When people think of English Country Interior Design, they imagine chocolate box cottages and huge country piles. But, just because your home doesn't resemble a country manor on the outside, doesn't mean it can't on the inside.
In 2025 English Country style is considered an interiors trend in its own right. It isn't just making waves this side of the pond. All the way over in America, quintessential English interiors have become a staple theme in U.S homes thanks to the popularity of TV shows such as Downton Abbey and The Crown.
So, whether you’re choosing a sofa for the living room or a sofa bed for a guest room, English country decor can be adapted to suit different rooms. In this guide, we’ll cover the main features of the style and how to make them work in your own home.
Key Principles of English Country Interior Design
English country interior design is rooted in tradition, but it works just as well for modern homes as it does in older homes. The look is built from a few core ideas, from combining furniture from different eras and using florals inside and out to layering patterns and colours. Each element plays a part in creating an inviting, character-filled home, and they can all be adapted to suit your own style and home.
Mix Old and New
English Country homes are a celebration of heritage. So, it's not unusual to find items dating back hundreds of years, coexisting with 21st century pieces. In fact, this mix of old and new is the benchmark of English Country style. It's perfectly fine to combine shabby chic items together with newer furniture and accessories.
Car boot sales are a great place to source second-hand items inexpensively, as are online auction sites such as eBay, Gumtree and even Freecycle.
Incorporate Flowers
A few wildflowers whimsically arranged is a great place to start. You can source these types of blooms readily from supermarkets for very little cost. But, if you really want to embrace English Country style to its fullest, you'll have to take the floral theme a little further. Use flowers as an accent in your accessories, artwork and even as a motif on furniture fabrics and wallpapers.
Delicate ditzy prints (rather than big bold blooms) are what you should aim for. Antique botanical books are a great place to source beautiful floral illustrations you can frame and hang on your walls.
Combine Colours and Patterns
One thing English Country homes definitely aren't is subdued and minimalist, especially when it comes to colours and prints. In fact, strong bold colours together with decorative prints and patterns define English Country style. A combination of both is the fastest way to channel this trend in your home.
Typical colours to decorate in include warm terracotta, natural greens (think leafy prints, nothing too artificial), bold blues, and robust reds. While print wise, flowers should definitely feature prominently. But really anything that isn't geometric would work. Remember, English Country style is about eclecticism and experimentation so don't be afraid to clash prints and colours for maximum impact.
Introduce Hygge-Style Layers
The English country house style is typically romantic, warm and cosy, something that's achieved by combining multiple textures together with oodles of layers, throws and cushions. All of which will add to the lived-in country feel.
This concept of 'layering up' and introducing texture also aligns with the more recent home trend Hygge, a Danish approach to interior decoration that emerged in 2017. Essentially this involves making your home as cosy as possible to promote good feeling.
Again, your soft furnishing choices don't have to be well planned or even coordinated. A few chintzy cushions thrown together with a warm wool throw, is perfect for making your living spaces English Country ready.
Have Fun with it
When it comes to decorating in English country interior design style, don't be afraid to have a little fun with it. This decorating trend lends itself perfectly to introducing all kinds of curiosities, and collectable knickknacks. Again, easily sourced second hand from car boot sales and flea markets. As well as passed down in families from generation to generation (so dig out those old heirlooms and display them proudly).
Don't be afraid to fill your shelves with whatever takes your fancy (and whatever you can find)! From mismatched ceramics (china plates and tea cups work well) to animal themed accessories and old decorative bottles of varying shapes and sizes, English Country style gives you a great excuse to be playful and fun in your interiors.
Bonus Tip: 3 English Country House Style Sofa Beds
If you’re trying to pull off the English Country look in your living spaces, these three sofa beds from our handmade luxury sofa beds collection are perfect for adhering to the trend while also giving you a practical guest bed solution when you need to accommodate extra bodies overnight.
With its deep buttoning and rolled arms, the Bulford captures the charm of classic English country style. Its traditional shape pairs beautifully with floral prints, soft linens, or wool throws, while the built-in sofa bed adds a touch of practicality to your living room or guest room.
The Foxcote’s buttoned back and neat proportions make it a natural fit for English country decor. Its versatile design works well with layered cushions and patterned fabrics, while the hidden bed adds extra functionality, especially if you often host guests for the night.
With its scroll arms and turned wooden feet, the Lyneham captures a classic English country look. Its graceful lines and soft upholstery make it easy to pair with floral fabrics, vintage accents, and layered textures, while the built-in bed keeps it practical for everyday living.
Bringing English Country Decor Into Each Room
English country decor isn’t limited to one part of the home. Each room can carry its own version of the style, whether through soft furnishings, wooden furniture, or small decorative touches. Here’s how you can bring the look into the different rooms of your home:
Living Room
The living room should feel warm and inviting, with plenty of places to sit and relax. Start with a comfortable sofa or armchair in a floral or checked fabric, then layer on throws and cushions in different textures. A patterned rug underfoot helps bring the space together, while wooden side tables and bookcases add to the homely feel. Small touches like a vase of seasonal flowers or framed countryside prints can also make the room feel personalised and lived-in.
Bedroom
In the bedroom, the goal is comfort. Upholstered headboards, fabric ottomans at the foot of the bed, and bedside tables in natural wood all work well. Choose bedding with small floral or gingham prints and layer it with wool or quilted blankets for warmth. Soft lighting, such as lamps with fabric shades, creates a gentle glow that suits the relaxed country style.
Kitchen
English country kitchens are practical but welcoming. Painted cabinets in muted shades of cream, sage, or powder blue pair well with a sturdy wooden table or butcher’s block. Open shelving lets you display everyday crockery, copper pans, and glass jars of ingredients, giving the space a lived-in character. Patterned curtains or a blind over the sink, along with herbs in pots on the windowsill, add a homely touch.
Dining Room
A large wooden dining table is the centrepiece, often surrounded by chairs that don’t have to match exactly. Layer the table with a patterned cloth or placemats and add simple details like candlesticks, mismatched china, or a jug of flowers. A dresser filled with glassware or plates is another hallmark of the English country dining space.
Hallways & Corners
Smaller spaces can still carry the same charm. A patterned runner in the hallway makes a welcoming first impression, a bench with woven baskets tucked underneath adds handy storage and a homely touch. In unused corners, small loveseat sofas or occasional tables decorated with books, lamps, or flowers help carry the style through the home.
Bringing English Country Interior Design Into Your Home
English country interior design is about creating a space that feels inviting, layered, and full of character. From floral patterns and natural textures to handmade furniture, it’s a style that thrives on personality and comfort.
If you’re ready to start bringing that beautiful English country style into your home, browse our handmade sofas, sofa beds, armchairs, and beds, which are designed to complement this look beautifully, with over 150 fabrics to choose from. To help you find the right match for your home, you can request up to 8 free fabric samples before deciding.