When the BBC’s Poldark remake aired last week, it wasn’t just the rugged male lead and the sprawling Cornish coastline that caught people’s eyes. Like many of its period predecessors, Poldark has left people hooked on the opulent interiors and classic styling of bygone years. Here’s how you can re-create the looks featured in some of the best costume dramas on our screens.

A portrait of Poldark

Set in the late 1700s, Poldark features stunning Georgian interiors, which were heavily influenced by the French Rococo and gothic styles. The colours of the period were toned-down – think off-white, brown, grey, olive green, pale blue, but also muted shades of gold, yellow, red, pink and deep blue. In terms of fabrics and wallpaper, look for flocked patterns, florals or bird prints on a plain background. You can own the very curtains hanging in the Poldark manor house, which are the Harrington Red Earth from iLiv’s Charlton collection.

The Georgians used furniture sparsely, so for an authentic Poldark look your room should be open with little clutter. That’s not to say you can’t accessorise: items representative of the period include candlesticks and candelabras, decanters, wall lanterns, or artwork and mirrors with gold gilded frames for a regal touch. The focus of every Georgian home was its fireplace, which was often made of white marble. You could create the look using a marble effect finish.

Do it like Downton

When it comes to period dramas, there are few that can rival the popularity of Downton Abbey, which is set at the end of the Edwardian era. Embellishments and decoration were in vogue in 1912, so your Downton décor should say luxury and indulgence. Each room in Downton Abbey is filled with decorative touches; think chandelier lighting, fringed lamps, padded headboards and rugs. Layer accessories like cushions, pillows and throws to create a feeling of excess, and put your china and silverware on display. Curtains should be heavy, with thick cords and tassels, and your colour palette is best dark and rich, good choices are peacock blue, hunter green and garnet red.

One of Downton’s stand-out features is its spectacular architecture, like deeply carved woods, stone mouldings and ornate ceilings. Of course, we can’t all live in an Edwardian country house, but try adding wall panels, panelled doors and upgrade baseboards to emulate some of the detailing. A feature wall is key in the Crawley household, and Downton favours a damask wallpaper, like these designs form Graham & Brown.

Madly modern

A slightly more modern take on the period drama is Mad Men, which has made the sixties stylish again. The 1960s were a burst of psychedelic colours and true to form, the interiors on Mad Men are graphic, dynamic and colourful. Owing to the popularity of hippie culture, earth tones were big business in the sixties and greens, golds and oranges are key colours for Mad Men style interiors. Colour block using these earthy tones as a base, then add cushions and accessories in brighter pops. Go for dark wood furniture as seen in Don Draper’s office, and incorporate iconic Eames molded plastic chairs.

Tie-dye, paisley and plaid were the prints of choice in the swinging sixties, along with florals and geometrics – the bigger and brighter the better. The rise of the discotheque saw metallics and mirrors become popular in homes, adorning walls alongside pop art and posters. However, remember that simplicity and symmetry are key – in the 1960s, less was more.

Whose home style would you like to steal? Tell us in the comments section below.