Regency Interiors – Creating The Jane Austen Look

November 25th, 2011 Home

The Jane Austen books and the TV series and movies they inspired are powerful and romantic. They have an inspirational air about them. Few would want to go back to the times depicted in the films, but the nostalgic decor shown in these films seems to have an appeal that crosses generations.

The style used in the Jane Austen films is 19th Century Regency, and it’s quite easy to replicate. If you’d like to deck out your home in period style, just follow these tips:

Wallpaper – antique wallpaper and wall coverings is easy enough to get hold of, although it costs a lot more than plain old woodchip, or modern patterns. Period wallpaper tends to be busy, and colourful. Take care when hanging it, as any mistakes, or areas where the patterns don’t quite line up, will really stand out.
Lighting – Thick curtains, busy wallpaper, and imposing furniture were all common in the 19th century. Couple this with heavy internal oak doors and bay windows, and you have a room that’s rather short on natural light. Homes in the 19th century weren’t brightly lit in the way we’re accustomed to, but Regency decorators did love their lamps and chandeliers. Don’t neglect them when you do out your living room.
Flooring – If you want to use carpets, then dark colours and diamond patterns are a good choice. If you prefer wooden floors, then you have plenty of choices – oak, maple, cherry, ash, and walnut were all popular during Austen’s era. You could match your floor to your ledge and brace doors for a neater, co-ordinated look.
Window treatments - Windows weren’t just an afterthought – they were carefully decorated and accented with shutters, blinds, and tied back curtains. This style may not work in a modern, smaller home, but if you’re lucky enough to have a large living room or an expansive hallway, consider going all the way with the window dressing for maximum effect.
Furniture – antique furniture (or at the least, antique looking furniture) is pretty easy to get hold of these days. Regency furniture is rich, luxurious, and imposing. Consider matching your furniture to the rest of the room – so if you have oak floors and internal oak doors, opt for an oak dresser or pedestal table. If you’re aiming for a darker look, birch-mahogany framed sofas with maroon cushions can be a nice accompaniment to heavy ledge and brace doors.

The 19th century look is best suited to spacious rooms. For smaller apartments, it’s worth considering a Modernist look instead, as the modernist philosophy of avoiding clutter and focusing on clean lines and bold patterns creates the illusion of a bigger room. However, if you’re truly in love with the Regency era then it is possible to pull off a Regency apartment if you focus on the overall picture, and don’t get too hung up on ornaments, wall hangings, and other details that will create too much clutter without really contributing anything to the room.

James Harper wrote this post for UK Oak Doors, who can supply traditional internal oak doors and ledge and brace doors to complete your regency look. James writes on ideas for fantastic interior designs.