How to bring a bit of Regency-inspired Bridgerton style to your home

The transition from television to trend involves several leaps of imagination. Bridgerton is set in the high society (known as the ton) of England’s Regency era (1811-1820) but the series is American and based on the novels of Julia Quinn, who is also American.

These many lenses have resulted in a set design that’s meticulous in historical detail, but also fantastical. Like the celebrity culture of today, the ton of Regency England was far removed from the real world. Unless you live in a Georgian mansion, your home is unlikely to resemble theirs.

Jen Connell, interiors enthusiast and early adopter, designed a Regencycore room set for DFS at the Ideal Home Show in 2022. Over the past two years, she’s seen the style evolve. “The colour palette is a huge factor,” she says. “It started out very sugary sweet. In the third season they’re exploring darker tones.”

In a video interview for Architectural Digest, Bridgerton’s set designer Alison Gartshore explains how the palette of each home reflects the character of the family within. As the narrative flips from one home to another, the décor reminds the viewers where they are and what to expect.

“Initially we were excited about the style-over-substance aesthetic,” Connell says. “That’s always a risky move but, with everything that’s been going on in the world, you can see why people were so enamoured.”

The historical flowering of Regency design and architecture took place at a time of poverty, protest and war. Something similar may be happening here. Connell’s solution is to lean into trends that align with your own interests and consider the practicality of any major purchase. “Sometimes you’re logical about furniture and sometimes you just fall in love. If you do, find a use for it.”

Since 2022, the high street has caught up with the Regencycore trend. Sofology’s Bridgerton sofa (£899 / €1,049 for a three seater) is an interesting hybrid of Chesterfield design and modern expectations of comfort. And Bridgerton by Catherine Lansfield, a range of floral fabrics (from €25 for a single duvet cover set) is available from many stores. O’Connell likes the DFS Windsor sofa (€1,919 for a three-seater) which she used in her 2022 room set, but also flags the brand’s Thornton floral bedframe (€1,495) and Charlbury accent chair (€969).

These combine well with antiques. Connell’s most recent charity shop haul included a vase (€5) that turned out to be designed by Constance Spry, typically sold in antique shops for around €2,000. It’s not a Regency piece but, being genuinely old, adds depth and character. And it’s good for flowers, which are key to the Bridgerton aesthetic.

“One of the best off-shoots of Regencycore is the way it’s inspired an interest in flower arranging,” Connell says. “I’ve become more involved in it myself and I love seeing the younger generation on TikTok learning the names of flowers.”

The Wisteria collection of table linen from The Designed Table (€55 for a runner) brings a touch of Bridgerton to a tablescape without looking contrived. “There’s plenty within the style for people to express themselves with respect for design history and the value of second hand pieces and hand-me-downs.”

There’s also a strong case for DIY. Catherine Carton of Dainty Dress Diaries is an advocate for pretty interiors, decorating on a budget, and doing the kind of work that would traditionally have required a handyman or a husband. Her new book, Heart & Home (€22 from O’Brien Press), includes 50 DIY projects.

She’s a fan of the Bridgerton series, but recognises that some aspects of Regencycore are more achievable than others. “Unless it’s a period property, window treatments with elaborate draping won’t suit most Irish homes,” she says. “We lack the ceiling height.”

Roman blinds are a more practical alternative, or curtains made from salvaged fabric.

Another issue is clutter. Bridgerton rooms, monumental in scale, can comfortably contain many pieces of furniture. In a standard Irish home, where every item needs to pull its weight, multiple side tables and chaise lounges quickly become too much.

The chaise longue is elegant, but exceptionally greedy on space. Carton recommends that you choose pieces you like best within the style, but limit yourself to those that are functional in your home. “Otherwise it could look like a dressed-up room set.”

From a DIY perspective, Carton suggests adding period character with wallpaper, wainscoting, or panelling. “The whole Bridgerton thing is about attention to detail and lovely chunky skirting boards never really go out of style.”

While such projects are expensive to have done professionally, she undertakes them herself and explains how in her book. Her instructions are clear and encouraging, even for the DIY-phobic. “Tackling these jobs yourself will save you some money that you can put towards something more expensive,” she says.

Then, look to the charity shops. A few weeks ago, she got lucky in the NCBI charity warehouse in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot Road, Dublin. “I found a second-hand wooden writing desk — it’s very Bridgerton!” The desk was made around 1910, but the look is consistent with some of the wooden pieces in the series. Carton had the good sense not to embellish it.

“I cleaned it with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice — the recipe’s in the book — and used tiny amounts of filler to fill in the chips. You can upcycle a piece of furniture over the weekend, but make sure to research a piece before painting, as it might be worth money, and painting it will devalue it.”

Since the desk she bought for €150 turns out to be worth around €1,500, she’s glad she took her own advice.

​See @jenconnell.home, daintydressdiaries.com, dfs.ie, obrien.ie, thedesignedtable.com