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After recently visiting Polesten Lacey, a National Trust property in Surrey, it ignited my interest to learn more about Edwardian style and interior design. Whilst living in London, I was often exposed to Georgian and Victorian architecture, but you can also find a lot of Edwardian architecture across England. The Edwardian design era has provided a wealth of exterior and interior design inspiration which you can use today to create something new in your home.
A renovated Edwardian home in London from Pinterest
What is Edwardian design and architecture?
The Edwardian style was a design that emerged between 1901 and 1910 when Edward the VII was on the throne in England. After an area of clutter, dark colours and heaviness with Victorian interiors – people wanted something new and perhaps more uplifting. The Edwardian style was a breath of fresh air, being more informal and feminine. It was the first time bamboo and wicker furniture became key, also floral patterns and pastel colours became more widely adopted. Flowers were often frequently used to compliment interior designs. Art Nouveau and it’s flowing and fairy design had a strong presence in the Edwardian style.
An original look of the Edwardian style from Luminous Lint
How to achieve the Edwardian style today
There are a couple of key items you can bring into your interior mix today to make your home achieve a more Edwardian style. Here are a few examples.
Furniture. The Edwardian style mostly used reproduced furniture from previous periods – it could be baroque, rococo or empire. The wing chair was a typical item in an Edwardian home. But the upholstery on the furniture was different, normally in chintz (flowers) or damasks in pale colours. Wicker and bamboo became, for the first time, normal to use in a home. This is a trend we have seen more in the later years and could be used well for smaller items in the room.
Chintz Sofas from Katie Considers
Floors. Edwardian floors were normally of highly polished wood combined with oriental rugs in light colours. This is something we also see becoming more normal over recent years.
Wallpaper. Try to use fresh and cheerful wallpaper such as florals or roses, lilac, wisteria, sweet peas, ribbons and bows. Candy stripes were also normal to use. Lincrusta, also known as embossed wallpaper, became very popular during the Edwardian period. It can be painted in all different colours, but looks best in cream.
Lincrusta wallpaper from Garden Houz
Colour schemes. The colour scheme during the Edwardian period was often reflective of nature and in particular flowers. Yellow (primroses), green (leaf’s), lilac (wisteria) and greys a common feature. The living room could be a darker colour, like dark green fabrics, but also paired with cream walls to achieve more balance between the colours.
Lighting. Go for table lamps and wall lamps that have fabric lampshades in soft colours with frills and tassels. When it comes to the main light, go for a pendant lighting in a smoked glass attached to a ceiling fitting.
My Edwardian Favourites
Lamp Shade
Bed Sheets
Bamboo Table
Table Lamp
Tea Cup
Oriental Rug
Fabric Lampshade in pastel colour from Blue and White home
Details. Lace, plain or floral curtains that coordinate with the walls are a good way to style windows. Cushions, embroidery, floral motif or art nouveau key to achieving the Edwardian style. Other potential items to try in your room are a tiered silver cake stand combined with silver photograph frames. As mentioned earlier, flowers are an important feature of the décor, loosely arranged and in pastel colours. House palms were also a key item for the room.
Needlepoint cushions from House and Garden
What elements of the Edwardian design era have inspired you?
