4 min readOver the past few years, Americans have become notably charmed by Irish culture—even the L.A. Times coined it a “Green Wave.” From splitting the “G” when drinking a pint of Guinness and bragging about it on social media to spotlighting Irish celebrities like author Sally Rooney, musician Hozier, and actress Saoirse Ronan, we as a society—myself very much included—have become a bit obsessed with the Emerald Isle, and I think it’s high time we let this Green Wave roll into the interior design scene.
If you’ve ever had the privilege to visit a home in the Emerald Isle, you’ll know that Irish spaces are warm, welcoming, and lived-in, with many of the design elements specifically used to prioritize comfort and community, something American homeowners have begun adopting. “Irish homes have traditionally needed to be comfortable, functional, and adaptable to a climate that can be cold, damp, and unpredictable,” Galway-based designer Niamh McKenna tells House Beautiful. “Traditionally, our homes are also much smaller, so beautiful rooms must also work for everyday life.”
However, it’s not just the environment which influences their interiors. Keep reading to find out the quintessentially Irish design details that local designers love to celebrate and believe American homes should borrow.
Georgian Details
During the Georgian era, which spanned from the early 1700s to the early 1800s, Ireland experienced a population boom. During this time, Dublin also underwent a sizable redevelopment when it comes to architecture and urban infrastructure, according to History Ireland. It’s these elegant details that designer Julianne Kelly loves so much and thinks others should adopt.
“There is so much history in these houses and the proportions are beautiful: high ceilings, ornate cornicing, original sash windows, fireplaces, and rich paneled doors,” Kelly says. “These details give a room a sense of history and permanence.”
The Merrion Square area in Dublin, she adds, is a great place to walk around to view some of these rich elements in person, specifically the iconic painted Georgian doors.
Bringing the Outside In
Once you leave the streets of Georgian Dublin, you’ll find the sprawling countryside with “a beautiful, varied landscape that is impossible to ignore when designing the interiors for a house,” Kelly explains. She uses many natural elements found just outside the window in her designs, like greenery, stone, timber, and natural fibers like wool and linen that feel authentic to the country and only improve with age. Colors inspired by the scenes outside help the interior feel connected to the earth as well.
The textiles specifically add much-needed warmth and coziness to a room. “I love these as they add personality, a sense of calm, and an old worldliness that doesn’t look over manufactured or brand-spanking new!”
Centering the Fireplace
“The fireplace has traditionally been at the heart of the Irish home, and I think that idea is still incredibly relevant,” Kelly says. Ornate or simple, stone or tiled, wood-burning or gas—the details of the fireplace don’t really matter, as long as it serves as a natural focal point and the furniture is arranged around it.
McKenna adds that centering the hearth rather than the TV promotes conversation and connection. “It’s a reminder that a room can be designed around how people gather and interact,” she explains. The energy and warmth of a fireplace, even as modern homes move away from open fires, brings comfort and beauty to any room, and that’s something worth preserving.
Mixing Old and New
Step into an Irish person’s home, and you’ll likely find a lot of old mixed in with the new. “Irish people love to hold onto their items,” Kelly says. “I’m not sure if it’s due to our famine history, but on most projects I work on, people have sentimental items that I have to work with.”
The designer will always try to work with these existing pieces to come up with some sort of eclectic mix of modern and vintage. She loves how unique and personal these homes turn out to be; they tell a great story. “And the Irish love a good story,” she adds.
Making Practical Spaces Beautiful
In Ireland’s rainy climate, a home’s interiors—especially practical, hardworking spaces—need to feel both beautiful and comfortable.
“Bathrooms and kitchens are among the hardest-working parts of our homes, and we see it important to give the most functional part of our homes the same thought and attention as our living spaces,” McKenna explains. “We love to connect the indoors to the outdoors in these spaces, by using natural materials, earthy colors, and organic textures to create an interior that is as beautiful to experience as it is practical to use.”
Environmental Architecture
Much of the residential architecture in Ireland is designed to work with the chilly, wet climate. “Traditional Irish architecture features deep window reveals, thick walls, and smaller windows than what might be seen elsewhere,” McKenna explains.
These choices could easily make a home feel dark and cold, but the designer says that when oriented correctly to the outside light, these elements only add to a cozy, warm environment in the winter and a cool place for relief in the summer. “I love that these characteristics also create a depth, shadow, and texture that are difficult to replicate with decorative finishes alone,” she adds.
Layering Cozy Textiles
Similarly to the architecture, the interiors are decorated to account for the damp climate, as well. “We make comfort a priority rather than a finishing touch, by layering furnishings such as window treatments, tactile rugs and cushions, and blankets,” McKenna says. Even if someone were to decorate their home rather minimally, the layers of tactile fabrics found in Irish homes still ensure the space feels inviting and lived-in.
