Bridgerton has left us more inclined to conserve original features in our homes, says a property expert. The hit Netflix series – returning next month – sparked the 'Regencycore' movement in fashion and home decor trends.
But it can also be thanked for encouraging homeowners to honour the character and historic elements of our homes.
Suzi Dailey is a top luxury real estate agent with Realty ONE Luxe in Newport Beach, California. She has worked in real estate for 14 years, selling homes worth over $20 million.
The Bridgerton home renovation effect
The arrival of season two of Bridgerton in March will no doubt see search rocketing for regency-era-inspired headbands and empire-line dresses. Beyond fashion, the trend also extends to home decor, as the homes we see in the series are show-stopping in themselves.
Think Wedgewood blue and pastel hues, four-poster beds, frills and florals, and plenty of gold candlesticks. And rather than modernizing all areas of our homes and starting with a blank slate, we now have a deeper appreciation of historic features thanks to Bridgerton.
Suzi has observed a 'freshening' of the Regency style in her area, commenting that regencycore is a popular style in old, ornate homes.
'Often, instead of leaving the dark colors on the walls or lots of gold detailing, today's trend is to preserve the details and decorative ormolu on the walls and paint it all white,' says Suzi. 'Frankly, I am glad that their craftsmanship is being preserved by some owners, and if Bridgerton helped inspire that, then that is a further compliment to the show's authentic time piece of a series.'
The real estate agent goes on to say that maintaining ornate features like wall moldings and paneling but painting them in the best white paint gives you lots of opportunities to express your own style.
A neutral backdrop in a living room or hallway allows you to design a space with an eclectic mix of contemporary and antique art and furnishings. Displaying a houseplant in a modern, colorful pot on an old drinks trolley makes each item look more interesting, just like a vintage Persian rug looks effortlessly cool under a new sofa.
If you're planning a house renovation, hold onto any quirky original features and celebrate the craftsmanship and history of the building. Lady Whistledown would approve.