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There's nothing like a period drama to see us through winter. As we wait out the freezing days of February, we have the joy of Bridgerton’s season four to cosy up with, and the option of a weekend binge-watch.
Unsurprisingly, after the first series back in 2020, Google reported an increase in searches for regency interiors, jumping by 9,500%. More recently, Pinterest saw a 133% increase in searches for regency must-have gold mirrors. Damask wallpaper searches are up 400%, something which hasn’t trended since the ‘70s and ’80s when flocked damask was pub landlords’ favourite decorating style.
No doubt about it, we are loving our regencycore, mixing the elegance of Georgian design with modern maximalism, where muted pastels of the period are replaced by vibrancy and depth to bring drama to the Bridgerton sets on a par with the drama of its storylines.
This intimate space is where the Bridgerton ladies gather to read the latest gossip from the mysterious Lady Whistledown’s society scandal sheet, and where Penelope Featherington frequently sobbed into her pillow over the unrequited love of Colin Bridgerton until their happy ever after at the end of season three.
Georgian bedrooms typically had high ceilings and plenty of space to accommodate sleigh beds and drapery swags..Boudoir must-haves are the sleigh bed, typically mahogany, but also more ornate headboards and fancy legs. Eiderdown quilts finish the look with a feather-filled mattress, although these days they’re more likely to be memory foam and a hypoallergenic duvet.
No genteel lady was without her dressing table for the toilette in advance of Lady Danbury’s soirées, and while many new-builds might not have the luxury of space for one, they can double up as a desk, with compact versions acting as a nightstand with a lamp.
Get the look: We’re talking statement beds here with an emphasis on luxury and indulgence. The Lucia fabric upholstered model in light grey is a contemporary take on the look; from €599, Dreams.ie. For a modern take on the more extravagant and, often, gilded bed frame, check out the Clementine 5ft bed frame in stained oak; €899, EZ Living Interiors. A matching dressing table and stool add a feminine touch; €699.
If you got an invitation to the salon, you were made. This high society gathering imported from France was a social focal point for the Ton, and gave its name to a type of room. Think plenty of seating, side tables and loitering spots to see and be seen in your finery. After that, the room was all about the hostess’s interior design taste.
Mahogany dining tables with a high polished finish were a feature of the period, with matching chairs upholstered in regency stripe.Lady Featherington’s ‘new money’ partiality to citrus hues rather than typical regency pastels gives boldness to her décor, with touches of black and gold thrown in for drama and a Versace vibe.
Maybe there’s a subtle reference to the aristocratic old-money blue-blood lineage of her neighbours across the road, the Bridgertons, as their home is all about blue hues, classy but grand.
Get the look: Have a fainting couch nearby when scandalised by Lady Whistledown’s latest revelations. The Windsor chaise longue is going hard regencycore, finished in pink buttoned upholstery; €975, DFS. The Chesterfield sofa is another regencycore essential finished in buttoned leather. Designed for gentlemen to take their ease, it’s also perfect for girly gossip sessions over afternoon tea. The Webb & Barker Dunstable two-seater; €1,799, Caseys.
As the Georgians loved their marble finishes, add in the streamlined marble and brass side table; €129, www.aprilandthebear.com. Another metal option is the Classic with its pot-bellied silhouette for a contrast of contemporary and historic beside a Chesterfield; €181.30; Meadows & Byrne.
All of a sudden, window treatments are having a moment. Pleats, folds and excessive amounts of fabric pooling on the floor, held back in swags like stage curtains, are big-time regencycore when drapery was all about the drama and not just to keep out light and draughts.
Sumptuous drapery helped to keep draughts at bay. Carpet was introduced to soften stone floors.We’re even borrowing the period’s trend for hanging them on internal doors and behind beds in fabrics borrowed from the period. Damask is back, so is moiré, along with regency stripe, which has never truly gone out of fashion.
Get the look: You'll find some inspiration in the Artemis organic velvet floral fabric on a black background. It’s all about high drama and making a statement; €230 per metre, www.houseofhackney.com. A modern interpretation of an old favourite is the Grand Blotch fabric with its mix of damask-meets-Rorschach test; €121 per metre, www.timorousbeasties.com.
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