7 British Decor Trends That American Designers Can’t Stop Stealing

There’s an undeniable charm about British interiors that feels nearly impossible to replicate without a Cotswolds cottage or backyard of rolling hills. Still, even an ocean away, it’s worth trying. American design pros seem to agree; they’ve long been borrowing the best of British design trends. These interiors boast a lived-in warmth, thanks to layered prints, heirloom furniture, and a sense that every object has a story. The result is a look that’s simultaneously nostalgic and fresh. 

With the help of two experts steeped in this aesthetic — Helen Ashmore, head of design at Laura Ashley, and Rachel Ashwell, founder of Shabby Chic and author of the new book Meadow Manor: My Majestic English Countryside Home — we’ve identified the interior trends that all Anglophiles are obsessed with. 

Read on for seven trends that make British homes so enduringly covetable, plus tips for how to bring the charm into your own home. 

If there’s one principle that underpins all British interiors, it’s layering. Combining pattern, texture, and pieces collected over time creates a look that feels one-of-a-kind and effortlessly evolved — the opposite of a room that was decorated all at once, as if it was plucked from a retailer’s showroom. “It helps to bring everything together in a way that feels really personal and unique to the homeowner,” says Ashmore.

Flip through any British magazine and chances are you’ll spy a wall covering or two. They’re a cornerstone of British design, and they almost always draw from the natural world (think: English country gardens, trailing botanicals, and painterly florals). Their goal is to blur the line between inside and out, turning walls into an immersive backdrop rather than a neutral surface. Ashmore points to designs that incorporate architectural garden details like trellises and arches as particularly effective ways to reinforce that indoor-outdoor connection.

Dark, rich, heirloom-style furniture captures the British spirit, as it lends the space a sense of history. The key is mixing old with new, so the result feels accumulated rather than curated. Don’t aim for too traditional or polished; personal and full of stories is the way to go.

“The most appealing version of a British home is the faded grandeur of a home lived in and loved,” explains Ashwell. 

For a quintessentially British feel, you can’t go wrong with delicate florals and muted botanicals. The English country garden aesthetic has endured for centuries, as it balances a romantic feel with a familiar one. Rooted in cottage and country house traditions, it’s a look that pairs heritage-inspired prints with a warm, nostalgic palette to create interiors that feel inviting — not decoratively over-the-top. 

“It’s a look that embraces soft florals, gentle botanicals, and delicate motifs that mirror the relaxed informality of real gardens,” says Ashmore. 

British homes carry a long tradition of decorative details that are as practical as they are beautiful. Ashwell highlights anaglypta — embossed decorative paper installed from floor to chair height and finished with classic chair rail molding — as a perfect example. It protects walls from scuffs, while adding genuine visual interest. 

Using curtains to frame a doorway works the same way. “I love the decorative element of framing a door with a curtain,” Ashwell says. “It is also functional, keeping out the cold during winter months.” The instinct to solve a problem beautifully is oh-so British.

In British homes, chandeliers are often left undressed with naked bulbs. Then, Ashwell says, a shade is added that transforms the fixture into a charming and timeless showstopper. Choose a shade that softens the drama while adding warmth. 

Pink is having a quiet reinvention in British interiors. This version isn’t too bold or maximalist, but softer and more nuanced. Try shades of antique pink, old rose, and soft coral; they’ll bring a subtle vitality to walls, linens, and furnishings alike. “These shades feel familiar and soothing, paying a subtle nod to nostalgia,” says Ashmore.