With the rise of maximalism in interior decor trends, it’s not surprising that Castlecore, a medieval-inspired aesthetic that embraces opulence, jewel tones, and luxurious fabrics, has jumped in popularity over the past few months.
According to the Pinterest Predicts 2025 report, Castlecore is expected to wield great influence on housing design and fashion in 2025. Over the last year, “Medievalcore” searches increased by 110 percent, while “castle house plan” searches increased by 45 percent.
Castlecore incorporates historical influence with modern-day materials to create decadent, but cozy, design.
Why Castlecore is so Popular Right Now
Castles play a significant role in architectural nostalgia, the setting for childhood fairytales and folklore. Nostalgia, and the comfort that comes with it, is increasingly becoming a guiding principle for homeowners designing homes that bring them joy.
Similarly, having a comfortable home that is a cozy retreat is non-negotiable for a growing number of homeowners, and Castlecore satisfies that criteria.
Castlecore also taps into the trends towards dark and moody colors and natural materials, both of which are central design features in castle house plans.
What are the most iconic design and architectural features in modern-day castle house plans? How can you decorate and furnish your home to replicate a castle aesthetic?
Here is what you need to know about Castlecore and designing a castle-style home built for a king (or queen).
What Are The Must-Have Features in a Castle House Plan?
Whether you choose to have a traditional castle house plan (picture a sprawling stone edifice, nestled in the countryside) or wish to incorporate a castle vibe in a more compact footprint closer to the city, there are specific elements to consider.
Starting with the exterior, generate castle curb appeal with turrets. Direct the eye towards the front entrance with grand archways and arched windows, a stone porch, and a sizable, heavy front door. Facades are generally stone or brick.
If you are hardcore about Castlecore, you could include a drawbridge and a moat (or pond).
Inside, continue the focus on a grand entrance, with a wide, welcoming foyer, complete with a statement-making staircase. Typically, the foyer vaults up at least two stories.
In terms of layout, open-concept floor plans with high ceilings work well in the Castlecore aesthetic.
The designation of rooms and spaces follow a similar pattern to a number of other housing styles, including a large, open great room, anchored with a fireplace, and large kitchen.
A formal dining room is a must, big enough to house a chunky, wooden dining table suitable for medieval-style feasts.
Focus on the primary bedroom, with luxurious touches meant for the king or queen of the castle, including an in-suite fireplace, a reading nook and dressing areas.
A must-have in a castle house plan is a reading room (also known as a home library). If you work from home, or require home office space, this is an excellent, stylish spot to include this, while staying true to Castlecore.
Think about some other castle-like features, such as a secret passage, a wine cellar, or a porte cochere.
Castles generally have courtyards, sometimes with the outdoor space at the center of the home, with the floor plan built out around the green space.
Traditional courtyard landscaping should include lush gardens, a walking path, hedge rows, climbing vines, seating and water features (all on an appropriate scale to the size of the castle-style home).
Focus on Natural Materials
Castlecore starts with a back-to-basics approach with a focus on natural and sustainable materials. Natural wood which features exposed and intricate grains and stone is popular.
Choose wide, exposed ceiling beams to draw the eye up. Often these beams are styled with carvings or other ornamental features. Wooden floors are common, with rugged, rough-hewn finishes.
Often a focal point in castle-inspired design is a fieldstone (or similar stone) fireplace, with an open hearth.
Stone isn’t just limited to fireplaces in Castlecore. It’s used widely on accent walls as well.
Castlecore Lighting
Dim lighting is part of castle-style authenticity, but modern-day homeowners need to consider functionality to conduct everyday tasks.
Be aware of the presence of natural light in your castle-style home. With predominantly dark interiors, heavy woods, rich textiles, and moody colors, natural light is important. Ideally, you’ll have large windows to usher in natural light to counter all the darkness.
You will need to ensure that you’ve got light from multiple sources, including task-oriented lights.
Decorative lighting is an important part of creating a Castlecore vibe. Fancy light fixtures, like chandeliers, torch-inspired sconces and candelabras all add visual weight and opulence. Wrought iron or oiled bronze are popular finishes.
Furnishing and Decorating a Castlecore Home
While medieval-style furniture is ornate, it must also be comfortable, as warm and cozy are at the heart of this trend. Your local antique shop, resale marketplaces or flea market are probably your best bet for authentic-looking medieval furniture. Lean towards natural, dark wood furniture.
If you can’t source vintage pieces, look for vintage-style, with an old-world patina.
A four-poster bed, with a carved headboard and a canopy will make you feel like you are sleeping in a castle.
In the dining room, choose a trestle table with carved legs. Pair it with large, high back throne-style chairs and a fancy sideboard.
Bringing Castlecore color into your home is easy. Current paint color trends feature princely purples and earthy, regal reds, along with a selection of jewel tones, so you won’t have to look far for inspiration.
Choose ornate accents, such as velvet upholstery, gilded mirrors, old-world maps, oversize oil paintings, family crests, chainmail artwork and wall tapestries.
Thick window treatments and drapes are typical of medieval design but opt for bare windows to cater to modern design, making your home lighter and brighter. Go for gothic window mullions instead, if you want a little extra detail.
Can I Build a Castle Home Anywhere?
Technically many of these features of a traditional castle-style home can be accommodated, at least on a smaller scale, in a lot of different locations. However, given the grandeur and visual weight of a lot of the details and architectural features, a true castle home is best served on a large parcel of land.
When building in a higher-density area, you should be mindful of the overall streetscape, and how a castle home might blend in, or not. You may also be restricted by zoning laws or HOA regulations around house style and facades.
