Inside soap homes: interior trends from Eastenders and Coronation Street

last updated 22 March 2022

With much of the nation delving into the homes of their favourite Walford and Weatherfield residents on a nightly basis, many of us know the interiors of soap's favourite houses better than our own neighbours' homes!

Often seen keeping up with the current home trends, we can learn a lot about interior decorating from our favourite soap stars. Whether it's Carla Connor's bijou chic interior style, or Linda Carter's penchant for parrot-print walls, see which of these famous families' style you most mimic.

The Lived-in Family Lounge

Coronation Street's Gail McIntyre is obviously very attached to her well-worn Chesterfield-style sofa in her living room. Do you like the plum-toned, floral-embossed upholstery? It might have seen better days but poor ol' Gail's tried to give the sofa new life by draping a bold red leopard-print throw over the back and adding a satin-backed velvet cushion in a complementing burgundy hue. Are you in favour of sprucing up old favourites with a few new accessories?

living room with red leopard print on sofa with velvet cushions

The BOLD feature wall
The Queen Vic's Carters certainly don't shy away from a bright print or two. In one room they've teamed a parrot-print feature wall with a taupe-toned sofa and brightened it all up (as if it needed it) with Union Jack cushions. Are they only accidentally channelling a key interior trend? The tropical theme is really having a moment, from eighties-style tropics, through to right-now pineapple prints. What do you think of the Carters' bold bird-print wallpaper? Have you stolen their style in your home?

room with carters and parrot-print future wall

The Abstract Print

Coronation Street's Carla Connor's glam, no-nonsense business style is mirrored in her choice of decor. Her bijou living room, teaming mocha walls with bold panels of abstract tree prints in black, cream and red, certainly makes an impact The décor is married with a cream velvet sofa, complemented by taupe silk cushions decorated with red appliqué flowers. Sound familiar?

living room with mocha walls and cream velvet sofa

The Gallery Wall
What do you think of Sharon and Phil Mitchell's living room in EastEnders? The lime-green velvet sofa is teamed with mismatched floral and striped pink and green cushions. A bold sunlit panoramic forest canvas print is positioned next to a family picture display. Do the two very different styles work alongside each other? A gallery wall has fast become a 21st century permatrend as a stylish way to display family photos. So maybe you're not-so-different to the Michells after all?

living room with lime-green velvet sofa and striped pink and green cushions

The Pop of Colour
If you're as concerned about the outisde of your home as the inside, you might just be taking inspiration from Corrie's Katy Armstrong. Her bold emerald-green front door really knows how to make an impact injecting a bright pop of colour on the often dreary cobbled street. Too much or a great way to make a statement?

house outside with green front door and dreary cobbled street

The Vintage Queen
If you're looking for some relaxed vintage style, need we look any further than the much-loved Dot Branning in EastEnders. The Albert Square veteran's home has come back into vogue. Take this traditional high-backed chair: the scroll arms upholstered in
moss-green velvet is classic Dot and we bet she'd make a killing flogging it on eBay! Whether accidentally on-trend or not, we love Dot's retro style and reckon we'd see it mimicked in many a trendy East-London warehouse.

room with traditional high-blacked chair and arm upholstered

Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.