Georgian era interiors are known for their rich colors, ornate patterns, and lavish furnishings. They are also known for being very expensive. What makes these interiors so special?
The Georgian era (1700–1820) was a time of great change in Europe. During this period, the British Empire expanded into India and North America, and France began its revolution against the monarchy.
During the Georgian era, wealthy Europeans began to rediscover classical Greek and Roman architecture. This resulted in a revival of interest in ancient styles, which included furniture, textiles, and decorative arts.
The Georgians made use of many of the designs that had been developed during the Renaissance and Baroque eras.
However, they added more elaborate details and decorations. For example, the Georgians used gold leaf on woodwork instead of paint. They also created intricate floral motifs using flowers, leaves, shells, and other natural elements.
Now let’s turn to exploring Georgian Interior design.
Interior Design
In the 18th century, interior design became an important part of home decorating. Before then, people decorated rooms by painting walls or hanging tapestries. When wallpaper came along, it gave homeowners another way to add color and pattern to their homes.
It was not until the early 19th century that wallpaper became popular with middle class families. Wallpaper is still widely used today because it can be changed easily if you want something different.
In the late 18th century, the French began making use of mirrors to create “magnificent” interiors. Mirrors were first used in the 16th century, but they did not become common until after 1700. At that point, they were used primarily for vanity purposes.
A mirror could reflect light onto a wall, creating a dramatic effect. By 1800, however, mirrors were becoming more affordable and were beginning to appear in public places like salons.
When it comes to furniture, the Georgians loved all things gilded. Gold leaf was applied to everything from chairs and tables to fireplaces and chandeliers.
Gold leaf was originally imported from Spain, where it was used to cover up stains on paintings. Eventually, it started appearing on furniture and other objects.
Georgian-era interiors often featured large amounts of fabric. Fabrics were used to make curtains, drapes, bedspreads, and tablecloths. Fabric was also used to line drawers and cupboards.
Some fabrics were even designed specifically to coordinate with certain types of furniture. For example, some fabrics had stripes that matched chair legs. Others had geometric patterns that matched armrests.
The Georgians also liked to place small items around their houses. They placed vases of fresh flowers in window sills, filled bowls with fruit, and arranged plants near doors. Flowers and fruits were also used to adorn tables and mantels.
The Georgians also liked to decorate their homes with statues. Statues were usually placed in front of doorways to welcome guests. They were also put in foyers, hallways, and staircases. In addition, they were sometimes placed in niches in living room walls.
Furniture
Furniture during the Georgian era was simple. It consisted of chairs, benches, beds, tables, and cabinets. Chairs were made of wood. Beds were made of wood or iron. Tables were made of wood. Cabinets were made of wood or metal.
During the Georgian era, furniture was not meant to last forever. It was just a temporary place where people spent some time. Furniture was replaced every few years.
During the Georgian era, most people lived in one room of their house. Most bedrooms contained only a bed. People slept on mattresses stuffed with straw or feathers. Bedrooms were heated by stoves.
These stoves were called “fireplaces” because they looked like open fires. They were built into the floor and had a chimney above them. Stovepipes led outside so smoke would escape through the roof.
People ate at long wooden dining tables. Dining tables were set with plates, cups, and silverware. Dinner parties were held at these tables. Guests sat down together and shared food and drinks. The meal ended when everyone stood up and left the table.
People cooked meals in kitchens. Kitchens were located next to the main entrance of the house. They were usually made out of wood. During the Georgian era, kitchens were very basic. There was no running water, electricity, or refrigerators.
Instead, there were pots and pans hung over fireplaces.
Most people kept their clothes in chests. These chests were made of wood and lined with leather. They were covered with cloth. When someone wanted to wear an outfit, he or she simply took off the old clothing and put on the new ones.
When you are looking to take inspiration from furniture that was used during the Georgian period, it is always best to take it from the kind of designs that were popular with people at the very top of society.
The reason for this is that those pieces of furniture were not only particularly well-designed but are also those that look the most aesthetically pleasing; rather than simply trying to get accurate period you want to get pieces of furniture that are especially striking and so taking inspiration from the richest members of Georgian society will ensure that you have rooms that are filled with gorgeous furniture which will be the envy of all your friends.
Now that we’ve explored the furniture that was a key part of the Georgian era, let’s turn to examining the clothing that was worn and produced during this period.
Clothing
For men, the Georgian era was known as the age of powdered wigs. Wigs were worn during this time. They were made of silk, wool, or horsehair. Men wore hats, beards, and mustaches. Women wore dresses, bonnets, and shawls.
Both sexes wore stockings. Stockings were made of cotton or linen. Shoes were made of leather.
Men and women both wore jewelry. Rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and watches were common accessories. Jewelry was made of gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other gems.
Men and women alike wore perfume. Perfume was made from rose oil, musk, ambergris, patchouli, sandalwood, cedar, lavender, jasmine, and citrus oils. It was mixed with alcohol to create scents.
Homes
In the Georgian era, most homes were made of brick. Many homes had two stories. This is why they are still referred to as “two-story” homes today. Homes had large rooms that could hold many people. Some rooms were decorated with wallpaper. Others were painted white.
In the Georgian era, most houses were surrounded by gardens. Gardens were planted with flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, and herbs. Houses were often divided into several parts. One part might have been used for entertaining guests.
Another part might have been used as a study. A third part might have been reserved for sleeping quarters.
The Georgian era also saw the development of interior design. Interior designers created patterns and designs for furniture, fabrics, carpets, and wallpapers. They also designed window treatments such as curtains, blinds, and shutters.
When you are considering how to decorate your home, it is important to focus on what kind of home you have and how well it would mix with Georgian interior design.
For example, if you are living in a flat then of course you won’t be able to decorate your home in the same way as if you own a larger property or if you were a wealthy person of the Georgian period.
However, you can still easily bring in the style that you want into a flat.
The most important part that you must remember when designing your flat or home along the lines of Georgian design is to emphasise the amount of space you have, like they did – if your flat is fairly small in comparison to a Georgian town house then you should emphasise space by using as many mirrors as you can and potentially try to use as much natural light as you can.
The Georgians were experts at using light to create space so if you want to replicate their way of decorating then it is crucial you do the same.
Let’s now turn to how the Georgians used carpets in their homes.
Carpets
Carpets were woven using natural fibers such as wool, cotton, flax, hemp, and linen. The colors varied depending on the region. In England, red, yellow, blue, green, purple, black, brown, grey, orange, and pink were popular colors.
In France, Turkey, and India, bright colors like red, yellow, blue and green were preferred.
It is worth stating that the Georgian era saw a major transition from rugs to carpets.
In prior decades and centuries, much emphasis had been placed on the need to keep only part of the floor warm by having a rug positioned in the most important place possible, such as the fire, and allowing it to soak up the heat that way.
However, as time moved on the idea of having stone or wooden floors became less fashionable, more emphasis was placed on carpeting the entirety of the floor.
Therefore, the carpet emerged as the perfect solution for ensuring that homes were better insulated and that they could easily become more inviting. This is why the carpet is so often associated with the Georgian period.
Therefore, if you are wanting to see inspiration from the Georgians when it comes to interior design it is important that the pattern for your carpet reflects that.
As mentioned above, the Georgians liked bright colors but they also liked evocative and interesting designs so keep that in mind when choosing your carpet.
How You Can Take Inspiration From The Georgians To Make Your Home Truly Spectacular
There are several different ways that you can take inspiration from the Georgians to ensure that the design of your home is reflecting the elegance of the era.
The most important way you can take inspiration is from by focussing on the ideal of the era – one that was focussed on reviving the styles of the Romans and bringing them to the forefront of modern architecture and furniture.
This mingling of the ancient and what was then considered modern is core to making your home as Georgian as possible.
Similarly, if you want to ensure that your home takes inspiration from the Georgians then you need to ensure there is art work.
Georgian homes loved to be properly decorated with wonderful works of art so if you can find some to put on your walls then you will certainly have embraced the Georgian aesthetic.
Similarly, the Georgians liked to use patterned wallpaper and carpets so if you can introduce some of them into your home then you will be certain to have turned your home into a truly Georgian one.
Final Thoughts
The Georgian period was one of refined sensibilities. A time that has been immortalised in the works of Jane Austen and others and one which is often seemed to be a high point of fashion and style.
This is why it is therefore so important that, if you want to reflect that style, you are able to accurately and clearly represent it in your own home.
If you are enamoured of that period, then it of course makes sense to represent it in the best way possible – by decking your home out in just that style.
It is therefore vital that you know exactly what was in vogue during this vivid and vivacious period.
So, if you want to ensure that your home truly stands out to all your friends, make sure that you do all you can to embrace these classic designs and make them the cornerstone of your home today!
I’m Ida Oliveira, and now I want to impart my knowledge of all things interior design onto you. If you’re going through the same process of designing your house, I want to help.
So, I hope that you’ll find everything you need to know on my website. If I make the process even a little easier and more fun for you, Alexander and Pearl will have done its job.
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