Castlecore: ruling interior trends
Ruling the realm of interiors with quiet grandeur, Castlecore is a design trend emerging from a longing for romance, history, and classic elegance. Inspired by English castles, European palaces and regal gardens of the East, this is a trend where historical gravitas meets contemporary refinement. Castlecore channels a quiet luxury, a return to permanence, patina, and a sense of place.
Above: Palace Tapestry by GP&J Baker
Palace Tapestry is inspired by the grand tapestries found in Hampton Court Palace’s Great Hall and Great Watching Chamber, alongside the lush royal gardens, making it an ideal choice for Castlecore-influenced styling. This design beautifully captures the essence of historic British stately homes through its stylised and charming interpretations of native flora and fauna. Featuring iconic elements such as the River Thames and the distinctive green and white striped poles that support the Royal Tudor Beasts, the wallpaper brings a sense of heritage and grandeur to modern interiors. Palace Tapestry evokes the romantic, history-infused atmosphere that Castlecore embraces, celebrating nature, craft, and the stately elegance of castle living.
Above: Hydrangea & Rose fabric from Highgrove by Sanderson Fabrics
Evoking the romantic splendour of English country gardens, Hydrangea & Rose is a chintz cotton fabric that captures floral abundance at its most opulent. The pattern celebrates the billowing beauty of full summer blooms, lush hydrangeas and classic English roses, rendered with painterly detail and soft, layered colour. Inspired by the flourishing gardens of Highgrove House, the private Gloucestershire residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the design reflects the transformation of the once-overgrown grounds into a sanctuary of rare and heirloom botanicals.
Above: Statues Antique by Mind the Gap
Rooted in the Castlecore aesthetic, this mural channels the opulence of Roman palaces, an aesthetic once revived in Britain’s own neoclassical stately homes. Just as medieval and Renaissance castles embraced art as a symbol of power and intellect, this wallpaper invites a similar sense of grandeur and reverence for antiquity. It has the atmosphere of a private gallery tucked within castle walls, blending scholarly romanticism with architectural splendour, perfect for styling interiors that inspire the imagination.
Above: Citrus Vine from Royal Horticultural Society
Inspired by the Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Collections, an extraordinary archive of botanical art, prints, and illustrations dating back centuries, Citrus Vine pays homage to Britain’s longstanding love affair with horticulture and the decorative arts. This wallpaper is part of a wider collection that celebrates the fine tradition of botanical illustration, featuring exquisite floral detail, exotic birds, and subtle geometric patterns that bring a sense of curated wonder and historical richness to any interior.
Above: Summer Palace by Laura Ashley
Chinoiserie, Europe’s romanticised interpretation of East Asian design, has long held a place of intrigue and opulence within British stately homes, making it a natural companion to the Castlecore interiors trend. Emerging in the 17th and 18th centuries, Chinoiserie became a symbol of worldliness and refinement, its intricate hand-painted wallpapers, lacquered furniture, and pagoda motifs gracing the walls of grand estates such as Claydon House and Kew Palace. These interiors blended exotic fantasy with aristocratic taste, reflecting both worldwide travel and an appetite for the decorative arts.
Above: Palace Tales by Cole & Son
Palace Tales is a richly imaginative wallpaper that weaves together the grandeur of three iconic British palaces, The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, and Kensington Palace, into a storybook-style montage. This statement design pays homage to centuries of royal history, blending architectural silhouettes, ornamental details, and sweeping garden scenes into a beautifully illustrated landscape. Look closely, and you’ll discover charming vignettes: turreted towers from the Tower of London, the baroque façades and formal gardens of Hampton Court, and the elegant refinement of Kensington Palace, all interspersed with playful wildlife drawn from the natural and decorative motifs found throughout each site. Birds, deer, and even mythical beasts enliven the scene, adding a storybook quality that invites exploration. Palace Tales celebrates the layered beauty of Britain’s royal residences, not just their architecture, but the life, nature, and legends that surround them, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a wallpaper that is both historically rich and visually enchanting.
Above: Luxembourg from Rifle Paper Co.
Luxembourg is a sophisticated wallpaper design inspired by the formal gardens of French palaces, particularly the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, created in the early 17th century by Marie de’ Medici as a reflection of Italianate grandeur and royal elegance. The design features mirrored medallions of florals, foliage, and the occasional bird, arranged in a trailing pattern that echoes the symmetry and structure of these historic landscapes. Perfectly in tune with the Castlecore interior trend, Luxembourg captures the romance of aristocratic heritage, offering a way to bring the spirit of palatial gardens and historic refinement into the modern home.
In the context of the Castlecore interiors trend, this wallpaper references the historical fascination with global influences seen in many grand British and European estates. From the exotic pavilions of Brighton’s Royal Pavilion to the chinoiserie drawing rooms of 18th-century manors, aristocratic homes often embraced far-flung inspiration to express taste, intellect, and curiosity. Nabateo reinterprets that legacy for the modern home, offering a story-rich aesthetic that blends the romanticism of castle interiors with the allure of Eastern palatial grandeur, perfect for statement walls that feel both cultivated and imaginative.
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Rediscovering Regal elegance with Castlecore wallpaper trends..
Imperial Gardens from Albany
A stunning Chinoiserie-inspired mural, reminiscent of the exotic elegance found in British stately homes, featuring lush birds, fruit, and flowers in abundant detail. The design repeats seamlessly to accommodate wider spaces and is supplied in three 70cm-wide lengths with marked cut lines for easy installation.
Wildflower Meadow Fabric from Highgrove by Sanderson Fabrics
Wildflower Meadow fabric celebrates King Charles 111’s Highgrove garden’s rich biodiversity, featuring meadow flowers, deer, foxes, and pheasants. Printed on a durable cotton-linen blend with a straight pattern match, it reflects the garden’s natural beauty and sustainability.
Sleter: A Representation of the Liberal Arts from Graham & Brown
Highlandia Velvet from Emma J Shipley
Highlandia by Emma J Shipley is a dramatic cotton velvet print inspired by a fantastical Scottish castle landscape. Featuring mythical creatures like dragons and the Loch Ness monster, its rich details and bold design make it a striking fabric choice for curtains and cushions.
Regal Beasts from Albany
A gallery of frames set on a floral design, each contains a wild animal in a fun historical costume. Mr Tiger, Miss Fox, Mrs Cat, play happy families with pheasant, peacock and dogs, decorated in flowers, tops hats and costumes.
Dolce Vita Velvet from Mind the Gap