Obsessed with
Traitors? Same. While the paranoid plotting and Claudia Winkleman’s wardrobe get plenty of airtime, many of us are just as taken with Ardross Castle and its interiors. All gothic grandeur, old-school glamour and Highland drama, it’s got interior editors discussing how to recreate the look at home.
The good news is you don’t need a turreted
Scottish pile to pull it off. A few well-chosen pieces can bring that richly layered, slightly eccentric country-house mood to even the most ordinary sitting room. Think jewel-toned
velvet, swathes of tartan, vintage glassware, antique brass, dark wood furniture and lighting so atmospheric that every conversation feels faintly suspicious.
Here’s how to get your home humming with castle character.
Collect Vintage-Inspired Glassware
If there’s one room that’s centre stage in The Traitors, it’s the bar. The setting for whispered alliances, dramatic revelations and dubious winking, this room perfectly captures the castle’s cosy heritage glamour. Recreate the mood with coloured crystal glasses, weighty decanters and traditional cut-glass designs that feel collected over time rather than bought in bulk.
Buy Bold Velvet Furnishings
Few fabrics say country-house contemporary luxury quite like velvet. Go bold with an olive, burnt orange or sapphire blue velvet sofa, or flirt with the look with a fringed footstool or jewel-toned cushion.
Choose A Chesterfield
Whether upholstered in rich leather or velvet, these button-back classics bring instant character and a sense of lived-in grandeur. Position one beside a bookshelf and a brass reading lamp and you’ll have a corner worthy of an Ardross Castle drawing room.
Go For Gold
Ditch polished chrome. The Traitors aesthetic is all about the warm glow of antique brass and aged metallic finishes. From wall sconces and picture lights to lamps and candleholders, touches of gold-toned metal add warmth, depth and a quietly luxurious feel that just looks more expensive. The more they look as though they’ve been there for generations, the better.
Add A Touch of Tartan
You can’t talk about Highland interiors or emulating a stately home vibe without mentioning tartan. The heritage pattern crops up throughout Ardross Castle, appearing in everything from the soft furnishings to the fashion. The trick to pulling off the Scottish checks at home is restraint. Tartan wallpaper is a bold choice. You may be better opting for a tartan throw tossed over a sofa to avoid veering into Disney territory.
Embrace A Little Eccentricity
Part of what makes Ardross Castle so memorable and appealing is its sense of humour. For all the grandeur, of which there is plenty, sit quirky lamps, wildlife accessories and antique curios that keep the interiors from feeling overly stately. The brass stags, owl ornaments, elephant lamps and oversized framed animal portraits are all slightly bonkers? And that’s precisely the point.
Get The Traitors Look
Where is The Traitors castle and can you visit it?
The Traitors is filmed at Ardross Castle, a 19th century baronial estate in the Scottish Highlands, north of Inverness. The castle is not generally open for casual drop-in visits. It operates strictly as a private venue for weddings, corporate functions and film productions.
Why are country-house interiors back in fashion?
After years of pared-back Scandi themes and all-white rooms, many homeowners are craving warmth, personality and a sense of escapism. Country-house interiors offer all three. Rich textures, layered lighting, antiques and traditional patterns create a feeling of comfort that feels particularly appealing in an increasingly digital world. It’s less about perfection, more about atmosphere.
Which paint colours create a country-house look?
The secret is to choose colours that feel rooted in nature rather than fashion. Layer tones of earthy greens, moody blues, warm mushroom tones, oxblood reds and deep plum shades throughout a room to create depth and softness. It creates a scheme that feels both sophisticated and cosy.
