Victorian interior design ideas - Get an authentic look, with these stylish tips and techniques to transform your home.
Victorian decorating is actually one of the most popular decorating styles - whether or not you actually have a Victorian home!
Victorian houses are beautiful, historical homes, and I think anyone who lives in one is very lucky! If you do have a period home, it would seem a shame not to take advantage of this, and decorate in the Victorian interior design style.
Victorian interior design is influenced by the Victorian Age - but these days it does not need to be an exact historical replica - and I don't think it would be particularly practical to do this either. It is enough just to get the general look and feel right - and get a decorating style which you know will suit your home perfectly!
The Victorian Age was in England, Great Britain, in the time of the reign of Queen Victoria - 1837 to 1901. So we are looking at a decorating style from around this time period, in England.
The whole Victorian interior design style is, in general, very lavish, luxurious and ornate - think colors, fabrics, patterns, lots of furniture, photos and knick-knacks. The whole feel is warm, comfortable, cosy, and - in spite of what you are probably thinking about the Victorians as people - very relaxed, and easy to live with!
Walls and Curtains
The basis for any Victorian interior design scheme has got to be the paint. Yes, these 'boring' Victorians were not, actually, at all afraid of colors.
To get the Victorian interior design look just right, I find it is best to look in the heritage ranges of popular paint companies, or even specialist heritage paint companies. My favourites are Dulux, Crown, 1829 (by Craig and Rose) and Farrow and Ball. All these paint companies have plenty of information about the colors, and which period they are from - so you can be sure you are getting the right look.
Victorian paint colors are deep, rich colors - but they are not bright, vibrant or 'modern-looking' in any way. They have rather a 'muted', 'toned-down' or old-fashioned look instead.
The most popular colors in Victorian times were deep red, dark green and a beautiful gold/amber - but any deep rich colors will all do really well together. And yes, you can use them all together! Victorians were actually very big on color combining too - especially using complementary or contrasting colors on the color wheel. Click here to find out how you can use the color wheel to help with your decorating color schemes. Use different colors on different walls, or paint different colors above and below a dado rail or picture rail.
Neutral colors were used in Victorian interior design too - mid tones of gray and taupe. These were used mainly for hallways, and not really in the main living areas.
It isn't just colors the Victorians were keen on - they were pretty big on pattern too! Use patterns on wallpaper, and fabrics for curtains and upholstery to get the look. Choose an old-fashioned looking pattern, of course, in deep, rich colors - perhaps accented a little in gold. Patterns were frequently large scale, and featured flowers, foliage, birds and butterflies.
Ideal fabrics for curtains, or upholstery, are very opulent fabrics - velvet, damask, brocade, and heavily embroidered fabrics. These are fantastic for winter. For summer, try lighter cottons, muslins and chintz. And don't forget the rule for Victorian decorating - as far as patterns are concerned, it's the more the merrier!
As well as your full (heavy) curtains, consider some nets or sheers too, for daytime privacy. Choose pretty, lacy nets, and if you want to let in more light, why not hang your nets on the bottom half of your window only, on simple 'cafe-style' rods.
Flooring
Now you've sorted out the walls and curtains, let's get down to the floors! Hardwood floors are a good Victorian staple, but carpet is fine too. But for either, make sure you include at least one oriental or persian style rug. Take a look at the absolutely beautiful rug designs here, for inspiration ... Traditional Rugs that would look fantastic in any Victorian home.
Architecture
If your house isn't actually Victorian, don't worry, as you can easily get a more authentic Victorian interior design style. Add a dado rail (at waist height - approx 75cm / 2'6'' from the floor), or a picture rail (near the ceiling) if your ceilings are high enough.
You could also add elaborate coving, cornicing and ceiling roses, to get a more authentic look. Try adding decorative mouldings and carvings to plain pieces, such as fireplaces - or anything else you feel could do with being trimmed up!
Also swap your boring, modern door handles for Victorian replicas (or the genuine article if you are lucky!). This will actually get you the Victorian interior design look quite quickly! The Victorians were very keen on elaborate and ornate decorative carvings and handles, so this will really give you a great finishing touch to your room.
Furniture
Don't spoil the look by adding modern style furniture. You really have got to go for furniture with the traditional Victorian style and look. You can get some good reproductions these days - or go for the genuine article in antique stores or flea markets.
Victorian furniture is good, solid furniture, with a nicely carved and finished style, and quite decorative in looks. Choose dark woods, especially oak, mahogany, teak, walnut and rosewood. A marble-top table would be perfect - and a real find - so keep a sharp look out!
Wicker furniture is also a good Victorian decorating style - especially painted wicker. Victorians used a lot of wicker in their conservatories - and this would give a much lighter, and fresher, feel to a room. Wicker furniture mixes well with old pine, or painted wood, for a more rustic look. But don't try to mix wicker with more formal, dark woods, or you will just end up with a terrible jumble of styles.
The Victorians used a lot of furniture in their rooms - often jam-packed - but don't you feel like you have to go for such a 'full' feel in a modern home, and with a modern lifestyle. You can actually get the 'look' perfectly well from an ordinary, 'sensible' amount of furniture in your room.
Accessories and Lighting
Bring your whole Victorian interior design look together with a careful choice of accessories and lighting.
Your lighting should be beautiful and decorative - try ornate chandeliers in brass or cut glass.
Table lamps were very commonly used in Victorian times. Tiffany lamps are a very popular choice to get the Victorian decorating look - and absolutely gorgeous - especially when you get all the beautiful colors illuminated by the light.
Or pick other decorative little lamps of china, brass or marble, with pretty little decorative touches, such as fringing around the base of the lampshade.
Also try to fit in one or two candelabras too. These decorative candle holders were still used all through the Victorian period - even if it was just for decoration, or 'mood lighting'!
Choose old-fashioned paintings or prints - particularly oil paintings, and paintings of pretty, young maidens, or sweet, innocent children and puppies. You can find some great bargains at car boot sales, flea markets and antique stalls.
Frame your pictures in large, decorative frames, with a touch of gilt, to get that really authentic look.
Photos of ancient relatives can now form part of your Victorian decorating plans. The Victorians liked to keep plenty of photos of family and loved ones around themselves. Use black and white photos of older family members, find genuine Victorian photos in antique stores or flea markets, or have modern photos re-touched and 'antiqued' in photo-shops.
Your photos will look best in antiqued silver frames, (of all different sizes and designs) arranged in groups, on sideboards and tables.
Other suitable accessories are: porcelain figurines; porcelain dolls; decorative china and plates; little bottles; pill boxes; lace doilies and Victorian style maps.
eBay is a great place to search for interesting and unusual bits and pieces. They usually have a whole array of fascinating finds for your Victorian interior design project.
Take a look what you can find on eBay today... (This is a live feed from eBay and is constantly updated. Simply click on a product for more information, or to bid or buy.)
A small library or book shelf was a 'must' - so see if you can find any old-looking, leather bound books, to display on one.
If you have the space, a grandfather clock, or smaller grandmother clock, would be a great focal point for your Victorian room.
Victorians loved the exotic - so any oriental or indian 'artefacts' or knick-knacks would be a real find.
A Victorian room would certainly not be complete without, at least, a few plants - orchids are beautiful, and very authentic, as well as that absolute Victorian classic - the indestructible aspidistra!
I hope that this has given you plenty of tips and ideas for your Victorian interior design scheme. I think you will really enjoy hunting out those interesting and unusual antiques and knick-knacks - and I think you will make a really good job of re-creating the look.
If your house is Victorian age, but you don't fancy a Victorian style, why not look at 'Arts and Crafts' or Mission style decorating instead - it is timeless, uncluttered and simple.
