English country may sometimes get confused with French Country and Shabby Chic. French Country and Shabby Chic have a feminine influence; whereas, English Country is more masculine. All styles boast tasteful elegance but English Country tends to emphasize more coziness and connection with nature. Think of Sherlock Homes with heavy leather furniture and a stuffed quail in the corner.

Color - English Country depicts the formal side of the English countryside. There are several ways to soften the masculine feel with out loosing the English Country charm. When choosing the colors for the walls of this design you will want a neutral color palette. Use inspirations from nature. Any shade of brown, cream, or green would go beautifully on the walls.

Furniture - This style should showcase distressed woods and leather. Furniture in English Country style generally has straight lines, compared to the curvy lines found in French Country. Arrange your furniture into clusters to encourage your family to sit and gather. Queen Ann and Victorian style furniture is generally seen in this style to give the space a grand yet comfortable feel.

Flooring - Hardwoods are ideal here, especially as they become distressed from traffic. You may soften the coldness of hardwoods by using floral printed area rugs. Evergreen and forest green always work well with this style.

Accessories - Accents can be lace or anything that has embellishments of ruffles or a ribbon trim. Using lace and ruffles will help soften the seriousness that this style depicts. Place an old tea set on a table for decoration. Large family photos or oil paintings hung on the wall will compliment his style of design. Stacking books in irregular piles or using them to add height to an object will give the English Country feel as well. Place a crystal vase with fresh flowers in a random place and you will put the cherry on top of your design.

Many people will say that this style is too serious, but there are many ways to soften the look. Whether it is with lace and ruffles or flowers and tea sets decorating your home in an English County decor will bring an elegant sense of style.