Everything I Need to Know About Decorating I Learned from Downton Abbey

All eyes will be on PBS January 5 when the network launches the fourth season of Downton Abbey. I’ll be watching, too. Not just to see what impish shenanigans the hapless Lady Edith and perpetually constipated O’Brien try to pull, but for the valuable decorating lessons.

Make no mistake: The Crawleys live slightly better than the rest of us, although they still cling to their one telephone and for some reason refuse to get that driveway paved. But all things considered, that little pile of Yorkshire pudding they call home is pretty nifty, and chock-full of decorating ideas that we can all apply to our own homes. To wit:


1. A good host is always prepared for unexpected dinner guests. Be sure to keep 70 or 80 spare chairs tucked in a closet, in case friends drop in — or you’re forced to turn your house into a convalescent home on short notice.


2. When entering a room, always leave the door ajar, so that others can listen in on your conversation.


3. An entry hall is more than just a place to hang your topcoat, so plan accordingly. It should be large enough to accommodate a tree at Christmas (redwoods are nice). And make sure there’s enough room for an illicit dance late at night. Be sure the adjoining doors are open, so your actions can be observed. (See lesson 2.)


4. Claw-foot tubs are slippery. Place a bath mat on the bottom before you bathe. And consider buying a decorative holder for milady’s soap, so it doesn’t slip into the bathwater and cause a nasty accident.


5. Linens are an indispensable part of bedroom decor, with a wide variety of colors and patterns available. However, when transporting a corpse through the hallway, it’s always best to wrap it in sheets of a darker hue, as they tend to attract less notice from passing scullery maids.


6. A library makes a lovely addition to any home. Be sure to fill the shelves with books, lest your guests think you never read. Seven or eight thousand volumes should do the trick.

And no, old copies of National Geographic do not count.



7. Nothing makes a room feel cozier than a few well-placed tchotchkes.


8. Be sure to keep the name of a local doctor taped to the refrigerator door, in case someone in the household suffers a late-night bout of Spanish flu.


9. A house feels blah without a little decoration around the entry. Think how much more welcoming this would look with a pot of geraniums on the stoop or a little jockey statue to greet the guests.


10. Don’t concern yourself with what others might say about your home. At the end of the day, it’s how you feel that matters most. After all, no matter how much love and attention you lavish on your home, there’s always going to be a critic.

More: Guest Picks: Inspired by Downton Abbey

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