are the main pattern. The flowers are complimented by accents of gingham and plaids. Slipcovers have tassels along the bottom.
Accessories: The rooms are accessorized with plenty of bric-a-brac. Delicate hand painted teacups on wall shelves, floral paintings on the wall and cut crystal and picture frames on the tables and sideboards are often seen, as are plenty of throw pillows on the couch.
Rugs are embroidered with floral designs, and are area rugs. There is no wall to wall carpeting in English country style. The rugs do not cover the whole floor because there are hand-painted or stenciled designs that circle the room.
Walls have floral wallpaper or stenciled paintings around the top, in many cases matching the stencils on the floor.
Chintz curtains are the window covering of choice in English country style. - Some may think that English country style is not formal enough, but if you accessorize correctly, you can have a touch of formality. The dining rooms can be very formal. Cover the chairs with a chintz fabric to match the window treatments and use a fancier tablecloth.
- English country style is one to consider for a cottage, Tudor or early Colonial style home. It would not work well in Victorian homes because of the size of the rooms. The effects of English country style are better in larger rooms.
