Jane Bennet (MADDIE CLOSE), Lydia Bennet (GRACE HOGG-ROBINSON), Lizzie Bennet (POPPY GILBERT), Mary Bennet (ELLA BRUCCOLERI) & Kitty Bennet (MOLLY WRIGHT) in The Other Bennet Sister. (BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)

We’re (Ardently) In Love With Jane Austen Interiors

By Charlie Colville

4 weeks ago

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that modern homes are in want of Regency features

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We’re (Ardently) In Love With Jane Austen Interiors

Regency romance, both at home and onscreen, never goes out of style. And with 2026 paving the way for a fresh wave of Austenmania – thanks to Netflix’s Pride & Prejudice series, the BBC’s Mary Bennet spin-off The Other Bennet Sister, and an upcoming cinematic remake of Sense & Sensibility starring Daisy Edgar-Jones – our attention is raptly fixed on the gorgeous cottages, halls and manors that house the Regency’s authors most-beloved novels.

Interior Designers (Still) Can’t Part With Jane Austen

It’s been 250 years since Jane Austen came into this world – and she’s yet to really leave it. The Regency author remains a key reference points for most writers, directors and designers, who continue to fall in love (quite ardently, we might add) with her wit, wisdom and ability to paint vivid pictures of the past.

Richard E Grant and Ruth Jones as Mr and Mrs Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister (2026) (BBC/Bad Wolf)

‘There’s a clarity and restraint to Austen’s world that still resonates,’ notes Scarlett Jones, Studio Lead at Sims Hilditch. She adds that, while the romances and dramatic storylines of these worlds are what draw us in, many linger for a glimpse of the interiors that decorate them. ‘It reflects a slower, more deliberate way of living, where homes were designed around proportion, light and longevity rather than trend. That sense of consideredness creates a relaxed, pleasing atmosphere, it’s a classic aesthetic that will never age.’

She adds that these stately homes and cosy cottages ‘sit firmly within the canon of classic English design. They’re defined by proportion, symmetry, and a sense of ease. The palette is often soft and grounded, the furniture is well made and with refined detailing, with a clear emphasis on natural materials. Importantly, these spaces feel that they have evolved over time.’

Matthew Macfadyen as Mr Darcy and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice

‘When I think of Jane Austen interiors, I imagine elegant yet comfortable Regency-style rooms in soft pinks, greens, and blues, layered with touches of romance through delicate, spriggy floral fabrics and wallpapers, frilled details, embellishments, and fringing,’ notes Nina Campbell OBE, designer and founder Nina Campbell. ‘I can see Elizabeth Bennet pining after Mr Darcy on a beautifully carved wooden chair, or Mrs Bennet twitching a floral curtain at the window as she noses at Mr Bingley calling on her daughter.’

And while we weren’t there ourselves to see just how the homes in Regency Britain were decorated, we have plenty of references – some accurate, some less so – to fuel our imagination. ‘Television and film offer a tangible reference point, translating what Austen describes in words into fully realised spaces,’ emphasises Scarlett. ‘With a strong emphasis on materiality, craftsmanship, and atmosphere, they reveal how these interiors were composed – from the scale of furniture to the strong use of colour and layering of pieces and detailing.’

The interiors of the fictional Kellynch Hall in Jane Austen's Persuasion. The Netflix Adaptation

Persuasion. (L to R) Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot, Richard E. Grant as Sir Walter Elliot, Yolanda Kettle as Elizabeth Elliot in Persuasion (2022) © Nick Wall/Netflix

Decades’ worth of production design has given us a glimpse into the past – as well as an opportunity to see how we can put a more creative spin on Regency aesthetics. ‘I think the magic of Austen is that there isn’t one singular look that’s totally replicable – it’s an interpretative form of interior decoration,’ affirms Rebecca Craig, Lead Designer for Sanderson. ‘The number of adaptations we’ve seen on screen shows just how varied the creative responses have been to Austen interiors.

‘Autumn de Wilde’s take in Emma (2020), for example – with its symmetrical design, delicate details and a neat palette of pale pinks, greens and pastels – is vastly different from the more muted, earthy colour and tone of Simon Langton’s perhaps more periodically precise interiors in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.’ Similarly, Netflix’s Dakota Johnson-led Persuasion remake, with its vivid jewel tones and botanical wallpapers, is at odds with both of the above – as well as the ornately patterned (yet more moodily toned) furnishings and antique furniture that line the rooms in the 1995 rendition of Sense & Sensibility.

Mia Goth as Harriet Smith and Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma in Emma (2020)

That is to say, Austen interiors are made to be romanticised, exaggerated, pulled apart and patchworked together – until they set the scene for the kind of drama we love to read (and watch) in Jane Austen’s novels.

Expert Tips: How To Get The Look

Keep The Palette Restrained

When grounding a room or area of the home in a particular theme, it’s best to start with the colour palette. And when it comes to Austen-inspired interiors, Scarlett advises ‘working with muted, warm pastel tones – off-whites, soft greens and earthy neutrals. This creates a calm foundation and allows architectural details and furnishings to take precedence.’

(But, if your heart calls for it, don’t be afraid to work in some colour. We’ve seen from the stunning set designs of Netflix’s Persuasion and Autumn de Wilde’s Emma – as well as modern day Regency dramas like Bridgerton – that more whimsical palettes lend themselves well to this theme.)

Choose Furniture With Integrity

Many items of furniture we see sitting in the UK’s network of stately homes come from the Georgian period – partly because restorers have kept them in good knick, and partly because the original items were made with longevity in mind.

Similarly, when laying out your Austen-themed home, you’ll want to look for good quality pieces of furniture. ‘Opt for pieces with clean, classical lines and good craftsmanship,’ instructs Scarlett. ‘Remember that the emphasis should be on quality and longevity rather than just decoration.’

Opt For Detailed Accents

The fun is in the details, says Scarlett. ‘Layering linens with trims, brass detailing on joinery and mahogany furniture can help ground the room,’ she says. Other details you might want to consider include embroidered textiles, ornamental metalwork on cutlery, hand-painted porcelain or even pastoral wallpapers (that may or may not remind you of Mr Darcy walking through misty meadows on his way to meet with Lizzie Bennet).

Decorate The Ceiling

You can’t miss the not-so-secret fifth wall. While not everyone is blessed with high ceilings at home these days, it’s still worth giving yours some TLC – especially if you want that signature Austen look. ‘The sky’s the limit – literally,’ says Rebecca. ‘One thing we forget is how much the Regency period loved their decorated ceilings. (Particularly contemporary architect Robert Adam.) So don’t forget to look up!’

Mix Old With Understated New

While making your plans a reality, it’s important to remember that this will be your home – not the set of a period drama. To avoid anything becoming too costumey, Scarlett recommends creating a balance of old and new. ‘Antique pieces anchor the space and give it credibility, but you’ll want to balance them with simpler, contemporary elements so the overall feel remains relevant,’ she says.

‘Don’t limit yourself in being “periodically perfect”,’ adds Rebecca. ‘I think trying to perfectly replicate the past can feel overwhelming – so pick and choose what feels right for your life and your taste within your home. Maybe it’s finding an embroidered motif on a pair of Regency gloves, or discovering the endpapers of a book of that period and using its colours and patterns as a starting point. This can feel much more creatively exciting and realistic.’

Seek Out Real-Life References

And finally, if you’re still truly quite stuck, go and see some Regency interiors for yourself. ‘There’s Lacock Village, Chatsworth House, Lyme Park, Montacute House, the city of Bath – and so many more,’ says Rebecca. ‘You can get so much inspiration by seeing the interiors adapted in film and TV in real life.’

For a guide to Jane Austen interiors on the big (and small) screen, see our guide here.