Heritage room schemes - 10 decorating ideas

For a style that brings together traditional and eclectic pieces, consider going for the new Victorian look in your home.

For a style that brings together traditional and eclectic pieces, consider going for the new Victorian look in your home. Traditional furniture is key to this trend - it's perfect if you have inherited pieces in dark wood or own salvaged junk-shop finds. Mix a rich colour palette with eclectic accessories and bold patterns. Choose a traditional flock wallpaper as the starting point for this scheme. Opt for a luxurious paper in a wine or plum colourway that will create a striking backdrop to your furniture and accessories.

1/10 Wallpaper

living room with damask wallpaper and sofa with cushions

(Image credit: future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)

Sophie Conran at Arthouse
Sofa
Laura Ashley

2/10 Traditional bedroom with brass bed and green wall

bedroom with grey wall and frame on wall with table lamp

(Image credit: future PLC/Matthew Williams)

A heritage-inspired scheme is not only reserved for traditional schemes. Here a dusky-green wall, a brass bedstead and tartan accents give this room a contemporary townhouse feel. With the scene watched over by a painting of the Duke of Wellington, there's certainly a more masculine air to this bedroom.

Bed
Ikea
Table lamp
Besselink & Jones
Cushion
Spruce London

3/10 Highland home office with country-inspired accents

home office with wooden desk and armchair

(Image credit: future PLC/Lucinda Symons)

Create a cosy Highland hideaway with colours inspired by the Scottish landscape. Pale natural woods and simple plaid fabrics gives a modern twist to a classic country style. Tartan panels make a great alternative window treatment and a trestle craft table completes the rustic look.

Plaid window panels
Designers Guild
Similar trestle table

Ikea
Chair

The Dining Chair Company
Chair cover

GP & J Baker

4/10 Wood-clad living room with tartan armchair

living room with wood burning stove and armchair with cushion

(Image credit: future PLC/Jon Day)

Here, a check wool upholstered armchair is teamed with cosy cushions for a relaxed aesthetic. Create juxtaposition by pairing it with rustic, wood-clad walls, logs, a glass pendant and traditional wood burning stove. After all, an upholstered chair beside the fire is the perfect place to read at night in this cosy country living room.

Armchair
David Seyfried
Chair fabric
Linwood
Cushion
Casamance
Throw
Bedeck

5/10 Traditional living room with stag print

living room with stag artwork on wall and footstool with flower jug

(Image credit: future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)

Plain wool and tartan upholstered furniture make this living room formal but cosy, while a game-print wallpaper gives it a uniquely British-eccentric look. Include a host of salvaged finds, such as this bookcase and console table to complete the olde-worlde look.

Wallpaper
St Jude's
Sofa and footstool
Sofa.com
Framed print
EasyArt
Cabinet
WorldStores

6/10 Equestrian themed hallway

hallway with horse print wallpaper and hanging coat

(Image credit: future PLC/Trevor Richards)

Light and airy, with the addition of personality and character, this new take on a heritage country style is about beauty rather than the formality. Horses adorn the wallpaper and fabrics while leather, chrome and tweed complement the look. 

Cushion 
Occa-Home 
Trunk 
Totally Trunk 
Wallpaper
Collete at Sandberg

7/10 Traditional living room wood burning stove

living room with fireplace and armchair with large mirror

(Image credit: future PLC/Colin Poole)

Classical busts and ornate architectural features have been teamed with an open fireplace and deep, comfortable armchairs upholstered in relaxed check fabric to create welcoming feel in this traditional living room. Positioning the seating around the fireplace lends a cosy feel to the room, while a large mirror, positioned above the mantlepiece, enhances the sense of space.

Similar wood burning stove

Stovax

8/10 Country dining room with wooden chairs

dining area with dining table and wooden chairs with hanging lamp

(Image credit: future PLC/Lucinda Symons)

There's something about brickwork and wooden beams - it automatically embues a space with a sense of history or gravity. The preservation of the original architectural features are key to this classic scheme. Introduce bursts of bright colour for a modern update that is bang-on-trend. 

Similar pendant

BHS

9/10 Yellow traditional living room with tartan upholstery

living room with fireplace and armchair with stool

(Image credit: future PLC/Simon Whitmore)

One of the biggest trends for this season is refined rustic Highland - think tartans and checks, but instead of traditional reds and greens, use a more subtle neutral palette. In a living room start with a hero chair in a classic tartan fabric and add curtains, cushions and a footstool in a variety of other checks to keep co-ordinated, but not overly matchy. 

Similar chair
Voyage Maison

10/10 Classic country bedroom with gilt frames

bedroom with cosy blanket on wall and pillows with frame on wall

(Image credit: future PLC/Lucinda Symons)

Decorating your country manor or period property needn't be a conundrum. Get the heritage look for less by heading down to your local antiques market. They will usually have an array of vintage-inspired gilt frames and portraits to boot. To effortlessly create a period feeling, mix traditional pieces with rich tones and ensure cosy throws in plaid are on hand. 

Similar gilt frames

Etsy

Thea Babington-Stitt
Assistant Editor

Thea Babington-Stitt is the Assistant Editor for Ideal Home. Thea has been working across some of the UK’s leading interiors titles for nearly 10 years. 

She started working on these magazines and websites after graduating from City University London with a Masters in Magazine Journalism. Before moving to Ideal Home, Thea was News and Features Editor at Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc and Country Homes & Interiors.