Today's interiors are less about sticking to one design style and more about merging a few to create a home with character. Rather than stripping properties back, homeowners and designers are increasingly embracing original architectural features (or introducing new ones).
From arched doorways and exposed timber beams to stained glass and picture rails, period details are enjoying a well-deserved revival. Whether you're restoring a Victorian terrace, renovating a Georgian townhouse or adding architectural interest to a new build, these timeless features prove that good design never really goes out of style.
1. Vertical slats
After spending years opening up our homes we are now looking for ways to add a little mystery back in. Mid-century-style wooden slats create just enough separation to make a space feel layered without completely closing the room off.
2. Arched doorways
Arched doorways continue to soften modern interiors, bringing a sense of character and architectural interest to even the simplest of spaces. Whether original or newly introduced, their curved lines create a gentle transition between rooms and lend homes a timeless feel.
3. Parquet flooring
A beautifully laid parquet floor has a way of making even a newly renovated home feel as though it's always belonged. Once associated with grand period properties, parquet is enjoying a stylish revival, bringing a touch of old-world charm to contemporary interiors.
Whether restored, reclaimed or newly laid, today's parquet often features brushed, smoked or aged finishes that purposefully age the wood for an effortlessly lived-in feel. Warm oak tones and matt finishes have replaced the glossy varnishes that previously dated this design.
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The designers at Imperfect Interiors often reinstate period features to give renovated homes a greater sense of history and charm. In one recent project, they introduced an aged oak parquet floor alongside a marble fire surround and bespoke alcove joinery to display the clients' art and books.
4. Stained glass
Once dismissed as fussy or old-fashioned and often replaced with clear glazing, stained glass is finally getting the appreciation it deserves. Its rich colours and intricate craftsmanship are being celebrated once again, with original panels prized as works of art rather than features to be removed.
Instead of competing with the glass, today's interiors allow it to take centre stage. Soft, neutral palettes and natural materials provide the perfect backdrop, while the ever-changing play of coloured light becomes part of the decoration itself.
When interior designer Izzy Macphail refurbished an Oxford townhouse by Victorian and Edwardian architect H.W. Moore, reinstating the stained glass was an essential part of restoring the home's character. 'We knew a stained glass window would have been part of the original design,' she says. 'As part of the work, we reinstated the original design,' working with specialist craftspeople to create 'an exact copy of the original'.
5. Tongue-and-groove ceilings
Tongue-and-groove ceilings have come a long way since the glossy, orange-toned pine varnishes. Originally introduced as a practical alternative to plastered ceilings, they're now enjoying a stylish revival. Painted in soft neutrals or earthy hues, they add subtle texture and architectural interest overhead.
Once a staple of country cottages and period homes, today's tongue-and-groove ceilings feel fresh and contemporary. Whether lending a Scandinavian-inspired scheme warmth and texture or colour-drenching a room for a cocooning effect, they prove the ceiling deserves just as much attention as the walls.
6. Glass blocks
Glass blocks are shaking off their bad 80s rep. Once loved by Art Deco architects for their ability to maximise natural light without sacrificing privacy, they're enjoying a well-deserved revival in contemporary homes.
The beauty is that very little has changed. They're still used to create statement shower screens, internal partitions and feature walls, where their sculptural form and softly diffused light feel every bit as decorative as they are practical. If you haven't got round to knocking yours down, don't – we've just saved you a job.
7. Tapestries
As homes embrace a more collected approach to decorating, tapestries are finding their place once again. Draped above a bed or hung as oversized artwork, they bring warmth, texture and a lived-in feel, proving that the most impactful pieces are often those with a story to tell.
8. Delft tiles
Harking back to the 17th century, when blue-and-white Delft tiles depicted ships, landscapes and scenes from everyday life, the new wave of Delft designs is anything but serious. Playful motifs – from disco balls and martinis to beloved pets and coffee cups – offer a joyful way to inject personality into the home.
Traditionally adorning fireplace surrounds, kitchen splashbacks and entrance halls, the new designs are being being mix and matched for a playful spirit.
9. Small format tiles
A longtime favourite in kitchens and bathrooms, the subway (or metro) tile is giving way to smaller, square formats with a more handcrafted feel. Originally used in early 20th-century subway stations, metro tiles became a design staple thanks to their elongated shape, glossy finish and easy-to-clean surface.
Now, the preference is shifting towards vintage-inspired 4x4-inch square tiles, prized for their balanced proportions and decorative appeal. Laid in checkerboard patterns, stripes or neat stacked grids, they lend a heritage feel while introducing rhythm and symmetry. The finish is evolving, too. Instead of perfectly uniform, mass-produced tiles, homeowners are opting for handcrafted styles such as zellige, whose subtle tonal variation and softly imperfect edges bring warmth, texture and individuality to a space.
10. Fluted glass
Reeded, fluted or ribbed...this textured glass in all its forms is enjoying a strong comeback, appearing everywhere possible from bathroom doors and shower screens to kitchen cabinetry and internal glazing. Loved for its ability to diffuse natural light while maintaining privacy, it's a practical way to add subtle texture and visual interest to a space.
Reena Simon (@hygge_for_home) chose fluted glass-fronted kitchen cabinets to 'keep the space feeling open and bright' while discreetly concealing everyday clutter.
11. Exposed timber beams
For Jane Rockett, it was all about striking the right balance between preserving the home's ancient beams and creating a layout suited to modern living. Parts of the former pub date back to the 1500s, and she removed some partition walls to allow light to flow through.
Upstairs, the Rockett St George co-founder kept the rooms sparsely furnished so the original timber and brickwork could take centre stage, adding just a handful of bold, simple pieces. 'A neighbour recently told me that the rafters and beams are made from timber salvaged from old ships and, if that's true, it adds even more allure to the property's backstory.'
The once dark, foreboding beams were stripped back, while the walls were finished in lime plaster.
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