Say “cheerio” to your new favorite decorating style. British design is making its way across the pond, bringing classic elegance and refined comforts to this side of the Atlantic. The aesthetic leans traditional, but modern materials and updated silhouettes make English-inspired interiors feel fresh, not stuffy. Rita Konig, an English interior designer and tastemaker who has clients in America, shares ways to make a room feel English.

• Focus on Comfort: “The first thing I think of when it comes to English interiors is comfort—dogs and children and a soft, squishy sofa,” Konig says.

• Try Brown in Your Color Scheme: Brown furniture, such as a chest of drawers, anchors a room. “You can find something beautifully made and lovely at a thrift shop that will always work somewhere.”

• Look to Grandma’s Collection: “Accumulation is in the British DNA,” Konig says. “We’re not into buying a look or chucking things out.