English Home Decor Style

English decor, like that of any classist society, has two distinct styles: one for the commoners, referred to as English country decor; and one for the nobles, represented primarily by Victorian decor.

Victorian decor is an amalgamation of other European and Asian styles from earlier periods, and assumes that a staff of servants will keep it clean. This allowed for aristocrats to pamper themselves in brocade covered over stuffed upholstery on ornately carved furniture, and draped over ornately decorated mirrors. This Baroque style stressed comfort and opulence over practical considerations such as durability. Semi circular windows have bench seats built in to the recession, and are covered in cushions where a lady might sit reading a book and looking over the garden. Homes prioritize privacy and the ability to self segregate, over togetherness and unity, thus floor plans resemble insect dwellings where each room is separated from each other, and long hallways and staircases are needed. Since this creates darker interior rooms, a shaft is often constructed through the center of the building, and windows open into it to provide additional lighting.

The Victorian ethos aspires to chastity, and finds all reproductive activity distasteful and vulgar. This phobia of sexuality extends to furniture. A table's legs reminded the repressed gentry of a lady's legs, and therefore had to be covered with enormous table cloths reaching the floor. Cloth skirts were added to beds and chairs as well.

Windows are large and draped in velvet and other opaque fabrics, again allowing privacy, and often tied back on both sides of the windows to allow Brittan's eerie cloud reflected light inside.

The Victorian color pallet is jewel toned, with shiny gold and silver accents.

Victorian decor emphasises family rank and imperial arrogance, similar to that of the French urban decor, but with out the worship of ever changing fashion trends. Victorian decor displays photos of Noble ancestors, family coats of arms, and knight's battle armor, along side tapestries depicting gentry hunting foxes with horses and dogs. Asian, East African, and North American artifacts, and the stuffed skins of endangered animals are displayed along side leather bound books of English literature, and enormous dictionaries too heavy to lift. Nautical themes, British Navy memorabilia, antique maps, and globes are focal points in studies with the typically Victorian high ceilings.

Gardens display the English ethos of conquest, with every leaf trimmed and arranged into an unnatural shape, and all vegetation submitting to vigorous weeding, species selection and breeding.

English country decor is more durable and easier to clean, but just as cluttered with collectors items and wall paper as that of the Victorian decor. The items tend to be of a more local origin, and are simply nostalgic for one's grandparents' technology and war time glory. Grandfather clocks, free standing full length oval shaped mirrors framed in wood, walking canes, hat and coat trees, and umbrella urns are important decor items for the more practical English country decor. Vertically striped fabrics and earth toned plaids are common. Cottages have stone walls and cultivated gardens which are central to their way of life. Roses are particularly well loved and are trained on trellises, over archways, and the stone walls surrounding the garden. Since Brittan gets so much rain, a riot of colorful flowers is easy to grow in rustic wheel barrows, and the flowers are often harvested for indoor floral displays. Floral motifs are found on the all important porcelain tea sets, and displayed on linen table cloths.

Lower class Brits often deal with Brittan's grey skies by painting indoor walls in garish colors, and by making their already small and cluttered rooms feel even more claustrophobic with overly busy wall papers. This approach to authenticity is not recommended. Take the best features from English decor, and leave the rest.