If you’re renovating your property and are keen to generate an air of classic elegance in your home, there are a number of ways you can go about it. Keep reading to discover some top tips for ensuring you achieve the desired effect.
Classic decor
To create a classic feel in your property, you’ll need to give some thought to the decor and the appearance of your rooms. A sure-fire way to achieve a classic look is to add coving around the ceiling if there isn’t any currently; this works especially well in homes with high ceilings.
Coving is usually made from plaster or polymer and can be put up yourself or by a professional if you want to ensure you achieve a seamless look. In the same vein, adding a central rose to the ceiling is another way of making your home seem older than it perhaps is, as roses were used on the ceiling from the Tudor period onwards. Dado rails are also commonly found in older properties and might be something you want to consider adding.
Once the coving is in place, paper the walls or paint them with muted pastel shades like mint green or magnolia, or opt for striped wallpaper with an Edwardian influence. Embossed wallpaper was also popular during this era, so look out for textured wall coverings if you’d rather have paper than paint.
Wooden floors were common during the period, so paint your floorboards and varnish them for a high shine. In areas like the bathroom, keep things clean and simple with blacks and whites, and add brass fittings for that period effect. Something else you might want to do is renovate the fireplace, which – for a classic look – should have a tiled surround.
Classic furnishings
When the decorating is completed, turn your attention to the furniture and accessories you plan to fill the property with. In terms of dining, you can’t go wrong by investing in a solid mahogany dining table with tall backed chairs and upholstered seats. Both simple and decoratively-carved options work well in a classically-themed property. Continue the dark wood element with other furnishings like a bureau, side tables and dressers for continuity.
In the kitchen, you could install a range cooker like an Aga and invest in marble worktops, as the material was particularly popular during the Georgian period, and you could also use the material in the bathroom for tiles. With regards to your bathroom suite, take a look at freestanding baths, which are available with period features like roll tops. You can also install old-fashioned radiators to complete the look.
In terms of soft furnishings, look out for glazed cotton fabric that would have been used for both curtains and upholstery, or choose loose striped linen that was used to cover armchairs in bygone times and was only removed for special occasions. Embroidery was popular during the Victorian period ,so working this into cushions can also help you establish a classic look in your home.
Consider investing in artworks with gilded frame surrounds, and pick up an antique hallstand for your coats, gloves and hats. Oriental rugs can be placed on top of floorboards for a Victorian look, while you can add decorative touches like bronze ornaments, fans, porcelain items and screens to finish off the period elegance design.
