Popular Coving Styles in the UK  for Homes and Interiors

Coving is a timeless feature that adds elegance and charm to any room. In the UK, it has long been a popular design choice for both traditional and modern interiors. Whether you’re looking to restore the elegance of a period home or add some character to a new build, coving offers a stylish solution that can complement any décor. In this article, we’ll explore the most popular coving styles in the UK, their benefits, and how they can enhance your living space.

Traditional Victorian Coving

One of the most popular coving styles in the UK, particularly in period homes, is the Victorian coving. This style is known for its elegant, detailed patterns and elaborate designs. Victorian coving typically features a combination of curves and intricate detailing, creating a sophisticated transition between the ceiling and walls.

Victorian coving is often made from plaster, giving it a classic and luxurious appearance. However, you can also find polyurethane versions that offer the same appearance with the added benefits of being lighter and easier to install. This style is ideal for homes with high ceilings and ornate interiors.

Edwardian Coving

Edwardian coving shares similarities with Victorian styles but tends to be slightly less intricate. It often features softer, more streamlined curves and simpler detailing. This style works well in period homes that want to retain a sense of classic elegance without overwhelming the space with too much decoration.

Edwardian coving can be made from plaster, but polyurethane and polystyrene options are also available for those looking for an easier, more cost-effective installation.

Contemporary or Modern Coving

While traditional coving remains highly popular in many UK homes, modern coving styles have also gained a lot of traction in recent years. Modern coving is characterized by clean lines, sharp angles, and minimalist designs. Unlike the ornate detailing of traditional coving, contemporary coving tends to be simpler and less fussy.

This style is typically used in modern or contemporary homes, where the focus is on sleek design and functionality. Polyurethane is often the material of choice for modern coving, as it is lightweight and easy to cut and install.

Cove Lighting or LED Coving

In recent years, LED coving has become a highly popular choice in the UK, especially in modern interiors. This style features coving that has a built-in channel for LED strip lighting, creating a stunning lighting effect that can highlight the architecture of the room. LED coving is perfect for adding a dramatic atmosphere or creating ambient lighting in living rooms, dining rooms, or bedrooms.

LED coving is often made from polyurethane or PVC, materials that are easy to install and lightweight. These materials also offer durability and flexibility for fitting in various room sizes and shapes.

Art Deco Coving

For those looking to combine vintage charm with bold design, Art Deco coving is a stylish option. This coving style is inspired by the bold lines, geometric patterns, and luxurious finishes of the Art Deco era. It works particularly well in homes that have an eclectic or vintage-inspired interior.

Art Deco coving typically features straight lines and angular patterns, and it can be used to complement other elements of Art Deco style, such as bold wallpaper patterns and mirrored finishes.

Georgian Coving

Georgian coving is another popular style, particularly in older homes built in the 18th century. It’s typically simpler and less decorative than Victorian or Edwardian coving, but it still adds a refined elegance to any room. The design of Georgian coving focuses on subtle curves and linear shapes.

This style is often made from plaster, but modern alternatives, such as polyurethane coving, are available to provide easier installation. Georgian coving is ideal for homes with high ceilings and large rooms, where a more minimalist approach is desired.

Coving for Small Rooms

For smaller rooms, you may not want a heavy, ornate coving style that could overwhelm the space. Slimline or lightweight coving is a perfect solution for smaller rooms or modern flats. These coving styles offer a subtle design that still adds character and definition without being overpowering.

Lightweight coving is typically made from polystyrene or polyurethane, which are both cost-effective materials that are easy to install. These materials are also flexible, making them suitable for use in smaller, more compact spaces.

Arched Coving

In homes with arched ceilings or other curved architectural features, arched coving provides a perfect solution. This style follows the natural curve of the ceiling, creating a seamless transition between the wall and the ceiling without the sharp angles seen in traditional coving.

Arched coving is ideal for rooms with arched windows or doorways, as it can enhance the overall aesthetic of the space. It can be made from materials like plaster, polyurethane, or polystyrene, depending on the desired finish and installation requirements.

Moulded Coving with Raised Designs

For a more detailed and ornamental appearance, moulded coving with raised designs adds a touch of grandeur to any room. This style features intricate patterns or floral motifs, often used in grand halls or dining rooms.

Raised designs can be found in Victorian, Edwardian, or Georgian-style coving, and they often feature floral patterns, beading, and scrolls. Moulded coving is typically made from plaster or polyurethane to achieve the detailed patterns.

Flexible Coving

Flexible coving is perfect for rooms that have uneven walls or ceilings. This type of coving is made from flexible materials like flexible polyurethane and is designed to be used in spaces with irregular angles, curves, or irregular wall surfaces.

Flexible coving can be used to cover cracks or gaps between the walls and ceilings, while still maintaining a clean, professional look. It’s an ideal choice for modern and older homes where the walls and ceilings are less uniform.

Conclusion

The popularity of coving in the UK continues to grow, with homeowners choosing from a wide range of styles to suit their interior décor. From traditional Victorian coving to modern LED coving, there are designs to suit every room and style of home.

Coving is a versatile and practical addition to any home, enhancing the room’s aesthetic while providing a functional solution to cover imperfections like cracks between walls and ceilings. Whether you’re renovating a period home or updating a contemporary space, the right coving can transform the look of your room.

To explore a wide range of high-quality coving options, visit our Coving Online Shop. Looking for installation help? Check out our installation services.