12 Castle Decor Upgrades to Make Your Home Truly Medieval
Strike up the lute and lay the banquet table for these castle-chic home ideas
Whether you're daydreaming of a quaint country cottage or dreaming up a maximalist palace a la Cersei Lannister, medieval home decor is a great way to satisfy your inner royal while staying stylish. Medieval architecture and decor serve up a pretty wide range of styles from gothic to romanesque, not to mention plenty of crossover with popular Tudor home style.
In honor of the premiere of the “Game of Thrones” prequel, “House of the Dragon,” we’re about to give you some serious inspo that would make anyone in Westeros proud. From designing a castle living room to decking out your whole home in medieval home decor, we've got you covered.
1. Pull in Modern Styles
One of the easiest ways to incorporate medieval-chic accents into your home is to first figure out your favorite modern home decor style. Medieval accents can work well with many different modern home styles like rustic, cottagecore, and even the maximalist decor movement.
You can either choose to go small and quaint—focusing on exposed wood and handcrafted furniture—or go big and bold with brass fixtures, rich fabrics, and eye-catching art from the period. A professional home designer can help you blend the two approaches if this feels daunting.
2. Hang Your House Banner
Wall-sized tapestries and banners denoting your family crest were all the rage in medieval home decor, especially those depicting detailed stories of the time. Bring in the rich colors you associate with a towering castle—we're talking dark red, green, and gold—by choosing a handwoven work for your wall in the dining or living room. And if you want to lean into your love of “Game of Thrones,” sneak in your favorite house's coat of arms as a fun detail.
3. Light Up Your Castle
Set the tone both inside and outside your home with proper medieval-inspired lighting. Now, as much as we'd love to keep it cozy and fill our home with candelabra, this should only be a piece of the puzzle if you want to keep things practical. Consider ornate wall sconces as well, especially with materials like copper and cast iron to mimic the look of the era.
4. Dress Up With Drapes
Does anything else highlight the drama of a room more than elaborate drapes? Choosing the right type of window treatments is an easy way to tie in castle decor. Opt for rich velvet and deep colors that make your home feel like you're hosting a banquet in a great hall. Remember to add an elaborate valance at the top and pull back the side drapes with tassel-adorned pulls.
5. Adorn the Room With Artwork
Tapestries aside, you have quite the wide pick of styles when filling your home with medieval artwork. You can choose from classical artists of the era or go a bit outside the box by opting for paintings of dragons, castles, and other folklore. And why stop at the works on the walls? Weave crests, runes, and other symbolism into statues on your mantelpiece, bookshelves, and coffee tables.
6. Embrace Exposed Materials
Do you live in a home with exposed wood beams or a hand-stacked stone fireplace? Highlight these areas of the room with additional castle decor or lighting to show off the period-specific details. For example, if you're aiming for a castle living room, decorate your stone or brick hearth for each season to make the fireplace the focal point of the room as it would have been back then.
7. Get a Bit Gothic
Lovers of medieval and castle-inspired styles are often also drawn to the dark romanticism of gothic design. And while gothic architecture is best known for its acute angles, sharp arches, and stained-glass windows, you can get this look without renovating your home. Hunt for furniture with ornate wood carvings and the same sharp angles you'd find at the top of buildings. Embrace the dark shadows of the color scheme, working in plenty of rich brown and black mahogany.
8. Throw in a Throw Pillow
Add subtle touches to a medieval living room by starting with the small details. Embroidered throw pillows with images of pastoral scenes, gothic artwork, or even a few castles and dragons are a way to add some ancient vibes without going overboard. And there's no need to hold back on the number of throw pillows, blankets, and faux furs—castle decor embraces maximalist energy in everything from the rugs to upholstery.
9. Add Rustic Dining Details
Hoping to recreate a famous banquet from one of your favorite medieval tales? There's nothing like setting the scene than at the dinner table. Consider unique dining room design ideas in this style, such as swapping out chairs from long wooden benches or lighting the room with faux-candle sconces. Go a bit further by choosing brass, iron, and copper dinnerware, candlesticks, and cutlery.
10. Add an Accent Wall
Accent walls adorned with eye-catching wallpaper—even peel-and-stick wallpaper for renters—are popping up in a range of home styles. Instead of adding a giant tryptic to the wall, transform a whole wall with a dark color, ornate pattern, or even a full-sized image of artwork from the time. This tactic works well in both the living room and the bedroom, especially if you're keeping things simple on the other walls and want to set the focal point of the space.
11. Upgrade the Library
While it was a bit of a flex to have a library back then, designing a home library is a sure way to add that romantic flair while showing off your favorite medieval-themed books. Tall bookshelves, either built-in or freestanding, can make a room look taller and more ornate. Shelves are also excellent opportunities to add your favorite castle-focused decor, artwork, and lighting.
12. Add Greenery
Castle decor doesn't have to mean stark stone and imposing dark wood carvings. Add a bit of iconic ivy to your castle by choosing the right houseplants for each room. Opt for a hanging plant with wandering branches that can frame your windows or deck out your mantlepiece. And if you're hoping to bridge the gap between the inside and outside of your castle, work with a local landscape architect to design a garden worthy of a stroll by the palace.