Renovating an Edwardian house can be one of the most rewarding projects a homeowner takes on.
This blog is a guide blending practical renovation advice with insight into the historical details that define the era. We’ll look at how to identify and restore key Edwardian features, plan your layout, and incorporate modern comforts without losing the charm that makes these homes so sought after.
By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of what makes Edwardian homes special, how to tackle the common renovation challenges, and where to start when it comes to design decisions, budgets, and timelines.
What Defines Edwardian House Style?
Built between 1901 and 1910, Edwardian houses are known for their red brick exteriors, wide hallways, and high ceilings. They often feature deep bay windows, ornate cornices, ceiling roses, coloured glass panels, and generously proportioned rooms filled with natural light. Wooden floors and decorative plaster mouldings were typical, bringing a refined yet homely feel.
The Edwardian era followed the dense, often darker interiors of the Victorian period. Suburban plots were larger, so homes could be wider and better lit. These properties offered families more space, both inside and out, and were designed to feel airy and comfortable.
Today, Edwardian houses are among the most desirable in Britain. Their solid build quality, generous proportions, and timeless style make them a strong investment.
Key Edwardian House Features
- red brick exteriors
- wide hallways
- high ceiling
- deep bay windows
- ornate cornice
- ceiling roses
- wooden floors
- decorative plaster mouldings
What to Look Out for When Renovating an Edwardian House
Before starting work, it’s worth taking a close look at the current condition of your property. Common issues include outdated electrics, worn plumbing, drafty sash windows, and uneven floors.
While these homes were well-built, shallow foundations can make them prone to movement, so checking for cracks and signs of subsidence is essential. Compared to other period homes, Edwardian properties tend to have larger hallways, bigger living rooms, and sizable gardens, making them ideal for family life.
The typical layout often includes a front parlour, a rear living space, a dining room, and scope for extensions at the back. Energy efficiency is another consideration. Original single-pane windows, uninsulated walls, and open fireplaces can all be charming but may need upgrades to make the home comfortable and cost-effective to run.
How to Renovate an Edwardian House
A renovation is easier to manage when broken into stages. Many homeowners start with bedrooms and bathrooms so they have livable spaces while other work continues. Deciding early on what you want to preserve and what needs replacing will help for a smoother renovation.
When renovating an Edwardian home, it’s worth preserving original features such as wooden floorboards, fireplaces, and panelled doors. These details are signature elements of the period and add a great deal of character to the property.
That said, Edwardian houses are over a century old, so they often need updates to suit modern living. Improving insulation and upgrading heating systems can make your home more functional and energy efficient. You should also be prepared to deal with age-related issues such as rotten timber or decayed brickwork, which are common in properties of this era.
Stripping back modern alterations can reveal hidden gems like original fireplaces or floorboards, while reconfiguring certain spaces can make the layout more practical for modern living.
Interior Design Ideas for Edwardian Homes
Restoring Period Features
Where possible, keep or reinstate original details such as plaster cornices, fireplaces, and timber floors. If you’re looking to bring back authentic Edwardian charm, we offer many of the era’s most popular Edwardian coving profiles on our website as well as a range of Edwardian ceiling roses.
Colour Palettes & Wall Treatments
Edwardian interiors often used pastel and muted tones such as sage greens, pale blues, and soft creams, paired with painted or varnished woodwork. While light colours were traditional, many homeowners today choose deeper shades to create contrast with period fireplaces or panelling for a more modern approach however, this is all personal preference.
Lighting and Windows
Statement chandeliers, wall sconces, and restored sash windows work beautifully in Edwardian settings. Stained glass in doors and fanlights was especially popular at the time; they can be costly to replace, but if you have a larger budget, they are worth the investment for their craftsmanship and character.
How to Choose Furniture for Edwardian Homes
Furniture should work with the scale of the rooms. During the Edwardian era, dark woods such as walnut and mahogany were common, often with simple, elegant lines. Mixing antique or reproduction pieces with modern, understated designs can help maintain balance without making the space feel like a museum. (Don’t know if I like that last bit,)
How to Modernise an Edwardian House Without Losing Character
It’s possible to make an Edwardian home comfortable and practical without stripping away its charm. Focus on discreet updates: insulation behind original plaster walls, underfloor heating beneath timber floors, and sympathetic kitchen and bathroom upgrades. Retaining features such as cornicing or stained glass while introducing modern appliances and lighting can give you the best of both worlds.
What are the Costs and Timelines for Edwardian House Renovations
Firstly, consider these unwanted discoveries when planning your budget so that the job can run smoothly and not come to a halt if there are unexpected costs. Always set a budget, and remember, your budget is personal to you. There’s no fixed figure, as every house is different, with its own size, condition, and level of transformation needed.
Project length varies depending on the scope of work. Bespoke items, from joinery to made-to-measure windows, can add lead time, so it’s wise to order these early. Planning ahead avoids delays and keeps the project moving.
Start Your Renovation with Plaster Ceiling Roses and Coving
If you’re looking to add period detail, plaster ceiling roses are a great place to start. These are easy to install and affordable. Our website features a wide range of Edwardian-style roses, which are easy to peruse as they have been categorized into ‘periods’. We have many Edwardian styles to choose from - available in different sizes.
Popular Edwardian style ceiling roses are LPR072 and the slightly less ornate LPR026 and of the plainer roses that became increasingly popular and are still very in demand today LPR074 and MPR073. A popular moulding for panelled ceilings is MR016
Plaster Coving samples are available to purchase on our website, enabling you to make a confident choice… with a physical sample in hand you can easily compare it to your room's decor.
Our ‘Swan Neck’ plaster cornice designs are extremely popular with clients restoring Edwardian properties. These are stylish and ideally suited to the high ceilings, their detail accentuated by the large amounts of natural light pouring into the rooms, designs such as LPC030, MPC065, and LPC073.
Once you’ve chosen your coving or ceiling roses, we can connect you with one of our trusted independent fitters. These skilled specialists will ensure your installation is done to a high standard, helping your renovation run smoothly from start to finish.
Do you know we deliver across the UK?
We have our very own dedicated delivery vehicles and team - who will ensure you get your plaster mouldings quickly and safely. For sales and general enquiries please call 0333 043 1471 or email service@shawfieldpark.co.uk.