Ideas for Home Decor in the Victorian Style
Top Tips for Creating a Beautiful Room with 19th-Century Decor Theme
Jun 4, 2008
The Victorian era lasted from 1835 to 1903. During that time, naturally there were changes in style and décor, but generally this time became known for the abundance of everything – the luscious colours of crimson, purple and forest green, richly textured fabrics and intricate carvings and mouldings. Palms and plants in brass pots stood on elaborate wooden tables, or on top of a dark piano.
Afternoon tea in the drawing room (living room) was often a social event served with traditional cakes on elaborately decorated plates. The Victorian look was cluttered, interesting, and comfortable. To recreate the style choose 2 or 3 colours from the reds, greens and purple shades and be adventurous.
Floors in Victorian Interiors
Initially the Victorians had wall to wall carpets but this gradually gave way to tiled floors, often in geometric black and white designs, or dark wooden floors. Get the look by staining light wooden floors to a darker hue. Floors were then scattered with rugs woven with representations of flowers or birds. The peacock, a great favourite as it was so colourful, came to be a Victorian symbol of beauty.
Victorian Style Furniture
Chairs and sofas were large and rounded with no sharp angles. Dark wood was often ornately carved into the arms and legs of chairs, and upholstery was buttoned leather or brocade. Great numbers of velvet or silk embroidered cushions with fringes and tassels would line the sofa. Tables would have curves and sweeping lines. They would be topped with ornaments, framed pictures, china figures, brass boxes, ceramic pots and bowls. The Victorians liked clutter.
This look can be somewhat toned down to match with today’s lifestyle, keeping the rounded furniture which could be upholstered in one of your colour choices and scattered with sumptuous cushions made with silk or velvet, or both, in the remaining colours. A dark wooden table could display 2 or 3 special pieces of silver or brass.
Light fittings in Victorian Decor
Brass was very popular for Victorian lighting, with etched glass or coloured lamp shades. Again, choose lamp shades from your original colour palette.
Curtains in Victorian Living Rooms
Heavy velvet or brocade curtains would reach from ceiling to floor and be fringed with gold or other trim. Match the curtains to the colour on the walls to keep the room looking spacious. If the wall paper has a cream or pale background, curtains in that colour would work well.
Victorian Style Walls
Victorian walls were a complicated mix of paint, paper, dado and picture rails. Over this, they hung very large paintings in gilded frames, beside dark wooden framed photographs. Try grouping a few small pictures around a central large one. Similar frames would make the effect more pleasing.
Stained Glass Windows
Stained glass was used in panels in front doors and in very small windows as a decorative feature. It was also popular to have a round window with a stained glass scene. Strictly speaking, much of the Victorian style of glass would have been leaded. This would have been made of pieces of coloured glass fused together in geometric patterns. There was also a trend to create panels in this way but to include a circle of painted glass depicting birds or flowers in the centre.
In modern times, there are several manufacturers of leaded glass as well as many stained glass artists. Although it might not be practical to have a stained glass panel in the front door, a piece to hang in front of a window can be effective.
 |
