Give your home the royal treatment by looking to the royals themselves
Incorporate gilded, luxe accents into your decor to give it a royal feel.
Embrace royal hues, maximalist design, and ornate patterns.
Keep rooms filled with lush upholstery, long drapes, and soft fabrics.
There is only so much of “The Crown” you can watch without daydreaming about living among Buckingham Palace's chandeliers or Windsor Castle's baroque banquet halls. But even without wearing a crown, you can make your home feel regal. Whether you've decided to work with a local home decorator or to take on the project yourself, we've got the royal interior design tips to take your home from basic to Buckingham.
If you're a baroque enthusiast or crave a bit of modern glam, accent wallpaper is very in right now. Cover an accent wall—or a few accent walls—with ornate temporary wallpaper. Opt for a delicate brocade pattern a la the palace, or choose a pattern that includes the signature gold or silver gilding. Even peel-and-stick wallpaper can be fussy, so call in a local wallpaper hanger to line up your seams and ensure the royal look.
Curtains and window treatments can make quite an impact on the vibe of a space. Hanging your curtains correctly can even open up the room and make the ceilings look taller and more spacious.
Dramatic drapes are also an opportunity to show off more baroque and vintage patterns right out of the palace itself. And if you're perusing “The Crown” episodes for inspiration, check out how each velvet or highly ornate pattern of the windows ties into the lush fabrics throughout the room.
Did you know you can hang a chandelier yourself in just under two hours? A royal home wouldn't be complete without a bit of crystal and dramatic lighting—and let's just say Buckingham Palace has more than a handful. Plus, these lighting fixtures can look perfectly in place in many different rooms. Chandeliers can transform a home office space, a walk-in closet, or the welcome area of your foyer.
Let's take a moment to celebrate all the small accents that make your home look divine. Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle feature a wide range of historic design eras, including the flashy Rococo and streamlined Neoclassical design eras. Deck out your mantels, desks, counters, and bookshelves with the gilded decor of the era. There's nothing wrong with a bit of maximalist design if you keep the room balanced.
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One of the easiest ways to send your home design back in time is to show off the era's iconic art. You have your pick of centuries to choose from, but opt for a piece that shows off the opulence, royalty, and fine art for an obvious nod to royal interior design. Most importantly, be sure to hang the painting correctly. Not only will this protect a delicate and ornate frame, but it will look like it's been hung for a royal designer.
Take a look at the chairs, couches, chaises, benches, and ottomans on the show, and you'll notice a theme—they're nearly all upholstered. Lush comfort is the name of the game in a palace, so keep things comfortable in your own home as well. Speak with a local upholsterer to find out if you can enhance your seating with silk, velvet, or elaborately patterned fabrics.
Peek at a few of the photos of Buckingham Palace's kitchen, and even a take-out enthusiast will marvel at the massive amount of prep and cooking space. The room is also decked out in class copper pots, pans, and accents, giving us a true 18th-century vibe. If you choose copper as your accent metal—whether it's in the appliances, cookware, or decor—be sure to clean copper properly to maintain its original hue.
Do you live in a home with swirling crown molding, ceiling medallions, and wrought-iron details? Lean into the natural beauty of your historic home by highlighting these natural palace-worthy designs. Hire a team of historic home renovation specialists to restore the original accents and provide tips on maintaining their original beauty over the years. These pros can also help you update your home's lighting, appliances, and plumbing without risking its original beauty.
Colors like deep purple or red, rich green, and of course, royal blue, can all set the tone for a regal home without making major changes. Choose a color scheme with one or two main colors and offset them with neutral hues like cream, silver, gold, or gray. Bring in professional interior painters when working with dark colors like these to make sure you get an even, thick coat that makes the rest of your color scheme pop.
