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Each country around the world has different styles within its generations of taste-makers and preferences and/or needs of the people of any of the many periods throughout its history. Britain is no different. However, when I think of British décor, the aesthetics and details that are quintessential and have stood the test of time, I can quickly tick off a list that I associate with Britannia. Or perhaps a better way of saying it, a list of items and approaches that immediately make me feel comforted, welcomed and able to relax and rejuvenate.
Whether due to keeping the inhabitants warm during the many damp and rainy days and nights, or the many talented artisans that come from Britain throughout the decades and centuries to create the designs in upholstery, wallpaper, furniture and other décor items loved around the world, yet with a provenance that began in Britain, these are the 21 décor touches that remind me of the culture that I am fond of and feel quite a home at when I visit.
As many TSLL readers will know, especially if you have read The Road to Le Papillon: Daily Meditations on True Contentment, in the customization and construction that I began back in 2020, my house which I named Le Papillon, draws much of its inspiration from the cozy English cottage décor as well as concepts gleaned from the grand country estates found in the British countryside. Along with French touches and colors chosen to remind me of visiting the oceanside, it is British interior designers who I look to for guidance and inspiration, especially Rita Konig. And while my house is small, 1500 sq ft, I continue to learn how to layer the décor, so much of which is drawn from how the British do this seemingly so effortlessly.
~If you are new to TSLL, you can tour all of the many room reveals, remodeling projects and lessons I have learned along my journey of turning Le Papillon into my beloved sanctuary here in the Archives. You will need to become a TOP Tier Member to tour my home as while I am a public person through TSLL, my home is reserved for those who choose to support the content of TSLL, for which I am continually grateful.
Now, let’s take a look at 21 ways you can incorporate the classic British décor aesthetic you love into your own sanctuary wherever in our grand world you call home.
1. Layer different prints in upholstery and wall covering choices
While I am definitely still a student of how to layer different print fabrics to make it look as I envision it and have felt when I am in such spaces (such as Rita Konig’s North Farm), this concept of doing so is most definitely what I associate with British décor. With so many options of fabric, it can feel overwhelming, but when you remember that you want to mix large and small prints, and have a common tonal color, you can then begin to not only narrow down your selections, but also have fun deciding what you will choose. From upholstered chairs, the sofa, pillows, blankets and headboards, even lampshades as we will discuss further down the list, not being afraid to mix them up and layer them will create that cozy, welcoming feeling that truly can feel like a hug when you are enjoying time in your home.
When it comes to wall coverings, I continue to be a cheerleader for anyone to wallpaper (read this post to discover how you can absolutely do it on your own) as it creates a visceral ‘hug’ when you walk into a space where wallpaper is present, especially with a print or textured wallpaper. The room entirely changes in the most wonderful of ways. And the British know this. With so many different designs and high quality options, many of which that are affordable, what takes time is deciding which design will work. But so long as you don’t rush, you will find what you know will work best.
12 British Wallpaper Companies to Know
an all-time favorite TSLL post – #top100
2. Framed paintings in all different sizes
Framed paintings or sketches picked up at flea markets and antique shops, yard sales or brocantes if in France, these pieces speak to you and so you collect them. You can create a collage wall, or hang a single framed piece of art above a dresser or piece of furniture. The key is you love it.
I have begun hanging framed pieces of found art and purchased-new art in my living room that reminds me of both Britain and France, some picked up while traveling in both countries and others that have been with me for some time.
3. Teacups & saucers and mugs at the ready
Whether you display them or keep them in their own cupboard, having teacups & saucers (your size and style preference honored) is a key simple luxury. Whether you have treasured storied British brands such as Burleigh or finds from the secondhand shops, as we will talk about in a post later this week, there is something about choosing to use a teacup & saucer that adds to the calm and cozy of our sanctuary.
Captured while staying at North Farm in October 2023.
4. Tea Tables
A tea table here, a tea table there, a tea table everywhere.
These antique and vintage treasures are fun to hunt for, and whether you find them online or in-person, when you see the style that speaks to you, scoop it up. From being the perfect place to put your teacup & saucer, or a pile of books, or a lamp, you name it, these tables are beautiful all on their own and again add to the layer of signature detail that the British do so well.
5. Fabric lampshades
From the moment I saw fabric lampshades, all pleated and lined, I have been smitten. And while often these can be expensive (although Pooky Lighting makes wonderfully beautiful designs at affordable prices) especially if you want a particular bespoke fabric, they are worth the investment.
Again, adding more layers, more interest for the eye, and depth of comfort.
Upholstered lampshade from Robert Kime in the kitchen. Tour the entire space here.
6. Bobbin detail
From bobbin furniture – tables, chairs, to mirrors framed in bobbin wooden detail, even bobbin peppermills (look for a giveaway – #4! – later this week), this quirky, yet quite classic detail brings both a smile and appreciation for its artisanship.
While I don’t have any bobbin detailed furniture yet, my first ‘bobbins’ came in the form of the peppermill from Addison Ross.
7. Always a teapot ready to fill a hot cuppa
It goes without saying that home without a teapot (either an electric kettle or one warmed up on the stovetop) is a must.
I felt so fortunate to have scooped up the copper kettle below while visiting Country Durham at an antique shop in Barnard Castle (listen to episode #382 to discover more about Antique & Vintage Shopping in Barnard Castle, England + 5 Ways I Decorate with these Treasures.
8. Delft ceramics – vases, tiles, etc.
Whether it is framing a fireplace with reclaimed or newly handpainted and made to resemble Delft tiles, or a vase or container, the blue and white designs are distinctive and add a thoughtful touch, and a bit of whimsy too.
I found this Delft original container in Barnard Castle for maybe £10 and thought it would be perfect for holding salt near the stovetop. Now, I use it everyday and am grateful I was able to bring it home safely.
9. Books, books, piles and shelves of books
A home without books is a home without a [fill in the blank], but usually the saying goes something to the effect of a soul or heartbeat. And I concur. I cannot have enough books, so when I had the opportunity to add bookshelves, I did just that.
Whether you have built-in bookshelves, stand-alone bookshelves, stacks of books nestled next to your favorite chair or piles on your bedside table, however, you choose to arrange them, that is very much a welcomed detail of comfort.
~Seen below, books on my treasured ‘Barney’ stool; bookshelf in my office (tour the entire space here)
10. A well-placed (and utilized) antique or vintage piece
From console tables, mirrors, desks, chairs and everything in between, when you find an antique that takes your breath away and know the exact spot you would actual place and use it, you are giving it another life. Because you appreciate the story and history behind it (as much as it is possible to know), you care for your home even more with it being a part of your sanctuary. And because it cannot be something purchased en masse, it holds even more value because you happened upon it. Appreciation is deepened for how the details of a home come together – slowly, but thoughtfully.
And just as the person before you did with the piece before you took it home, you will take care of it until it moves on to its next caretaker.
11. Ottomans as footstools and coffee tables
Whether low to the ground, small and petite, or tall enough to be a coffee table and customized with your preferred upholstery, ottomans encourage comfort and beckon us to relax.
12. An Aga
One of the most common answers from those interviewed in The English Home magazine about what makes an English home, is having an Aga. Now granted, most of us, especially if we don’t live in Britain (they are available worldwide, but not as many options are available – colors and sizes, etc.) won’t be able to have an Aga in our homes, but we can appreciate a stove that helps to create the hearth of the home – a place to linger, gather and savor.
So whether you have an Aga, the house you purchased has an Aga, or you dream of an Aga, know that it is more about the vibe of coziness, and without the people and heartbeats within the house to appreciate and treasure the sanctuary, Aga or not, it wouldn’t be possible.
13. A place for umbrellas and walking sticks
Now, I may live in Bend, Oregon, where it rarely rains, but I had to have a holder, placed near the front door, for my umbrella. The Brits do this well, and any place geographically that has a tendency for more rain to fall than sunny days, having a place to put your wet umbrellas as you enter the home. What I love is how beautiful these options can be.
Rita Konig has a wonderful antique rectangular wooden holder (see below – right side of the photo), or find a beautiful ceramic narrow and tall piece to slip your umbrella into as you pop in and out.
14. Dress the windows
From long drapes that you open and close each day, to casual Roman blinds, or more inset, structured roman blinds, window dressings serve a purpose to keep the cold out and provide privacy, but even more so, they finish a room and create a beautiful space.
In many of my remodeling and redecorating projects around Le Papillon, when the curtains or shades went up, the room finally looked finished. From my lightweight wool curtains in my primary bedroom, the linen Provençal blue curtains in the dining room, roman shades in the foyer and on and on, without them, the house wouldn’t feel like a home to me.
Tour the Dining Room curtains and space here.
15. Add a door curtain to keep out the draft
While this detail will depend upon what types of doors you have, if you happen to have a drafty door or a glass door that you want some privacy added, a door curtain is the perfect solution.
Having a glass door in my kitchen that leads out to the lawn, ever since seeing this option of a window/door covering in oodles of different home tours in The English Home and House & Garden UK, I knew it would be the perfect choice if only I could figure out how to do it. Well, thankfully, Veronique, my friend who is also an interior decorator who helped me dress nearly all of my curtains in my house, knew exactly what I meant, and ordered the rod to work with my space.
It provides the privacy I needed, as well as the soft touch to this very industrial corner. Be sure to watch the video tour of Rita Konig’s North Farm which begins with a look at the door curtain. A dream of an upholstered piece of beauty and function.
16. Sisal flooring in heavily used areas
More widely common in the UK than here in the states is sisal carpeting – wall-to-wall natural flooring that is very durable, but also removes that ‘cold’ feeling if the floors were hardwood or tile. Whether layered with rugs on top or left to be on their own, I actually quite like the feel of sisal under my feet. North Farm had them throughout the space on the main floor, and even had a wonderful more ‘bristly’ built-into-the-floor welcome mat in the main entry way near the garage. Again, a very smart detail that is designed to work with how you live while still being beautiful.
17. A pudding sofa
One of the most expensive as well as important-to-choose-well pieces in our homes will be our sofa, and they are worth spending money on for well-made craftsmanship and materials. While it took me 20 years to be able to purchase the sofa I had imagined in my dreams but never thought I would one day have, I know I will have my pudding sofa for the rest of my life.
From George Sherlock, made in the UK, these sofas will make it near impossible to want to leave and get up, and their cozy rolled arms and overstuffed cushions – both in the seat and back – will be the seat in that particular room that you choose again and again.
The large corduroy sofa at North Farm in the library – tour the entire home here (video tour included).
My sofa in the living room. Tour the entire space here.
18. Cozy armchairs to snuggle into
Whether you salvage a favorite chair passed down generations and cover it with your new preferred upholstery or purchase a new chair, having one in your home (or two or many) definitely sings a British tune.
19. Oodles of table lamps (no overhead lights)
Initially due to what was available, the ubiquitous overhead lighting we see now in homes was not an option in older homes, or not as easy to accommodate due to the wiring. So having lamplight accessible by plug-ins was the only option; however, it will forever be the option I prefer for cozy and inviting spaces. Unless working in the kitchen or an office space where bright lights are necessary, nobody feels comfortable or is able to relax surrounded by bright overhead lights (nor do they look their best!).
Lamps, since we can choose the shade and type of light – warm or cool, give us complementary light right where and how we want it, and they often create a demarcation point of note designating a certain space or area. Floor lamps do this as well and provide the same welcoming lamination.
A modern brass lamp I have had for about seven or eight years now that provides a solid contrast to the busy Charles Voysey wallpaper in the office.
One of the many lamps throughout Le Papillon. The marble base was found on 1stDibs on sale. It did not come with a shade, nor a harp, so I had it refitted at a local electric shop. Then, about 18 months later, I finally found the fabric that would work best in this space, and had the shade made by Robert Kime (they ship worldwide and you can peruse all of their fabrics as well – lined with silk and easy to fit with US lamps).
20. Fixed Wall Lighting
Fixed lights that provide a gentle illumination over a designated spot – either for reading or to bring attention to a particular space, whether from picture lights to wall sconces while needing to be installed by an electrician (although there are now battery operated options – see Pooky Lighting here), this design choice is a wonderful way to create an inviting vignette, nook or snug.
21. Four-legged companions to enjoy the home with you
Whether cats or pups or both, a home in Britain is often not quite home without our four-legged companions, especially one outside of the city. Snuggled up by our side while we read or watch, standing under foot while we cook away in the kitchen, their mere presence is warmth and comfort personified. Another oft mentioned detail that makes an English home a home, as shared in the magazine The English Home, was a pup (or two or three ;). Yep, I would most definitely concur.
However your sanctuary comes together, enjoy the journey of adding the layers that make you feel most at home, comforted and rejuvenated.
Explore more of TSLL’s Decor posts here, and all of the home tours of Le Papillon here.
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Wonderful tips, Shannon.
Recently, I purchased a floral pillow to use for Spring decor. After trying it in a few locations, I settled on a vertical striped chair. I love the mix so much, I have decided to leave it year-round—very British look.
xx
Michelle