Interior design through the ages

Georgian (1714 to 1830)

The Georgian period covered the years from 1714 to 1830, when there were four consecutive King Georges on the throne. Georgian architecture and interiors were known for their elegance and lightness of touch. One of the most enduring styles was Neo-classical, based on Roman and Greek architecture and championed by architects such as Robert Adam.

Typical Georgian features

• Roman-inspired elements such as niches and alcoves

• Balanced and symmetrical designs

• Use of the three Classical columns – Corinthian, Ionic and Doric

• Stonework, ironwork and marble with motifs such as swags, ribbons, garlands, husks and the Greek key pattern

• Carved statuary depicting Roman gods and goddesses

• Classical figures, vases and urns

• Real and imaginary animal figures such as dolphins, sphinxes, griffins and satyrs, often forming the bases or handles of objects

• Pastel colour schemes, especially pea green, mauve and pink

Victorian (1837 to 1901)

If you spot dark, rich colours and bold prints, chances are you could be looking at elements of Victorian style. Queen Victoria’s reign was so long – from 1837 to 1901 – that it's impossible to describe it as having a single style. The era saw a passion for using and combining many earlier styles in a greater diversity than ever before.

Travel to Japan and India influenced design elements in the home. Mass production and affordable products allowed homeowners to fill their rooms with textiles and furniture. A reaction to this mass production was the Arts and Crafts movement, which was influenced by medieval architecture and led by designers such as William Morris.

Typical Victorian features

• Gothic Revival architecture such as spires, buttresses, decorative ironwork and pointed arch surrounds on doors and windows, which are more often associated with churches

• Medieval influences including fleurs de lys, heraldic motifs and quatrefoils

• Rich dark colours such as ruby red, forest green and dark blue

• Mass-produced wallpapers including flock and damask styles and large, bold prints of flowers and foliage

• Heavily carved or overstuffed furniture, including button-back armchairs, sofas and ottomans

• Patterned, encaustic floor tiles and stained or etched glass

• Highly patterned fabrics or strongly coloured velvets, festoon blinds and sumptuous window treatments

• Ornate marble, slate or cast-iron fireplaces, inset with patterned tiles

20th century (1900 to 1999)

We look after places that are decorated with some very striking 20th-century interior design. In the years that followed the First World War, the modernist movement, established in Paris, was seeking to reject the excessive ornamentation of the past. Modernist architects and designers like Le Corbusier and Ernö Goldfinger favoured new ideas and cutting-edge technology that could improve the quality of life.

Typical 20th-century design features

• Emphasis on clean lines, light and space, simplicity and practicality

• Use of modern materials such as aluminium, chrome, lacquer and inlaid woods

• Accents of bold colour within white- or cream-decorated rooms

• Innovative designs for lighting and wall and ceiling light fittings

• Abstract designs for carpets, fabrics and wallpapers

• Design motifs including geometric shapes, stepped forms and chevron patterns.