Forget pristine country-house perfection. The interiors we’re coveting this season are darker, richer and just a little bit treacherous – think battered leather, the occasional curiosity and rooms that look as though they have a few secrets of their own.
Who knew that watching a group of people lie to each other in a Scottish castle could provide quite so much interiors inspiration? Between the roaring fires, the magnificent furniture and deeply suspicious conversations conducted in fabulous armchairs, The Traitors has made a convincing case for a return to grand country-house style. Much as Bridgerton had us eyeing up pastels and gilded mirrors, we’re now developing a taste for dark wood, heavy curtains and eccentric antiques. And perhaps a suit of armour in the hallway.
But the appeal goes beyond simply recreating a Highland castle at home. The most interesting part of the look is its sense of history. These are rooms that appear to have evolved rather than been decorated, filled with things collected, inherited, found and kept. Rugs overlap rather than sitting obediently in the middle of a floor. Leather gets better as it becomes battered. Wood is allowed to be dark. Brass is allowed to tarnish. And not everything has to match – in fact, it’s considerably better when it doesn’t.
A convincing collected interior shouldn’t look as though everything came from the same range, shop or decade. Mix old with new, expensive with inexpensive and handsome pieces with things that are sentimental. Add books, statement mirrors, candlesticks, ceramics and objects picked up on travels or found in flea markets. You’re aiming for a room that prompts someone to ask, “Where did you find that?” rather than “Which collection is that from?” And if you can create the impression that Great-Aunt Agatha left you half of it along with a mysterious family scandal, so much the better.
It also taps neatly into our growing appetite for interiors with more personality. After years of pale woods, bouclé chairs and rooms so neutral you could lose a bowl of porridge in them, we’re embracing colour, pattern and a little eccentricity again. The new country-house look isn’t grand or stuffy, though. It’s warmer, looser and much easier to steal – no Scottish castle or breakfast-room turret required.
Get The Traitors Look
Into the Woods: Bring a little Highland mystery into your home with Boråstapeter’s In the Oak wallpaper. Against a rich midnight-blue background, intricate oak leaves, acorns, birds and insects create an enchanting woodland scene that wouldn’t look out of place in The Traitors castle. The dark green detailing and soft, textile-like finish give it a wonderfully atmospheric quality, perfect for a dramatic dining room, cosy snug or even a downstairs loo. Pair with antique furniture, dark wood and brass accents for a look that’s suitably grand without feeling too theatrical.
Take the Hot Seat: Every Traitor needs somewhere suitably impressive to sit while plotting their next move, and the Wellington Chesterfield armchair from Artico Interiors looks as though it belongs beside a roaring fire in a Scottish castle. Upholstered in antique-brown leather, it has the reassuringly lived-in character of a piece that’s been handed down through generations. Pair it with a Persian rug, dark wood furniture and a reading lamp for a wonderfully atmospheric corner. Perfect for enjoying a whisky, reading a murder mystery or deciding which of your fellow houseguests you can trust.
Fringe Benefits: A little glamour never goes amiss, even in a castle full of suspicion and skulduggery. DUSK’s Esra ceiling light combines delicate pink ribbed glass with a decorative fringe for a wonderfully theatrical take on vintage lighting. It’s a lovely way to introduce a softer, more romantic element to the dark, dramatic interiors. Hang it in a bedroom or over a cosy seating area, where it would look particularly striking against deep burgundy, forest green or richly patterned wallpaper. Proof that making a statement doesn’t always require a grand chandelier.
A Side of Intrigue: Dark wood furniture is a country-house staple, and Dunelm’s Khari sideboard brings plenty of character. Made from mango wood, its warm, rich colouring and textured slatted doors give it a handsome, slightly retro feel that works surprisingly well with gothic grandeur. At just under 80cm wide, it’s perfect for a smaller dining room, hallway or living room. Top it with antique candlesticks and a collection of curious objects for a look that’s suitably dramatic. And with two cupboards tucked behind those decorative doors, there’s plenty of room to conceal a secret or two.
A Cabinet of Curiosities: With its rich green colouring and wonderfully decorative design, Joe Browns’ Green Fountain Cabinet looks like the sort of piece you might discover tucked away in a grand country house. There’s a lovely sense of old-world romance about it, making it ideal for anyone wanting to embrace the aesthetic without turning their living room into a medieval banqueting hall. Give it pride of place against a dark painted wall, topped with antique candlesticks, vintage books and an ornate lamp. It’s the sort of furniture that invites a closer look, and might just be hiding a secret or two.
Birds of a Feather: You’ll probably have noticed the peacocks wandering around the castle grounds, their distinctive calls providing a rather dramatic soundtrack to proceedings. This embroidered peacock feather cushion from Dunelm feels particularly appropriate with with its feather motif and decorative stitching. It brings a touch of old-fashioned opulence to a sofa or armchair, paired with rich velvets, dark wood and antique furniture for a look that’s suitably grand without going overboard.
A Beautiful Oddity: Every room needs something that doesn’t quite behave, and this wonderfully macabre hanging brooch from The Blackened Teeth is just the thing. Inspired by Victorian mourning jewellery, it brings a gothic twist to the country-house look, where eccentric curiosities and slightly peculiar heirlooms have always been part of the charm. Hang it amongst a collection of antique portraits, ornate mirrors and vintage treasures for an unexpected talking point. The trick with pieces like this is to embrace their strangeness rather than try to explain it.
Proud as a Peacock: Subtlety has never been the peacock’s strong point, which makes this antique-style gold ornament from Rockett St George a perfect fit for a Traitors-inspired interior. With its elaborate detailing and opulent metallic finish, it brings a wonderfully eccentric touch to a room. Give it pride of place on a mantelpiece, console table or amongst a collection of vintage curiosities, where it will look particularly striking against dark walls and richly patterned wallpaper.
Intrigue Underfoot: William Morris’s designs have been gracing British homes for more than a century, and this Blackthorn rug from Ruggable would look perfectly at home in The Traitors castle. Originally designed in 1892, the intricate pattern of twisting branches, delicate flowers and foliage is wonderfully atmospheric in its rich forest-green colourway. It’s a natural partner for dark wooden furniture, leather armchairs and antique finds, bringing all the character of a traditional country-house interior without feeling old-fashioned. Better still, it’s machine washable, so even the most suspicious of spills needn’t cause a drama.
Around the Table: You might struggle to squeeze the famous Round Table into your living room, but this Art Deco-inspired side table from Rockett St George offers a rather more practical alternative. With its striking black and gold finish and circular design, it captures some of the drama of those infamous banishment ceremonies. Place it beside a velvet armchair or Chesterfield sofa, topped with a vintage lamp and a glass of something suitably fortifying.
A Touch of the Wild: To get this look right you need to add a few eccentricities to your décor scheme, and this leopard table lamp from Next certainly fits the bill. With its elaborate fringed shade, it looks like something that might have been acquired on an adventurous expedition and inherited by several generations of aristocrats. It’s gloriously over the top, which is precisely why it works.
If all that castle-inspired drama has you reaching for the darker shades on the paint chart, burgundy is this season’s colour worth considering. Rich, sophisticated and surprisingly versatile, discover how to make autumn’s most indulgent shade work for you.
