Choosing colours for a period home: a guide to heritage palettes
Colour can make or break a period room. The right palette lets original features, or new ones, look as though they have always been there. You do not need to be a historian; you just need to know what each era loved.
Georgian (1714–1830)
Georgian rooms were about proportion and light. Think stone colours, soft drab greens, pale blues and warm off-whites, with ceilings kept pale so plasterwork stood out. Later in the period, architects such as Robert Adam brought in delicate pinks, lilacs and pea greens.
Victorian (1837–1901)
The Victorians loved richer, deeper colours: burgundy, bottle green, ochre and deep blue, often divided by a dado rail. Ceilings and ceiling roses were usually kept light to bounce light down from gas fittings.
Edwardian (1901–1910)
A lighter, fresher palette followed. Creams, soft greens, eau de nil and pale yellows suited airy rooms, and white woodwork became more common.
1930s
Between the wars, colours reflected Art Deco and the new modern style: cream and eau de nil, but also striking black, jade green and deep blue in bathrooms and hallways, often with metallic accents.
Paint the ceiling a shade lighter than the walls, and every piece of plaster on it will come alive.
Making plaster details sing
- Use a flat or matt finish on ornament: sheen hides detail.
- Warm whites suit older homes better than brilliant white.
- Tie colours together by repeating one wall colour on a painted overdoor or switch surround.
Every Flare piece arrives as natural plaster, ready to paint in any of these palettes. Browse by style in our Heritage & Classical or Art Deco collections.
Good to know
Common questions
What colours were used in Georgian houses?
Georgian interiors leaned on stone colours, soft drab greens, pale blues and warm off-whites, with ceilings kept pale so plasterwork stood out. Later in the period, architects such as Robert Adam introduced more delicate pinks, lilacs and pea greens.
What colours suit a Victorian house?
Victorians liked richer, deeper shades such as burgundy, bottle green, ochre and deep blue, often split by a dado rail. Ceilings and ceiling roses were usually kept light. For a period feel today, pair a strong wall colour with a pale ceiling and warm white rather than brilliant white.
Should ceilings be lighter than walls in a period home?
Usually, yes. A ceiling a shade lighter than the walls reflects light down into the room and lets cornices and ceiling roses read clearly through shadow. Use a matt finish on plaster ornament, since a sheen tends to flatten and hide detail.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Bristow, I.C. (1996) Interior House-Painting Colours and Technology, 1615–1840. New Haven, CT and London: Yale University Press.
- Baty, P. (2017) The Anatomy of Colour: The Story of Heritage Paints and Pigments. London: Thames & Hudson.
- Calloway, S. (ed.) (2005) The Elements of Style: An Encyclopedia of Domestic Architectural Detail. London: Mitchell Beazley.
- Historic England (n.d.) I want to redecorate my house. Available at: historicengland.org.uk/advice/your-home/improvement/redec... (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
How to cite this article
Meredith, S. (2026) ‘Choosing colours for a period home: a guide to heritage palettes’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/heritage-colour-palettes-period-homes (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
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