5 DIY Period Features to Bring Back to Your Home

Many British homes, particularly those from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, have had their original character stripped away over the decades. Modernisations in the 60s and 70s often saw original fireplaces removed, ornate coving plastered over, and traditional window dressings replaced with functional but soulless alternatives.

 

The good news is that "bringing back the character" doesn't always require a team of specialist contractors. There are several high-impact period features you can restore yourself to add value and soul back into your home.

 

1. Reinstating Ceiling Roses and Coving

Nothing defines a period room quite like the transition between the walls and the ceiling. If your rooms feel "box-like" and modern, adding decorative coving or a central ceiling rose can instantly change the proportions.

 

While original lath-and-plaster work is hard to replicate, modern lightweight polyurethane versions are incredibly easy to install with strong adhesive and a bit of filler. Once painted, they are indistinguishable from the originals and add an immediate sense of grandeur.

 

Image Credit: @georgianlodgehome

 

2. Restoring Interior Plantation Shutters

Historically, internal shutters weren't just decorative; they were a functional necessity for security and insulation. Reintroducing shutters is one of the most effective ways to restore a "period" feel to your windows.

 

Unlike curtains, which can feel like an afterthought, shutters become part of the architecture. Choosing a "Silk White" or “Natural” for your DIY shutters mimics the traditional joinery found in 19th-century homes, while providing modern-day light control and privacy.

Image Credit: @sistersrenovation

 

 

3. Adding Picture Rails and Dado Rails

If your walls feel vast and empty, it may be because the original mouldings were removed. Picture rails (typically installed 30-50cm below the ceiling) and dado rails (at waist height) were designed to break up the vertical space and provide a "gallery" look.

 

Installing these is a straightforward DIY project involving a mitre saw, some timber moulding, and a spirit level. Not only do they add architectural interest, but they also allow you to experiment with "split-wall" paint or wallpaper designs.

 

Image Credit: @campbell_and_cox_home

 

 

4. Exposing and Treating Original Floorboards

Underneath many old carpets lies a hidden treasure: original pine or oak floorboards. Restoring these is a labour of love, but the results are transformative.

 

Renting a floor sander for a weekend allows you to strip away years of grime and old varnish. Finishing them with a traditional wax or a modern hard-wax oil brings out the natural grain and creates a warm, authentic foundation for your period-inspired room.

 

@making_meadowview

 

 

5. Updating Door Hardware

Sometimes, the smallest details make the biggest difference. If your period doors are fitted with modern chrome handles, they will always look out of place.

 

Switching these for traditional brass or porcelain beehive knobs, along with classic escutcheons (keyhole covers), is a 10-minute DIY task that adds a tactile sense of history every time you enter a room.

 

image credit: @sistersrenovation

 

 

Why DIY restoration is so rewarding

Restoring period features is about more than just aesthetics; it’s about respecting the history of your home. By choosing to do the work yourself—whether it's fitting your own hardwood shutters or installing coving—you gain a deeper connection to the space you live in.

 

By focusing on these five areas, you can take a "blank canvas" modern room and turn it into a space that feels like it has been there for a century.