So, you’re starting to redesign your home and wondering what style to choose from. There’s farmhouse style, bohemian style, colonial style, Victorian era style, contemporary, Morrocan desert style, modern, classic….why are there so many design styles!?
Well, people have been designing homes for centuries. But, one design trend stands out from the rest, during the British colonization of the Americas from the 17th to 19th centuries: British colonial interior design.
British colonial interior design is a design trend that commonly represents the 1600s and 1700s British colonial explorers who came to the US. With their arrival, they started the colonial look in the Eastern United States, particularly in New England, Florida, and the West Indies.
Some highlights of the British colonial exterior include window shutters, the classic overlay of thin wood pieces, and sprawling front porches, either completely on the front of the house or wrap around porches! Interior design includes detailed beveled edges on walls and furniture, ornate designs for couches, chairs, coffee tables, and luxurious artwork displayed on walls.
When British explorers and settlers were exploring the Americas, they often made a home for themselves wherever they landed. They loved to travel over the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean, but wanted the comfort of their own homes.
So logically, they brought over possessions from home, but unfortunately, since the climate was so different from the British mainland, lots of these pieces would warp and become unusable, forcing them to use wood from the island or mainland they inhabited.
Hence, we were exposed to British colonial design, with many subtle and not so subtle hints toward a relaxed, tropical lifestyle – far different than the faster paced life of their homeland.
Now, since the British colonized much of the New World during the 1600s and 1700s, there are many different styles that were incorporated within the specific region of colonization.
From the Americas to South Africa, and India to Australia, each has its own native touches to it. For this article specifically, we’re going to focus mainly on the Americas portion of British colonial decor.
More coastal regions in the upper parts of North America like Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut and the Southern regions of Florida and the West Indies surrounding Florida have a fairly similar style to British houses back in England. These include features like wraparound porches, large entryways, gated outdoor areas, large, arched doorways, and a pretty symmetrical exterior layout.
These homes, especially where the weather is far better, are designed to be the perfect indoor and outdoor homes, with relaxation and comforts of the Old World still intact while enjoying the delights of the New World.
So, let’s take a dive into the colonial times and we’ll show you some of the best features of colonial design to include in your home remodel or new home. We’ll start with the exterior of your home.
The exterior of British colonial design homes look similar to this photo above: a sprawling porch along the front of the house with windows spaced evenly across the front. These windows are lined by shutters that, back then, used to be functional. Modern colonial design has rendered them useless, only for decor purposes.
This home is a blanket layout, but other styles exist as well. A large estate property may have looked like the photo below, with grand pillars leading to a sweeping entrance.
More modern additions of colonial style homes will have a garage door in the front, as pictured below. This style of home with garage doors in the front isn’t as popular in colonial home design, but you’ll see it from time to time.
Symmetry still exists between this style and the older 1600s and 1700s style homes, but here, garage doors were added to older style homes as a way to adapt to the changing times.
In fact, if you’re in New England, you’ll see many homes that have garages completely separated from the main house or are connected to the side of the house. This puts the symmetry off balance. I grew up in Massachusetts and this is all too true!
When you walk in the doorway of a colonial style home, one of the first features is usually a staircase. Most british colonial design homes are multi-level, so a staircase is a simple design concept that creates a very exciting and welcoming home when you step inside. It also immediately shows that you have a second floor to your house, which represented wealth in older times.
Sometimes there are long entryways or a more open floor plan when entering. Here’s an example of a bigger entryway that leads to a long hallway.
As seen here, the entryway is rather large with vaulted ceilings, a staircase immediately following the entryway, and a room on the left as you walk in. This room is usually the living room, which is generally where the British explorers and colonists kept their nicer furniture and was meant for guests to see first.
Below is another example of a staircase, and for context, the picture is taken at the entryway of the home!
Now, generally when you walk in the home, the living room is immediately on the left or right hand side of the entryway, usually with a large, double door width frame. Generally, tall windows are the go-to style to let light in more easily. Often, the windows are graced by large drapes or curtains while chairs and couches finish out the look.
Large plants accompany the room to make it feel more homey. Also, with larger windows, this is the best place in the house to keep large plants! Mirrors, large floor lamps or smaller lamps on side tables and a coffee table of some sort complete the room.
Since these are based on colonial times, there is generally a fireplace with anything from a mirror to a large painting over it. More modern designs won’t have a fireplace in every room, but we also don’t have four chimneys in our houses anymore, either!
Here’s an example of a colonial home below. Note the similarly large windows with high drapes and nice decor in the room. The cloth couches and chairs are pretty typical and match the color of the rest of the room.
It’s common to have a room with one color scheme. Above the fireplace is a mirror on the wall, which is a pretty common place for large decor items. Sometimes, this is swapped out for a large painting.
Now, the kitchen and the dining room is usually the next stop along the main floor – often, the dining room is in between the kitchen and the living room, so guests wouldn’t have to enter the kitchen at all! Nowadays, the kitchen looks far different than in the 1600s or 1700s, mainly because of the revelation of appliances. So, let’s take a tour of the kitchen!
The kitchen above is a pretty typical layout of a British colonial style kitchen, with little separation between the dining room and kitchen. Sometimes, a more defining wall will separate the kitchen and dining room better.
The punched out wall with a bench on the left side of the photo is a pretty typical mainstay of this trend. Kitchen tables are larger and can accommodate many people while the kitchen is a pretty basic layout compared to today’s standards.
Glass (or now plastic) doors are often seen in these kitchens and are opened by little knobs as opposed to bars seen in other styles. Chandeliers are a must, and generally are found over the dining room table or kitchen table, and sometimes over an island, where applicable. Of course, in old style colonial homes, they used to have candles burning, not lightbulbs!
Here’s another look at a colonial style kitchen! It has darker stained wood, which is different from the photo above. Some of the cabinets also have glass panels in the front, and the rest have little knobs or handles.
One of the more modern touches here is the appliances, of course. The range hood stands out the most, but the oven and microwave on the right side of the photo blend well into the surrounding cabinetry.
The family room is the next stop along the tour and usually connects back with the entryway, completing a circle in the home.
This is a more relaxed area in the house, meant for family as the name would suggest but also more casual guests as well. Often, this is where the game table and lounging areas are. In a modern colonial house, TVs accompany game tables and couches.
This family room is a great example. The furniture is toned down for a more comfortable, relaxing feel, there’s large windows like we’ve seen in other colonial homes, and there’s even a fireplace to boot!
A coffee table can be replaced by an ottoman as pictured, but generally, hard topped tables (or hard topped ottomans) are good additions for holding board games and serving food and refreshments!
Modern touches include the lamps and side tables, and of course, the TV.
This is also a pretty typical set up for a family room. It’s relaxed and cozy but still has nice elements to it. The hanging lights, coffee table, and couch bring together a cozy but luxurious looking room. Deep purple colors in the rug and blanket add to the richness of this room!
Let’s head upstairs to the bedrooms!
The colonial style bedrooms are pretty similar to the family room style: comfy, cozy, and filled with the comforts of home. Lots of times, the image below is basically a standard colonial style bed frame, but other varieties include versions with curtains or drapes. They’re pretty stylish and are more common in warmer weather climates, like Florida and the West Indies area. But this doesn’t mean they can’t be in New England as well.
A pretty classic design with a chandelier is laid out below. Back in the 1600s and 1700s, the chandelier had actual candles, but this will do for today’s standards. The vaulted, triangular roof is another beautiful design, as the master bedroom is usually located on the second floor of the house.
If you’re ever wondering about British colonial decorating, this photo is a great example. The furniture on the right is a beautiful addition, too. Notice the drapes on the floor to ceiling windows – beautiful!
British colonial interior design is an elegant style and it’s rich in history. There’s so many different ways to bring British colonial design into your home, and you can start small with certain rooms!
One of the biggest things to remember is that the decor matches a specific time period. Unlike other design trends, all the decor and furniture needs to be from the same 10-20 year period.
The materials used are almost entirely wood or metal and glass; both wood and metal elements will have beveled edges or some other sort of ornate trim on the furniture itself. All rooms need to be cohesive and out together well, holding some rich 1600s and 1700s style.
Early American decor by the British settlers varied geographically, but the design was similar. If you want to make your home with more tropical themed decor like it is in more Southern styles in the West Indies or Florida, adding palm trees and other tropical plants to your room will immediately elevate the decor.
If you want a more New England style home, include native plants and paintings of sea life, like whales, lighthouses, and sailors.
It’s important to remember that the early settlers didn’t live too far from the coast. They needed access to ports and water and most importantly, communication back home to England. The most inland they got was perhaps only 20 or 30 miles at first.
Then, as they expanded deeper inland, the decor changed again depending on the region and immediate environment. For example, more forest based colonial style homes may have decor with deer, bears, and other similar wildlife. On the other hand, coastal homes will feature coastal decor.
If you’re feeling inspired, we’re happy we could help! If you want more inspiration, head on over to our Pinterest and take a look at our British colonial interior design board. We update it weekly with fresh pins, so hopefully you’ll find some inspiration.
If you’re interested in more tropical vibes, see our tropical British colonial interior design board, stacked with inspirational colonial homes.
Have a good one! We’ll see you soon!
I fell in love with this style when I vacationed in Barbados several years ago and stayed at Sam Lord's Castle, the former home of actual pirate Sam Lord, who lured ships aground by hanging lanterns in the coconut trees. Captains mistook the lights for the nearby port city of Bridgetown and ran their ships into the reefs. Sam and his men then promptly looted them. This beautiful plantation was decorated in authentic West Indies British Colonial style and couldn't help capturing my heart. Unfortunately this beautiful historical landmark burned to the ground in recent years, a sad loss for the people of Barbados. As the British colonized the world, from America to India and the West Indies, they left a distinct style behind. This worldly and timeless design was influenced by the climate and cultures of the places the British inhabited. And British Colonial style was created. At its largest, the British Empire covered approximately one-quarter of the world. It truly was the empire on which the sun never set. As British subjects were sent around the world to the colonies to govern, do business, and protect the home country's interests, they brought with them the traditional decor from home which they intermingled with local materials and styles and adapted them to suit the practical needs of climate and landscape. They produced a unique and beautiful blended colonial style. Built upon the romance of its bygone namesake era, tropical British Colonial and it's beautiful Caribbean Plantation homes recalls the exoticism of the tropics with the substance of traditional design. Let the music whisk you away to the islands! google.com Tropical British Colonial furniture takes its utilitarian influence from the tropical environments in which it was found. Using generous proportions of local wood such as Teak, Mahogany, and Mango Wood, this furniture was designed to absorb much of the humidity found in those areas. desiretoinspire.net Since the wood expands and contracts, much of the construction also used natural grasses and rattan to allow for this movement. I love the woven straw walls of this interior space. noordinaryhomes.com British Colonial floors are often covered with woven sisal or reed mats, baskets are used for storage, and caning and weaving is used in chairs and furniture like this headboard. Ralph Lauren Bamboo is also a popular material for bedding and other furniture. Ralph Lauren Walls in British Colonial interiors are usually light in color which is lovely contrast to the dark wood floors and furniture. The pale colors help make the rooms seem light and airy which is important, at least psychologically, to counteract the oppressive heat. google.com flickr.com Tall, rounded windows or garden doors - An elegant touch often found in British Colonial decor. floridadesign.com belclairehouse.blog... Shutters to keep out the hot midday sun and ceiling fans with wide, rattan fanlike blades that helped to decorate as well as cool plantation rooms are all with us today. Other elements for your tropical British Colonial interior include mosquito netting draped around beds for a fun touch and bamboo shades for covering windows http://thefoodogatemyhomework.tumblr.com/ To truly evoke a tropical paradise, dot the room with exotic plants. bayviewfurniture.co... oceaniaislandliving... Many times a room would be decorated with a trompe l'oeil effect adding depth and drama to an otherwise blank room or wall. markdsikes.com 2.bp.blogspot.com British Colonial furniture is a great complement to both traditional and transitional furniture designs and that's what keeps it relevant to this day. www.lisafarmerdesigns.com Adding elements of this style to your home not only brings an air of romance and sophistication to the overall design, but will make you feel as though you've traveled around the world collecting without ever having really left home at all. pictureofelegance.b... www.dblinteriors.com Tropical and British Colonial styles mesh together well because they both rely on themes of exotic islands and far-off travel. houzz.com photoarchive.1stdib... thedecorista.tumblr.com Ralph Lauren Be sure and include large potted plants such as ferns and palms as well as orchids in your design. jadoredecor.blogspot.com www.dblinteriors.com www.floridadesign.com Add a four poster bed to your bedroom. Decorate it with rich colors reminiscent of the tropics or Asia. Wicker and rattan furniture also fit well in a tropical or British Colonial bedroom. Add cushions or bed covers with a large tropical floral print. Use a large rattan trunk for storage at the end of the bed and look for heavy dressers and armoires with ornate Indian designs and rustic hardware. google.com www.housebeautiful.com architecturaldigest... This style is equally fabulous outside as well!! Visit my website at www.lisafarmerdesigns.com Click here to see the previous post! http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/06/decorating-with-french-trumeau-mirrors.html This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer
British Colonial Style is a classic look that is a reminder of a gentler age. The forerunner to today's Hamptons and Caribbean Plantation styles.
British colonial style decorating was created when British citizens went to live in Africa, India, Asia, and the Caribbean in the late 1800's. They adapted their refined British interior design style to the climate and available materials where they moved. Here are a few ways to add British colonial style to your home. ArchitectureThe architecture of homes in a British colonial style typically has high ceilings to let the heat rise and keep the room a bit cooler. Oversized ceiling fans were also used to keep the rooms cool. The ceilings were often made of wood and floors were made of wood or stone, since they were readily available. Walls were usually solid white in color or stained wood. Windows were used to let in light and a breeze. Opening windows on opposite sides of the home created cross ventilation to keep the home cool. Shutters on the windows helped control the light and protect the windows in extreme weather. FurnitureBritish expatriates liked formal furniture in dark mahogany wood that withstands humid climates. Upholstery was often solid white in color, but sometimes had a pattern such as a botanical or simple stripe. They also appreciated the campaign furniture style, which is furniture that is easily disassembled, packed, and moved. Campaign furniture was often made of lighter weight local materials, such as bamboo, wicker, and rattan. Steamer trunks and suitcases are sometimes used as furniture. FabricsMany fabrics in a British colonial home were solid white linen or cotton. They did use some botanical prints and animal prints in small quantities as accent fabrics, typically on throw pillows, placemats, throw blankets, and other small items to add softness and style to a room. An interior designer tip is to be very careful using tropical or exotic printed accent fabrics depicting animals, animal print, or botanicals because they can often look juvenile and cheap, like they were a mass produced trinket bought at a cheap gift shop. Rugs were often a natural colored jute, sisal, or sea grass, however sometimes locally purchased oriental rugs. In bedrooms, there was often a four poster mahogany bed surrounded by a solid white mosquito netting. ArtworkBritish families at that time were very interested in the study of botany, so botanical items are often used as artwork. They also hung ornate mirrors on the wall. British colonial homes were often dominated by windows, so minimal artwork was necessary. AccessoriesBritish expatriates were well traveled and liked to show off their quality home furnishings. They enjoyed displaying fine crystal, fine china, silver items, Asian blue and white chinoiserie porcelain, pineapple symbols, animal horn, tortoise shell, hurricane lamps, seashells, maps, and telescopes. When decorating your home, try to avoid monkey prints and palm tree prints that are not true to style. Try not to go overboard with an overuse of pineapple decor. PlantsIndoor plants are very common in British colonial style homes. There was often a potted palm tree, perhaps some potted ferns, as well as some exotic looking flowers (such as an orchid) in the living areas. Other Articles You Might Like How to Decorate in a Sophisticated Beach Style How to Decorate a Beach House for Christmas How to Keep Metal From Rusting at the Beach
Reading A Passage to India, which is set in India in the 1920s, reminded me of my love for British Colonial decor. The British colonies a...
British Colonial Style is a classic look that is a reminder of a gentler age. The forerunner to today's Hamptons and Caribbean Plantation styles.
I fell in love with this style when I vacationed in Barbados several years ago and stayed at Sam Lord's Castle, the former home of actual pirate Sam Lord, who lured ships aground by hanging lanterns in the coconut trees. Captains mistook the lights for the nearby port city of Bridgetown and ran their ships into the reefs. Sam and his men then promptly looted them. This beautiful plantation was decorated in authentic West Indies British Colonial style and couldn't help capturing my heart. Unfortunately this beautiful historical landmark burned to the ground in recent years, a sad loss for the people of Barbados. As the British colonized the world, from America to India and the West Indies, they left a distinct style behind. This worldly and timeless design was influenced by the climate and cultures of the places the British inhabited. And British Colonial style was created. At its largest, the British Empire covered approximately one-quarter of the world. It truly was the empire on which the sun never set. As British subjects were sent around the world to the colonies to govern, do business, and protect the home country's interests, they brought with them the traditional decor from home which they intermingled with local materials and styles and adapted them to suit the practical needs of climate and landscape. They produced a unique and beautiful blended colonial style. Built upon the romance of its bygone namesake era, tropical British Colonial and it's beautiful Caribbean Plantation homes recalls the exoticism of the tropics with the substance of traditional design. Let the music whisk you away to the islands! google.com Tropical British Colonial furniture takes its utilitarian influence from the tropical environments in which it was found. Using generous proportions of local wood such as Teak, Mahogany, and Mango Wood, this furniture was designed to absorb much of the humidity found in those areas. desiretoinspire.net Since the wood expands and contracts, much of the construction also used natural grasses and rattan to allow for this movement. I love the woven straw walls of this interior space. noordinaryhomes.com British Colonial floors are often covered with woven sisal or reed mats, baskets are used for storage, and caning and weaving is used in chairs and furniture like this headboard. Ralph Lauren Bamboo is also a popular material for bedding and other furniture. Ralph Lauren Walls in British Colonial interiors are usually light in color which is lovely contrast to the dark wood floors and furniture. The pale colors help make the rooms seem light and airy which is important, at least psychologically, to counteract the oppressive heat. google.com flickr.com Tall, rounded windows or garden doors - An elegant touch often found in British Colonial decor. floridadesign.com belclairehouse.blog... Shutters to keep out the hot midday sun and ceiling fans with wide, rattan fanlike blades that helped to decorate as well as cool plantation rooms are all with us today. Other elements for your tropical British Colonial interior include mosquito netting draped around beds for a fun touch and bamboo shades for covering windows http://thefoodogatemyhomework.tumblr.com/ To truly evoke a tropical paradise, dot the room with exotic plants. bayviewfurniture.co... oceaniaislandliving... Many times a room would be decorated with a trompe l'oeil effect adding depth and drama to an otherwise blank room or wall. markdsikes.com 2.bp.blogspot.com British Colonial furniture is a great complement to both traditional and transitional furniture designs and that's what keeps it relevant to this day. www.lisafarmerdesigns.com Adding elements of this style to your home not only brings an air of romance and sophistication to the overall design, but will make you feel as though you've traveled around the world collecting without ever having really left home at all. pictureofelegance.b... www.dblinteriors.com Tropical and British Colonial styles mesh together well because they both rely on themes of exotic islands and far-off travel. houzz.com photoarchive.1stdib... thedecorista.tumblr.com Ralph Lauren Be sure and include large potted plants such as ferns and palms as well as orchids in your design. jadoredecor.blogspot.com www.dblinteriors.com www.floridadesign.com Add a four poster bed to your bedroom. Decorate it with rich colors reminiscent of the tropics or Asia. Wicker and rattan furniture also fit well in a tropical or British Colonial bedroom. Add cushions or bed covers with a large tropical floral print. Use a large rattan trunk for storage at the end of the bed and look for heavy dressers and armoires with ornate Indian designs and rustic hardware. google.com www.housebeautiful.com architecturaldigest... This style is equally fabulous outside as well!! Visit my website at www.lisafarmerdesigns.com Click here to see the previous post! http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/06/decorating-with-french-trumeau-mirrors.html This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer
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