Edwardian Paint Colour Schemes
Edwardian colour scheme
Sage & Ivory, an Edwardian scheme
Edwardian rooms let the light in. Softer than the Victorians before them, they leaned on gentle sage greens, warm ivories and smoky blues on doors and panelling. This scheme follows that lead, a soft sage on the walls, a warm ivory ceiling, quiet or deeper woodwork, and a smoky period blue for the details. Every colour is a breathable, low odour Graphenstone Grafclean, ideal for the lime plaster walls most Edwardian houses still have. All five shades sit in our Edwardian Paint Colours collection. Prefer the richer look that came before? See our Victorian scheme, or browse all our room colour schemes.
Warm ivory through soft sage to a smoky Edwardian blue. Screens vary, so treat these as a guide and try a swatch at home.
Start here · Main wall colour
Artichoke on the walls
A soft, silvery sage that reads as calm rather than colourful, exactly the green the Edwardians loved for drawing rooms and hallways. It flatters natural light at every hour and sits beautifully with oak, brass and linen. One of our most liveable greens. In our low sheen Grafclean matt.
Shop ArtichokeUse Artichoke with
a warm ceiling and your choice of gentle or deeper woodworkIvory
The warm white above
Edwardian ceilings were never stark. Ivory is a warm, creamy white that keeps the room mellow overhead, a kinder choice than brilliant white against sage, and true to the period's creams.
Shop IvoryWhite Linen
The gentle route
For crisp, classic Edwardian trim, take the skirting, picture rails and door frames in White Linen, a soft white that frames the sage without glare. In wipeable Grafclean Eggshell.
Shop White LinenOlive
The moodier route
Prefer the trim to show? Olive takes the woodwork a clear step deeper than the walls, very Edwardian on panelling and stair spindles. Also in wipeable Grafclean Eggshell.
Shop OliveAnd for a little depth
Twilight on the details
A smoky, slate blue for the front door, a panelled hallway below the dado, or a built-in dresser. Deepened from the duck egg and Wedgwood blues the Edwardians adored, a small amount anchors the sage and ivory without ever feeling heavy. Lovely against stained glass and polished brass.
Shop TwilightHow to balance it
- 60%Artichoke walls, wrapping the room.
- 30%Ivory ceiling and White Linen woodwork.
- 10%Olive and Twilight for depth.
Keep the ceiling warm in Ivory, and let brass, oak and linen carry the period feel rather than hard contrast.
Softer or bolder
- SofterTake the walls in Celadon instead, a paler, mistier sage, for a barely-there wash of green.
- BolderBring Twilight up onto panelling below the dado rail, or paint the front door in it for a proper Edwardian welcome.
Edwardian homes were built to breathe. A breathable matt on lime plaster walls helps them manage moisture the way they were designed to.
Browse all 35 shades in our Edwardian Paint Colours collection, or see all our room colour schemes.
Swatch films show the real painted cards in daylight. Screens vary, so always try a swatch or tester at home before you commit. Hex values are indicative only.
