How to Create an Edwardian or Victorian Bathroom

If you’ve got a period property, perhaps a Victorian terrace or an Edwardian country residence, then choosing the right bathroom is essential.

We know that it can be tempting to simply choose what you like, without considering whether it really suits the house. But having an ultra-modern bathroom in an old house or, even worse, having a traditional bathroom that’s from the wrong period, can really spoil your home.

It’s especially significant if you’re looking to sell you home in the near future. Buyers love sympathetic restorations, and will be seriously impressed by a bathroom that’s of the right style for the age of the house.

So, what should you choose? If your property is Edwardian (that is, dating from Edward VII’s reign between 1901 and 1910, or just after – until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914) then it should have an Edwardian bathroom suite.

Look for basins with large bowls, featuring a scalloped back edge, rounded front and rounded pedestal base.

For baths, roll top styles are ideal, as you can choose to have them either mounted on claw feet or freestanding, which is a modern take on the Edwardian look.

If your home is Victorian (dating from roughly 1837 to 1901), then look for a basin with a squared-off front and a squared-off pedestal base, like the Victoria basin.

The Victoria roll-top bath with dragon feet would accompany this sink perfectly.

To finish off the authentic period look, choose replica tiles from the right era and use Farrow & Ball paints, which are specially mixed to have the same pigments as would have been used in the past.

Are you undertaking a renovation of a bathroom in a period property at the moment? We would love to see how you get on.