Edwardian Era Paint Colors

When it comes to Edwardian paint colors, it sure ends up being a treat. There were many factors that influenced the choice of colors in the Edwardian age. With important movements like the Art Noveau and the breakthrough in fashion and interior designing with new concepts coming from the Orient, newer colors achieved prime importance.

Even designers like Charles Rennie Mackintosh advocated the use of a newer alternate color scheme that had not existed before.

With the development of printing and paint technologies, new wallpaper and color schemes began to develop in Europe. There was also an intense interest in alternate sciences such as the art of living and healthy living. As science itself developed, people began to acquire knowledge about fresh air and sunlight. This also led to a change in the preference of color schemes.

In place of the dark color schemes of the Victorian era, people thus began to opt for lighter shades. This was also reflected in the wall papers and color schemes.

Electricity was developed. Most houses could afford electric light. This meant the discarding of gas lamps which was used previously. Gas lamps caused discoloration of the walls; hence people had to go for darker paint colors. But with the usage of electric lamps, wall colors were set free and people became more open to experimentation with the color palette. Edwardian paint colors were thus experimental.

The Art Noveau brought different colors to the sensibilities of people for the first time. They experimented with lighter softer palettes like olive green, mustard, sage green, pale blue, pale deep pink, violet and lilac. With the use of these colors as paint schemes, the pattern and designing also had to change. Thus we see the rise of new motifs in tiles and wallpapers like the whiplash motif, flowing lines and stylized flower and foliage patterns.

Mackintosh was a Scottish designer and architect who was one of the pioneers of minimalist art in interior decoration. The rooms he designed had white carpets, ceilings and walls. Decorative details like Glasgow Rose patterns were embedded in soft pink or light grey on the furniture and walls.

So if you are going for Edwardian paint colors, do not forget to use cream, white and light shades.