19th century
... time more and more furniture was included in a room. Although hangings and tapestry were still in use, the most common wall covering of this period was now wallpaper. Regency papers were light, either to match the chintz chairs or curtain materials, or plainer versions with floral borders. Many stripped papers were used, often satin-grounded, also flock papers and, and those that gave the effect of marble. Early Victorian papers were still light and fresh in colour, tough generally floral in design, with stripes still as a favourite wall design. From 1850-60 the walls echoed the over decorated and crowding of the remainder of the room, and wallpaper design were busier and more sombre in tone, though with the introduction of aniline dyes, strident colours were also blended in, but the subtle shades of earlier days were seldom seen. Motifs followed the general Gothic trend, also the rococo design as showed at the Great Exhibition. There were heraldic insignia, scrolls, acanthus leaves and formal floral patterns reminiscent of Medieval Italian velvet but now less refined in design. Purple crimson with gilt and black decorations. Hand printed-papers were still imported from china, representing Chinese scenes and flowers and birds in delicate designs. These papers were still usually affixed to canvas on a wood frame as before. In 1841 wall papers were now machine-printed which quickly began to replace the hand printed ones. The demands for such papers were great and a mass production was soon established, though hand-printed papers continued to be made for those with money. Wallpaper generally covered the wall from wainscot to picture rails, while woodwork was painted in light shades and white in the regency period, and in grained or dark brown hues by mid-century. The Interior: Floors Floors were polished wood, and covered by rugs and carpets, though kitchen and hall were often tiled. Many carpets were now made in England, by Axminister, Kidderminster and Wilton in particular. Designs were generally floral, with a centrepiece and a border on the outside, though by the Victorian period geometrical or floral repeat patterns were more usual. By this time production had increased a lot because of the introduction of steam power. Some embroidered carpets and rugs were still made at home by devoted people, whilst for cheaper use, painted felt sufficed. Ceilings: Ceilings were now much plainer, and decorated white from which to suspend a light. Regency chimneypieces were mostly of white marble in a simple, dignified form of carved decoration with gilt, painted or inlaid marble ornament. There was a mantelshelf, a decorated frieze and a side pilasters or carved figures. Until 1845, simple marble chimneypieces and basket grates were moist popular, but after this the highly ornamented style became fashionable; these were a mass of scrolls and curves and floral forms. An ornamental mirror over the chimneypiece helped to lighten the dim rooms. Windows Sash windows were in use all this period: Regency types were large with narrow glazing bars, and on the lower half often reached from the picture rail nearly to the floor. Panes were rectangular, with each window section usually having two in the width and two in depth. Curtains were draped most decoratively over a large pole, and were either stripped in silk or ...