14 Aug Georgian House Interior Design: Why do we love it so much?

Georgian house interior design is renowned for its elegance, symmetry, and timeless appeal. Originating in the early 18th century during the reigns of the three Georges in Britain (with the fourth George kicking off the ensuing Regency era), this style continues to inspire and influence modern interiors.

Cities like London, Cheltenham, York and Bath (where our Georgian interior design team are based), offer some of the best examples of this popular and classic design.

Here’s a closer look at the key elements that define Georgian house interior design and what makes us fall in love with it every time we get involved…

Georgian Symmetry and Proportion

Symmetry and proportion in Georgian house interior design are deeply rooted in the classical designs of ancient Greece and Rome. This sense of balance is evident in the interior architecture and layout of Georgian homes. Rooms are arranged in a carefully orchestrated manner, often with a central grand staircase. Plus for the exteriors (see Bedford Square in London for a great example) we love that the houses are almost mirror images of each other, with their facades perfectly aligned.

In Bath, our home town, the Royal Crescent shows off this symmetry on a grand scale. The crescent-shaped row of 30 terraced houses creates a stunning visual effect, with each building reflecting the same architectural proportions. Inside these homes, the layout often features rooms positioned around a central hallway, with formal living areas at the front and more private spaces, such as bedrooms, toward the back.

Elegant Mouldings and Georgian Architectural Details

Many Georgian house interior designs are fortunate in having a head start in terms of rich in architectural details. With intricate mouldings, cornices, and paneling that all add a touch of sophistication and historical interest. In London’s Kenwood House for example, you’ll find beautifully ornate plasterwork on the ceilings, adorned with classical motifs like acanthus leaves and rosettes. These details not only enhance the visual appeal of the interiors but also underscore the period’s emphasis on craftsmanship and elegance.

In Bath, many Georgian homes that we work on feature similar decorative elements (not always intact!), with finely detailed doorways, fireplaces, and staircases. The Assembly Rooms, a key Georgian building in Bath, showcases grand interiors with elaborate cornices and ceiling decorations that draw the eye upward, creating a sense of height and grandeur.

Georgian Colour Palettes: Soft & Muted Tones

Georgian house interior design colour palettes are characterized by soft, muted tones that convey a sense of calm and understated elegance. For example, the interiors of Somerset House, a grand Georgian building on the Strand, feature walls painted in pale shades of sage green, soft blue, and warm ochre, all popular colours of the Georgian period. These hues were often derived from natural pigments (as was the make up worn which is another story altogether…), giving the spaces a harmonious and organic feel.

Many of our projects for clients of Georgian house interior design favour the classic contemporary look or calm classic look. See our portfolio for more ideas.

Light and Space

Our Georgian house interior designs are designed to maximize light and space, creating an airy, open feel for modern loving. All our room designs seek to make use of the large sash windows with colour schemes based on allowing natural light to flood the rooms. For these Georgian windows, we often pair them with simple curtains or shutters that control light while maintaining the room’s symmetry.

Has Georgian house interior design got timeless appeal?

Georgian house interior design remains enduringly popular, particularly in cities like London, Edinburgh  and Bath. The style’s emphasis on symmetry, elegance, and proportion creates spaces that are both beautiful and functional. But time does not stand still and most Georgian houses we work on need careful and sympathetic designs to enhance them for modern living and tastes.  We’d love to help so do get in touch today.