Five interiors tips we took from The Pursuit of Love – this year's most stylish new show
We're utterly hooked on the interiors of this decadent delight – that is as ornate as it is outrageously fun
BBC's The Pursuit of Love is a glorious feast for the eyes. If you're not watching for the extravagant costumes and majestic locations, then it's for the increasingly wild storyline – adapted from the Nancy Mitford classic – first published in 1945.
However, this is not only a series for fashion and literature enthusiasts. Instead, this set is also an interior lovers utopia, complete with opulent parquet flooring, indulgent floral arrangements, and rainbow-infused art pieces.
Set in the interwar period, The Pursuit of Love combines quintessential English country charm with chic elements of Parisian design that celebrates the Roaring Twenties aesthetic. If, like us, you're rushing to mirror this stylish ambiance in your modern home, then take inspiration from the five key interior lessons we have learned from the series so far.
1. When in doubt, invest in a daring art piece
The allure of a statement art piece is unwavering. While we may associate The Pursuit of Love's stately interiors exclusively with traditional portraits and quaint landscape watercolors, the show exhibits a cocktail of classic artworks with daring compositions whose multi-colored hues act as the focal point of the room. This is the only sign we need to invest in a kaleidoscopic statement piece.
2. Indulge in maximalism with bold patterned wallpaper
Scandi-cool camp – look away now. The Pursuit of Love is the new face of maximalism, and we've never felt so tempted to drench our walls in dusky shades and opulent patterns. Paired with parquet flooring and a luxe freestanding tub, the series showcases patterned wallpaper in all its glory – we never want to bathe in a room without wallpaper again.
3. Accentuate your home's original features
Filmed in Rousham House in Oxfordshire and Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire, among other magnificent locations, The Pursuit of Love overflows with elegant period features that act as an opulent backdrop against the show's stylish furnishings. While we don't all have the grandeur of this set, we're still looking to bring our home's original features into the forefront of our interiors – whether that is through a restored period fireplace, unique high ceiling, or an ornamental doorway.
Screenwriter and director of The Pursuit Of Love, Emily Mortimer, emphasizes how these historical features have an undisputed allure in the modern era, sharing how she used Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, as one of her references.
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'It's such a visual treat. It feels fresh; you don't feel like you have watched a period drama,' Emily shares.
4. Rewrite all conceptions about patterned curtains
We may have wanted to leave patterned curtains in the '60s, but then we saw The Pursuit Of Love. Just as we fell for its ornate wallpaper, we're equally as inspired by the designer's use of bold printed curtains, which dresses the window almost as exclusively as the characters. It's a daring move, but if Lily James approves, then who can surely disagree?
5. When it comes to flowers – more is more
As the biggest advocate of maximalism since Abigail Ahern, The Pursuit Of Love is a utopia of indulgent prints, statement colors, and extravagant home decor. So, it is only fitting that the floral arrangements are just as lavish.
Our house plant collection may have already tripled in size over the past year, but this is our cue to invest in more flowers, both in our interiors and exteriors, because there is simply no such thing as too many flowers.
What else can we say, except we're already counting the hours until the next episode – which airs on Sunday, May 16th at 9:00 PM BST. The entire series is now available on BBC iplayer.
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team.
Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site.
Megan currently lives in London, where she relocated from her hometown in Yorkshire. In her home, she experiments with interior design trends and draws inspiration from the home decor ideas she observes in her everyday work life. Her favorite pieces include her antique typewriter and her expansive collection of houseplants. When she isn’t writing, she is browsing London’s coffee shops and bookstores to add to her ever-growing library, taking over the open shelving in her apartment.
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