Victorian Decorating Inspiration

Victorian interior design in the modern world...

...a lovely look in rich red.

Read on to find out more...

If you have a traditional home, it can be really nice to decorate it in keeping with its historical period...

This is easy to do, and can mean a wonderfully timeless style...

...that doesn't need updating every time fashions change.

The interior design style I'm looking into on this page, is a modern take on a Victorian interior design theme...

...and gives a lovely, warm and cosy atmosphere to a room.

It uses a deep, rich red - a bold choice for any room!

Color

• Although red is a fantastically warm color - it is also very dramatic
• In some rooms red could feel overwhelming, or make the room feel darker and smaller.
• If you like the look, though, red really does have the power to totally transform your room - and make it feel:
  • warm
  • cosy
  • welcoming
  • nest-like
• This beautiful bedroom is decorated in a Victorian interior design style - not totally historically accurate...

  ...but that doesn't matter so much as the mood or atmosphere that we're trying to achieve.

• This lovely deep red is a typical Victorian decorating color - and gives that cosy, comforting feel that typifies many Victorian rooms.

• Also in the room we see the lovely dark wood panelling.
• Dark wood is a more Victorian choice than pale woods, and brings out the lovely warm tones when matched with this red.








• If you aren't lucky enough to already have wood panelling on your walls, it is quite easy to build yourself (we did it in our bathroom)...

  ...you just need some ply-wood, and battening, and then varnish or paint to finish.

• If you'd like to lighten up the look, you could paint your wood panelling white or cream, together with the red walls.

Furniture

• Of course, you need to choose furniture and accessories that go with this look...
• Victorian antiques and/or Victorian reproduction furniture is available to help you get an authentic look....

  ...but you needn't even go that far!

• The furniture in this room is not all historically accurate, but it is traditional in feel - and has the lovely warm tones of the red look which dominates the room.
• In fact using the warm tones of the pine, in place of a more traditional darker wood, does help to keep the whole look of the room lighter, warmer and contributes to that lovely 'glowy' feel of the room.

Victorian Decorating - Accessories

• As always, your accessories are the point where you can really pull together your whole Victorian decorating look - so choose wisely!









• A few choice:
  • pictures
  • vases
  • lamps
  • bowl and jug

  ...can all help finish off your look.










• In this room a bowl and jug placed on a marble topped wash-stand brings to mind the Victorian practice of having water brought to the room for ladies and gentlemen to wash at their wash-stand.
• Look out for genuine Victorian antiques in antique stores, flea-markets, or on eBay...
• ...or modern reproductions can look just as nice - and can sometimes be much cheaper!

• I like the way in this room, a modern chair (in matching cream and white pattern) sits happily amongst the Victorian interior design...

  ... puts the emphasis firmly on style and comfort rather than on slavishly following a theme, at all costs.

• Also look at this lovely radiator cover - an excellent idea for bringing that sometimes ugly modern day essential into the design.









• If you can't find a traditional style radiator cover you like, you could commission a local joiner to make one to fit your look and your design specifications.
• Stain to match the wood panelling - or paint to match the walls.
• No Victorian room is complete without a beautiful traditional style rug...

  ...Once again you needn't get too caught up in a historically accurate style - just choose something traditional that matches your look

• If you don't want to go too dark with more red - like I said, it can be overpowering - warm, soft, muted pinks and greens will go well to calm the look down a bit, but keep it looking Victorian and traditional.

Check out Victorian decorating inspired pieces to include in your scheme. You can get some real treasures on eBay...

This is a live feed direct from eBay and is constantly updated. Simply click on a product for more information, or to bid or buy, and you will be taken direct to eBay...

Happy Hunting! Hope you bag a bargain...

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Read more about Victorian decorating on the main Victorian interior design page

...and take a look at a feminine, modern look at Victorian style, here...

You might also like to see RM's beautiful Victorian style makeover on his own home, here...

A reader's Victorian style study - sitting room

Creating a Victorian-look bathroom with a modern peach suite

Read how Jacquelyne is making over her rental in a Victorian style.

Do you want to share your own Victorian decorating look? Show us, here...

Find out more about 19th century interior design, and other period property interior styles

More interior design themes and styles

Check out the photo gallery for more house decorating ideas

More interior design ideas and inspiration

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