Edwardian house style: how to spot the period features of the era - Your Home Style (2024)

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Edwardian house style: how to spot the period features of the era - Your Home Style? ›

The Edwardians built big, solid country homes with light, airy rooms and the detailing was a cut above what anyone was used to at that time.” Suburban houses were built on wide plots with fewer, larger rooms, double-aspect living spaces and large hallways. Privacy was also important.

The Edwardians built big, solid country homes with light, airy rooms and the detailing was a cut above what anyone was used to at that time.” Suburban houses were built on wide plots with fewer, larger rooms, double-aspect living spaces and large hallways. Privacy was also important.

The main characteristics of an Edwardian style home are a tiled roof (generally made of terracotta), asymmetrical rooflines with gables and motifs, lead lighting in the windows, plasterwork and high ceilings.

Edwardian houses are 1-1/2 storey with a very steep-pitched front-gabled roof above an integral porch and (typically) saddle-bag dormers. The roof skirt gives a strongly triangular look to the gable and usually frames a sleeping porch.

The Edwardian era oversaw a lot of progressive social change. As well as child labour laws being introduced, the Edwardians also saw women's suffrage rise to prominence and the working class becoming an active voice in politics.

An Edwardian-style house typically has a tiled roof, often made from terracotta. It's all about those quirky, not-quite-symmetrical rooflines with pointy bits, fancy designs like bay windows, some artsy plaster pieces, and sky-high ceilings, those are the elements that make it stand out.

Cheerful, elegant, fresh and light is the best way to describe Edwardian interior décor. Pastel colour schemes became fashionable, as well as floral and embossed wallpapers and paintings; largely influenced by Art Nouveau designs.

To capture the essence of an Edwardian interior, consider using colours like soft pastels, pale blues, delicate pinks, and muted greens. These colours evoke a sense of tranquillity and sophistication that was synonymous with the Edwardian era.

Edwardian furniture tends to be more free-spirited, rejecting the restraint of the previous Victorian period as a result of Edward VII's love of fashion and the arts. Colours also changed as the style moved away from the darker shades of Victorian furniture toward lighter colours that created a less imposing look.

Edwardian properties commonly have large sash windows with multiple panes of glass. These windows contribute to the overall aesthetic and character of the architecture while allowing for good ventilation. While less ornate than the Victorian era, Edwardian properties still exhibit decorative elements.

What are the principles of Edwardian design? ›

The dominant theme of the Edwardian era was the exploration of power, nostalgia, and a contrasting lightness of touch. This period was characterized by rapid political, economic, and artistic change, culminating in the First World War.

Edwardian interiors favour bright pastel colours, floral designs and are very spacious – escaping from the darker colours and cluttered-look from the Victorian era. Enhance the natural light coming into your home with bright, reflective surfaces and plenty of glass and mirrors.

Choose traditional patterns: Traditional patterns like florals, stripes, and damask are all popular in Edwardian homes. Look for wallpaper, textiles, and rugs with these patterns to create a cohesive look throughout your home.

At a glance, you can identify a Georgian home by its flat, hipped roof and small window panes, a Victorian home by its Gothic detailing and slate roof, and an Edwardian home by its squat stature and red-brick facade.

The interiors of Edwardian properties typically feature high ceilings that create a sense of spaciousness. This design element contrasted with the lower ceilings often found in Victorian houses. Edwardian houses aimed to create brighter and more open interior spaces.

As with Victorian and Georgian designs, Edwardian doors were made up of several panels. These panels were enhanced with elegant mouldings, while contrasting colours were often selected to create a tonal front door finish. As glazing became more affordable, stainless glass panels also became commonplace.

For example, Georgian homes typically have grand rooms with high ceilings, especially on the first and second floors. Victorian homes often feature detailed plasterwork and have bay windows. Edwardian homes usually have light and airy rooms and have the addition of a front garden.