Swords, armor, and shields are just a few things that come to mind when the word medieval is mentioned. Romantic drama is to be displayed in this area of design. Dark colors with heavy fabrics play a role in this space to set the mood. There are many elements of design to consider when creating this gothic-orientated theme. The major elements will be color, fabric, texture, furniture, and accessories.
Colors - Deep red and royal blue are two colors to hone in on. Think how would King Arthur design his castle? Rich colors and lush fabrics were repeatedly seen throughout this style of design. When painting, you want your room to have drama, so be careful and avoid walls that are too dark. For example, on an accent wall you may want to use patterned wallpaper; something with deep shades and gold accents. Next, pick a complimenting color from the accent wall that is lighter and paint the other three walls that shade. Make sure you balance the space with larger, heavy items spaced apart, so one side of the room doesn't feel heavier than the other.
Fabrics and Textures - Generally the fabrics found in this era were heavy and dark. Most the rooms back in the medieval times were small and dark, so using lighter fabric would have lightened up the room. To capture the feel of drama in this space, use a lighter fabric like silk or linen in a deeper shade. Having deep red drapery made of linen will allow limited transparency to set the tone for a darker room. Finishing the look would be a gold tassel tie. Consider leather or suede as a great fabric for upholstery.
Furniture - Furniture in this era was just beginning to develop. Think hand carved wood, metal hardware, studs, hinges, brackets and handles. Deep gold and silver will be the perfect medieval touch. Oversized pieces will give the comfortable yet mysterious feel a medieval space should have. A key piece of medieval decor is a chest or the hutch. Think about replacing your coffee table with a chest or place a chest at the end of your bed which is both beautiful and functional for storage.
Accessories - Accessories for this space are endless. Try covering the wall with beautiful medieval inspired tapestries and anything with crests, crowns, unicorns, horses, mythical beasts, shields, armor, swords and candles. You can also choose to place a medieval suit of armor in the corner or used stained glass windows. You can create stained glass that fits right over your current windows if you cannot find actual stained glass pieces to install. The stained glass kits can be picked up at any craft store. Hang crosses in every room and you are sure to ward off evil spirits.
Medieval style focuses on romantic drama by using dark colors, heavy fabrics, oversized furniture and cornerstone accessories. So throw in a movie of Robin Hood while you kick back in your medieval motif and let the tale begin.
