Downton Abbey style interiors: how to get the look at home
Quick answer
Downton Abbey style means Edwardian country house grandeur: deep, rich colors (crimson, gold, green), large plaster ceiling medallions and ornate cornices, crystal chandeliers and wall sconces, oil paintings in gilt frames, heavy velvet curtains, and antique furniture arranged for conversation [1][3]. Scale it down for a real home by choosing two or three of these ideas per room.
Downton Abbey, which aired in America on PBS Masterpiece, made Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, one of the most recognised houses in the world [1][2]. Its rooms show the English country house at the height of its confidence, around 1912 to 1926. Here is how to borrow the look without living in a castle.
The colors
Edwardian grand rooms used rich, saturated colors with gold: crimson and damask reds, deep greens, golds and ivory [3][4]. In a normal home, use them in a dining room or library rather than everywhere.
The ceilings
The great houses had elaborate plaster ceilings, with cornices, ribs and large ceiling roses (medallions) centred on chandeliers [3]. A large medallion, 24 inches or more, is the single most effective way to bring this grandeur into a dining room; see medallion size guide.
The light
By the Edwardian period, great houses were moving from candles and gas to early electric light, but kept the forms of candle chandeliers and sconces. Warm, low light from several points is the key to the atmosphere [5]. Use warm bulbs (2200 to 2700K) and dimmers.
Room by room
| Room | Downton ideas |
|---|---|
| Dining room | Red walls, a chandelier over the table, a big medallion, portraits. |
| Library | Dark green, bookshelves, leather, a pair of sconces. |
| Drawing room | Gold and ivory, a sofa grouping, a painting over the mantel. |
| Bedroom | Floral chintz, a canopy or tall headboard, bedside sconces. |
| Hall | A grand pediment over the main door, a console and mirror. |
Lady Carnarvon shows the real rooms at Highclere Castle [6].
Video: Viking.TV, “At Home at Highclere: Visit Downton Abbey's rooms with Lady Carnarvon”, via YouTube.
Good to know
Common questions
How do I get the Downton Abbey look?
Use rich colors, a large ceiling medallion and chandelier, sconces, gilt-framed paintings, velvet curtains and antiques, one grand gesture per room.
Where was Downton Abbey filmed?
At Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England.
What period is Downton Abbey style?
Edwardian and early 1920s English country house style.
What size medallion for a chandelier?
For a grand dining room chandelier, 24 inches or more.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Highclere Castle (n.d.) Highclere Castle. Available at: www.highclerecastle.co.uk/ (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- PBS Masterpiece (n.d.) Downton Abbey. Available at: www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/downton-abbey/ (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Calloway, S. and Cromley, E. (eds) (1996) The elements of style: a practical encyclopedia of interior architectural details from 1485 to the present. Rev. edn. London: Mitchell Beazley.
- Cornforth, J. (1978) English interiors 1790-1848: the quest for comfort. London: Barrie & Jenkins.
- Society of Light and Lighting (2018) SLL Lighting Handbook. London: CIBSE.
- Viking.TV (n.d.) At Home at Highclere: visit Downton Abbey's rooms with Lady Carnarvon [Video]. YouTube. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1jZ_kfYI68 (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
How to cite this article
van Locke, J. (2026) ‘Downton Abbey style interiors: how to get the look at home’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/downton-abbey-style-interiors (Accessed: 15 November 2026).
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