Prior to the 16th century there was very little design/style in the creation of ordinary buildings and their interiors - they were functional structures only often fulfilling several functions at one time (family home, bakery, storehouse, stable).  However it is incorrect to assume that domestic interiors were dark and gloomy like their grander relations (the castles and cathedrals) they were largely a riot of colour with solid pieces of furniture.  Texture and pattern were also important.

There was little opportunity to have purely ornamental pieces as owners mixed with relatives and, depending on 'class', servants to undertake what we would consider menial tasks today.  Noblemen were frequently on the move and had to have furniture that was easy to transport and, unlike today, this was not a time for mass consumerism so even the richest of residents would not have possessed a much as most 'ordinary' people today.  As a result, by modern standards, rooms were sparsely furnished.

Fabric had an important part to play not just for decorative reasons but for practical purposes.  From wall tapestries and bed hangings to keep back droughts to feather-filled cushions to make the solid, wooden furniture more comfortable - at least for the gentry.

To recreate a medieval interior:

1.    Unlike today colours were limited because of the use of natural dyes so aim to use only earthy shades of reds, ochre yellows, greens and blues

2.    If seeking an opulent look use touches of 'gold' in tassles, thread in cushion fabric patterns, candlesticks and other metalwork

    The Gloucester Candlestick made gilt metal (can be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

3.    Walls should be decorated as should window mullions (the horizontal and vertical separators used between the lights of a window)  Both these can be artificially recreated by adding wide strips of MDF (for the former) or lead strips (for the latter)  To make the panelled walls more authentic still divide vertically and horizontally into rough 'rectangles' - by then adding a coat of rough plaster and 'dirting' with watered down, liberally applied raw sienna colour.  As the plaster will be porous you should only work on small areas at a time.  After this apply a thin coat of white emulsion in the area painted and mix together with an old rag so that each area has a different density of the white and sienna.  To add to the effect 'mortar' can be painted in by using a long thin brush and a colour of your choice (think about using a dramatic alternative or a natural variation on a real mortar colour).  Once the wall is well and truly dry coat the entire area with a a water-based sealant.

4.    Windows, generally, should be arched, circular or rectangular and sub-divided as mentioned above.  Quartrefoils were also common in window designs.  These flower-like tracery elements have four lobes or petals and can be added today by using stencils and glass etching stray to give a general feeling of the time.  Many larger DIY stores also sell wooden patterns that can be glued to walls, tiles and furniture and then painted over when aging the piece.

5.    If point three above is not appealing walls can be whitewashed or colour-washed using one of the basic colours previously mentioned.

Even in medieval times the property owner sort to make their home appear more grand by creating illusions so once again you could draw or paint onto the stone blocks shapes or 'panels' and then add an occasional motif such as a flora, hunting or geometric images.

6.    Remember that most properties were timber framed and you may wish to add 'beams' of roughened timber to the ceiling and plaster in between decorating them with a motif as mentioned in 5.  But do remember to check that your ceiling is capable of taking the extra weight before trying this out and that wherever you are planning on putting them (ideally along the joists) that there aren't any services that could be damaged during the exercise.

7.    Textiles are vital to the look.  Aim for large wall hangings of wool, linen or tapestry and for well-packed loose cushions for the hard furniture (mainly benches ... no three piece suites should really be found in this scheme!)  Curtains were not common in the Middle Ages but you could use the same material (or contrasting fabric) as for the wall hangings to cover the windows to meet today's needs.

8.    In a dining room a long strip of fabric can be spread lengthways across the table topped with large candlesticks in wood or metal.

9.    Carpeting wasn't available at the time (and wouldn't have been very practical even in the highest class household) so aim for stripped or stained wood (geometric designs in bold colours to represent tiles work well).  If this is really unappealing use natural floor covering such as sisal to recreate the impression of the rushes that would have been used.

In hallways, kitchens, conservatories and bathrooms use small motif ceramic tiles - but remember to sell them, remember to maintain them and remember that if you drop anything on them you can kiss good by to it!

10.    As previously mentioned furniture was basic and moveable so ideally benches, trestle tables and chests should be used in reception rooms and four poster beds complete with the necessary drapes to shut out the cold draughts for the master bedroom. 

Originally, these would have been made locally of dark oak and other available timber of a dark hue.  This can be reprised by either purchasing furniture from the Far East (particularly chairs and chests) or buying cheap pine and staining a dark wood colour and finish off with wrought ironmongery.

11.    Lighting clearly was not powered by electricity but today it would unwise to use candles in the number and manner as used in previous centuries (even they frequently suffered the consequences of a tallow or bees wax candle tipping over and igniting anything in its way).  There are a number of different 'candle' lights available from the high street that could be employed as central and wall lights.

If you wish to use candles, for instance, on a dining table please don't leave them unattended and certainly ensure that all have been appropriately extinguished before leaving the house or going to bed (my Mum used to put them out in the garden after a party ... just in case - Heaven only knows what the neighbours thought as she traipsed down to the end of the garden in the early hours of the morning with only the stars to guide her!)

12.    Accessories should be either wooden or metal including for eating and drinking vessels.  Pottery was available for jugs, bowls etc but in all instances the pieces should be substantial and not delicate.

13.  Finally, to recreate one of the more pleasant smells of the Middle Ages use hanging sprigs of herbs and bowls of pot pourri - hopefully they won't be needed to hide some of the  more unpleasant aromas!  - and if possible have an open fire (with guard) or an electrical/gas fire that gives the impression of burning logs and coal.

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