If you love the interior of Ardross Castle, here’s how “castlecore” styling can bring warmth and character to your own home.
When I confide in people that I live in a castle, they usually raise an un-believing eyebrow.
But despite their doubts, it’s true. It’s not only Englishmen who get to live in a castle – although in all honesty mine is more of a tiny turret.
Even though it is small of stature, it’s still a gorgeous Baronial-style stone tower, complete with battlements, mullioned stained-glass windows and two resident gargoyles – who I affectionately call Sven and Norm.
Living in a castle definitely has its quirks – you have to choose furnishings and colours with care, negotiate a steep narrow staircase, and heavy curtains are a must to keep out unwanted drafts.
But with the return of BBC's The Celebrity Traitors, Ardross Castle in Scotland has again taken centre stage and it’s not just the exterior that has captured viewers’ attention, but the interior too.
The contestants gather on velvet sofas, whisper in huddles in the library or celebrate banishing a traitor in the bar.
Dubbed “castlecore”, this style of decorating has been recently tagged more than 25,000 times on Instagram alone. It brings together the romanticism and opulence of medieval castles with modern-day living.
So if you want to capture that Traitors style, how can you adapt it so it works for you in your home whatever its age?
For more guidance I spoke to Nina Watson, an interior designer who features in national publications and has more than 650,000 followers on Instagram.
Her advice for recreating the look? “Be bold, have fun and create a little escape from the everyday,” she suggests. “It’s not about having enormous rooms or living in an actual castle – it’s about creating that sense of atmosphere, character and a little magic.
“Rich textures, beautiful bedding, comfortable furniture and quirky little details all help create that wonderfully layered atmosphere, as though the interior has evolved over generations.
“You want the drama, but you also want somewhere you can curl up with a book.”
These are Nina’s seven top tips for incorporating The Traitors style into your home.
Think deep, rich shades, sumptuous fabrics, velvet cushions and ornate picture frames. And don’t leave your ceilings, skirtings, windows and doors white. Painting window frames the same colour as the walls creates a beautifully cohesive look.
You can also colour-drench the ceiling or choose a slightly lighter shade. Paint & Paper Library has lovely graduated colour families, which make this much easier.
Pieces with age, character and a little history are perfect for creating that Traitors castle atmosphere.
Etsy, eBay and local auction houses are wonderful places to look and you don’t necessarily need a huge budget to find something special.
If you have one, fireplaces are amazing architectural focal points and really help to give a room that sense of grandeur.
They’re also lovely to dress at Christmas and when you’re sitting beside a roaring fire with a glass of mulled wine, you’ll definitely be feeling those castle vibes.
Go for the dramatic floor-to-ceiling curtains seen throughout Ardross Castle.
They draw the eye up and elevate your interior.
If you have the space, built-in library shelves will not only elevate your room, but make it feel cosy and enable a room to have two functions, so you’ll end up using the space twice as much.
Cornicing, ceiling roses and decorative mouldings can completely change how a room feels, adding character and a sense of grandeur, even in a more modestly sized space.
Think of chandeliers as the jewellery of an interior. A beautiful statement chandelier draws the eye upwards and when dimmed, brings sparkle, warmth and the magic.
Layer this with table lamps and antique-style floor lamps to create cosy, inviting corners.
If there’s one thing I have learned from decorating my home, it’s that you can never-out design a castle.
When it already comes with stonework, wrought iron and aged oak, the trick isn’t adding more. It’s knowing how to complement what’s already there.
That’s the secret of The Traitors style. The castle doesn’t feel special because it’s full of expensive things. It feels special because every room has layers of history, warmth and personality.
And that was the biggest surprise for me about living in a castle. It isn’t grand day to day. It feels cosy. On winter evenings, with the lamps glowing, the thick curtains closed and the fire lit, it doesn’t feel like a historical building. It’s just my home.
The aspect of castlecore that I think so many people miss is that it’s not about creating a museum, it’s about creating warmth.
And that’s why we love The Traitors castle because it feels so atmospheric.
It’s not perfectly matched, it’s a mix of old and new, different colours and styles, but the combination together feels like it has witnessed lives, stories and history.
Laminates may not work, but metal and glass furniture does.
IKEA, Habitat and others all have these at great prices which look perfect against stonework.
I have a woven Afghan rug, North African cushions and a throw from Syria and all of them work beautifully thanks to their rich colours and textures.
Get inspiration from around the globe to bring warmth.
Choose character over matching sets – old wooden side tables (mine were junk shop finds), vintage lamps (I love Tiffany style), framed prints, and books (lots!)
Bring the outdoors in. I have loads of indoor plants to soften the stonework. Ferns, trailing ivy, Mother-in-Law's tongue and peace lilies all work for me.
If you don’t have stained glass then carefully positioned coloured glass vases, or hanging stained-glass suncatchers can give the same effect.
But my most important lesson has been that the best castle interiors evolve over centuries. So don’t rush it, take your time to buy pieces that really mean something to you.
These are the things I would avoid if you are trying to re-create The Traitors style in your home.
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