Laura Ashley – A Timeless Elegance

Laura Ashley has been around for over 70 years, and it’s easy to see why we’ve fallen head over heels for the iconic home and lifestyle brand’s distinctive and inspirational approach to design. If you are looking to redecorate, here’s everything you need to know about Laura Ashley, as well as the best ways to add some of the brand's signature style to your home.

Laura Ashley’s Design Philosophy 

If there’s ever a design philosophy to live by, Laura Ashley’s is it. According to the iconic British designer: "Decorating isn't about colours, carpets and textiles. It's about expressing your personality." The brand has since become synonymous with beauty, quality and originality, and there's no better way to breathe new life into your home than with its rich design heritage. Bringing to mind the alluring beauty of the British countryside and a peaceful mood, Laura Ashley's distinctive style stands the test of time.

Laura Ashley’s Influence on the Industry

Laura Ashley's brand history dates back to 1953, when Laura and Bernard Ashley were inspired by a Women's Institute exhibition at the V&A museum to create hand-printed fabrics. She had never seen anything like it in stores, so she tried making similar styles. The designer started with printed scarves in 1953, after spotting a new trend for headscarves worn by Audrey Hepburn’s character in ‘Roman Holiday’. The couple soon expanded to make tea towels, napkins and placemats when orders from high street shops came flooding in. Laura and Bernard Ashley officially created Ashley Mountney Limited in 1954, before eventually changing the company’s name to Laura Ashley.

Fast forward to the 1970’s and 80’s, and Laura Ashley had become a booming fashion house with a global reach. It became known for its flowing, flowery dresses, sailor-collared shifts and fitted velvet evening wear and had more than 220 stores worldwide. By the early 1990s, it's homeware – bedspreads, wallpaper and sheets – were just as sought-after.

Even decades after the business was founded, it still has the same romantic and enduring appeal that made it so popular. It continues to inspire and influence a variety of leading brands and designers.

Laura Ashley in the Home

We've put together all the best ways to introduce the Laura Ashley design philosophy into your home. From freshening up your hallway to giving your living room an update, the simple addition of Laura Ashley's covetable style can easily transform an interior. You can expect to see a broad array of patterns – striking florals, two-tone stripes and intricate bird prints, to name just a few – that prove there's more than one way to refresh your room with the brand's aesthetic. Whether it's Laura Ashley wallpaper, a wall mural or paint, the brand’s signature aesthetic is a design investment worth making.

Wall Murals

A Laura Ashley wall mural is ideal for instantly upgrading a windowless wall. Perfect for bringing style to every square inch of your space, a stunning wall mural will give your room the attention it deserves. Whether you prefer designs such as the Eglantine bespoke wall mural, which combines a beautiful sweetbrier trail design with soft pastel tones, or styles featuring large rose blooms, a mural is sure to impress. Each one is custom made to your dimensions to fit your wall perfectly. Every Laura Ashley wall mural has a paste the wall application with easy-to-hang strips, so creating a statement feature wall has never been easier. It is guaranteed to become a focal point.

Wallpaper

If you want to take your home décor to a new level, adding some Laura Ashley wallpaper to your interior is an easy way to achieve it. Designed for everything from the dining room to the guest bedroom, it doesn't get any better than this undeniably elegant collection of patterned wallpapers. There's beautiful contemporary designs featuring metallic stripes and colourful birds, or iconic archive pieces such as Josette and Belvedere to choose from. Whether you are covering all four walls in the same print, or opting for a single accent, Laura Ashley wallpaper is fast, easy and clean to hang thanks to its paste the wall application. If you are struggling to decide between the many stunning options, we offer Laura Ashley samples to help you decide, too. Get ready to work the brand's much-loved aesthetic into your home and give any space an attractive new look with this gorgeous selection of wall coverings.

Paint

To make a big change fast, then look no further than the wide range of Laura Ashley paint. If you are searching for timeless neutrals to create a minimalist, elegant look or even to conjure up calm, you’ll find a variety of palettes such as grey, beige and pale and subtle off-white hues. Our favourites include Soft Truffle, Sugared Grey, Cotton White and Pale Sable. Prefer Laura Ashley’s richer hues? Perfect if you prefer a slightly more eye-catching backdrop, there are paint colours in soft, muted shades, too. From baby blue and pastel green, to blush pink and everything in between, Laura Ashley paint colours are the ideal way to introduce a touch of rural-inspired style to your home. Add shades such as Pale Cranberry, Dark Duck Egg, Fern and Chalk Blue to your wish list.

No matter the paint shade, each one is made using the richest pigments for depth of colour and even results. As well as soft matt emulsion, you can redecorate your kitchen and bathroom with the brand's tough, washable eggshell and water-resistant paint. Another bonus is that you can even mix and match our Laura Ashley paint collection with the range of Laura Ashley wallpaper. We love pairing the Elderwood wallpaper with the brand’s Sage Leaf, Eau de Nil or Cotton paint shades, it will add a touch of British charm to any room.