Modern interior design solutions are full of variety. The Victorian style stands out from the rest with its elegance, combining elements of Eastern exoticism with a classic and noble color palette. However, when choosing it as a basic solution for home furnishings, it is important to understand that such decoration is not a cheap pleasure.
Beautiful Victorian interior design
Wood in the interior of a Victorian apartment
Victorian style apartment interior
The history of the origin and spread of the Victorian style
Victorian design originates in the second half of the 19th century in England. It combines the high cost and elegance of the era, comfort and its traditions. Queen Victoria is considered the founder of the style. It was during her reign that the bourgeoisie began to prosper, thanks to the development of English industry and the colonies under English rule. As a result, the English nobility received sufficient funds, which were spent on luxury goods, improving their homes. English subjects were given the opportunity to travel, thereby opening up the boundaries of interior design solutions and coming into contact with the cultures of the East. Thus, noble families acquired exotic objects that were used as interior design accessories, art objects, and household items.
As a result, the style became collective and included accessories of Chinese and Indian exoticism, rococo, and gothic. These elements became a complement to the classical canons and eclecticism, which represent the basis of the Victorian interior.
Victorian style in the interior of the room
Victorian style room design
See alsoEclectic style in the interior
VICTORIAN STYLE IN YOUR HOME
1. The Victorian color palette gives you bright, rich colors for living rooms and bedrooms, with lighter colors in libraries and dining rooms. In finishing, a special coating is used along with paint to highlight colors and add texture to the surface.
2. When choosing Victorian furniture, look to the English past or to England's overseas colonies. Its stylistic features are curved, rounded edges, upholstered furniture in an oriental style and curlicues a la French furniture of the 18th century.
3. For the floor, mainly use brown or red colors, and for the walls, wallpaper with a pattern in which floral motifs appear; the same pattern is repeated in the color of curtains, pillows and tablecloths.
4. Decorate the walls with paintings, look for tables, cabinets and sideboards in antique stores to create your own collection of valuable items and figurines!
Distinctive features of a Victorian interior
Straight, vertical and arched lines, elongated stripes distinguish the English interior. The Victorian style stands out from the rest by its use of deconstruction. This technique combines various interior solutions for the entire house, but a specific style for a separate room. So, for example, an office can be made in a classic English style, a dining room in a Gothic style, and a bedroom in a Rococo style.
The materials used to decorate the rooms are natural valuable wood, expensive textiles, marble and other types of precious stones. All these elements emphasize the wealth and status of the owner of the house. None of the materials can be replaced with a more economical analogue. Despite the large number of details and richness, everything in the house is imbued with a sense of proportion. Every detail speaks for itself.
Beautiful Victorian interior design
Wood in the interior of a Victorian apartment
Victorian style apartment interior
Distinctive features of the Victorian interior:
- presence of classic antiques;
- all items are distinguished by quality, high price and reliability;
- combining several styles;
- a large number of accessories (candlestick, figurines, paintings);
- furniture made of natural wood of valuable species;
- respectability;
- separate interior design for each room;
- presence of a large library;
- lace tulle and heavy curtains;
- the rooms are decorated with plants and flowers.
Victorian style in the interior of the room
Victorian style room design
See alsoAmerican interior
What makes the style different?
Every feature of the interior exudes pomp, pretentiousness and luxury. Wealthy citizens of the 19th century loved to travel the world; foreign decor was widely used in the design of their homes.
If desired, a modern kitchen can easily be decorated with a touch of Victorian luxury Source rehouz.info
The Victorian style is ethnic in nature, because it borrowed motifs from the Renaissance, Gothic, Asian and Moorish styles. An eclectic approach is used in the design of the premises. There is no specific system and clear rules. The best interior items from different cultures are selected.
Often houses were decorated with numerous portraits of great, famous people Source rehouz.info
The main features of the Victorian style:
- freedom and originality when filling the interior, a variety of elements that create comfort;
- division of rooms in the house into “men’s” and “women’s” (for example: the office and library are decorated in rough neo-Gothic style, and the bedroom has a romantic palace style);
- heraldic decorations (symbols of England and neighboring countries);
- geometric patterns: curved lines, vertical stripes;
- images of plants: leaves of fern, acanthus, maple, birch, oak;
- presence of exotic items: Japanese screens, Indian chests, jewelry boxes, Chinese vases, oriental carpets, ashtrays with precious stones, stuffed animals;
- in the Victorian style you can often find the following combinations of patterns: fragrant gardens, birds on branches, flowers (popular representatives are clover, lily of the valley), Scottish check, wild berries;
- drapery on the walls made of soft, pleasant to the touch fabrics;
- large, heavy doors with brass ornaments;
- elongated, arched windows;
- multi-level curtains: lace curtains, curtains with fringe and tassels;
- images in three-dimensional frames with contrasting images: landscapes, historical events, portraits;
- flowerpots in clay, plain pots, always placed on the floor: in the corners of the room or grouped in one place;
- antique clock on the wall, granite fireplace;
- staircases with balustrades.
Several adjacent elongated windows create excellent lighting in the room Source rehouz.info
Wooden panels perfectly emphasize the English style in the room Source rehouz.info
Features of the design of secular style
Floor coverings used in Victorian interiors:
- natural wooden parquet, the color of which should be in harmony with the decoration of the walls and the color scheme of the furniture;
- carpet in red or burgundy, combined with classic light brown colors;
- ceramic tiles with relief patterns;
- laminate with a parquet pattern or eye-catching inserts that harmonize with the overall mood of the room and the color background.
Ceilings are also given special attention. Often their height exceeds 3 meters, sometimes they have a dome shape. The ceiling is decorated with stucco or frieze. Painting, wooden beams or regular painting can also be used. Wall decoration in secular room design involves exclusively fabric finishing or wallpaper. The design, in turn, is made in the form of even stripes, birds, or realistic flowers, a three-dimensional relief ornament. A distinctive feature is symmetry. Wood panels with various patterns are also used in wall decoration. These inserts are located one third of the wall height. An important wall attribute are paintings or portraits of family members.
One of the most striking elements of the Gothic style in a Victorian interior is the multi-colored arched stained glass window.
Beautiful Victorian interior design
Wood in the interior of a Victorian apartment
Victorian style apartment interior
The window design is made in the form of high arches using colored stained glass. The inside of the window is decorated with wooden cornices and heavy curtains. Curtains can be decorated with lambrequins, pleating and gathering. The following fabrics are used for curtains in offices and living rooms:
- silk;
- Damascus;
- velvet.
The following light fabrics could be used in the bedrooms:
- muslin;
- chintz;
- cotton.
See alsoColonial style in the interior
We decorate the interior
Interior design in the Victorian style involves the use of high-quality interior items and finishing materials - everything should look expensive and solid.
Walls
Victorian-style walls are plastered and decorated with fabric or wallpaper. More often, wallpaper, striped or with images of flowers, and wallpaper with a complex ornamental pattern resembling a bas-relief is also found.
On top of the wallpaper, forming an “apron” one-third the height of the wall, decorative wall panels made of valuable wood (or high-quality imitation) coated with matte varnish can be used, because gloss is alien to the Victorian style. Additionally, they can be decorated with applied decor.
Floors
When decorating a Victorian-style floor, first of all you should consider parquet and laminate (ceramic tiles for the kitchen and bathroom), it is advisable that the color of the floor matches the color of the walls or furniture. Although today, you can use linoleum (with a parquet pattern), as well as carpet (for example, red carpet harmonizes well with one of the main colors of the style - brown).
An additional decoration of the floor is a high-quality oriental carpet with floral patterns.
Ceiling
The ceiling was often decorated with beams made of valuable wood and figured stucco. The use of coffered ceilings was very important.
Today, it can be left white or beige, decorated only with contrasting carved cornices.
A ceiling chandelier with imitation candle lighting plays a rather decorative role. And the main lighting is provided by table and floor lamps with fabric lampshades.
Style furniture
Sofas, beds, armchairs, tables and chairs are voluminous and massive, additionally decorated with carvings, upholstered furniture with high-quality, thick upholstery. Current furniture items also include chests of drawers, chests and grandfather clocks.
Victorian style is not about sophistication, but about massiveness and solidity. Whatever piece of furniture we are talking about, it will not fit into the design if it is fragile - on the contrary, here it is necessary to use massive, voluminous furniture.
In addition to the completely predictable beds and sofas, armchairs, tables and chairs, you should also pay attention to those furnishings that are no longer so actively found in interiors today.
Such pieces of furniture include various chests of drawers and chests for storing things, because linen drawers built into sofas did not yet exist. The pinnacle of authenticity will be a tall grandfather clock.
Color solutions for secular interiors
The Victorian style in the interior is made in traditional soft colors of pastel shades, green, pink, lilac, brown and burgundy. Massive furniture made of natural wood can be inlaid with precious stones or metals, and upholstered in red-brown colors. This makes the design more chic and expensive.
Victorian style in the interior of the room
Victorian style room design
See alsoZoning a room into a bedroom and living room
Victorian style: main features
As mentioned earlier, this direction is based on other historical styles. The most popular “predecessors” are Gothic and Renaissance, which use a lot of decorated surfaces and bas-reliefs. Baroque, Rococo and various oriental styles (Moorish, Chinese, Indian) are also often used.
All these styles are very different, so you need a bright element that will connect them and bring some order. Color often becomes such a technique. In this case, shades of noble metals and precious stones were used, which can emphasize the wealth of the owner. For example, gold, silver, red ruby, emerald green. These shades go well with dark wood and leather.
The painting of wooden and other elements was necessarily matte, not glossy. Pointed arches are also actively used in doorways and windows. In addition, they are richly decorated with carvings. The curtains are thick, dark colors, made of expensive materials (velvet). There is always symmetry in all elements, rooms, and structures.
Furniture in a Victorian interior
The British gave furniture one of the most important places in the house. By modern standards, the Victorian style is characterized by a large amount of furniture of a massive nature. It was made exclusively from natural wood. The most commonly used were yew, mahogany and bog oak.
Furniture in secular design is quite diverse. Here you can see chairs with high carved backs and wide soft chairs with curved legs. The upholstery is also replete with variety. However, expensive, heavy fabrics and genuine leather are used for this purpose. Leather inserts are especially appropriate on small sofas.
Beautiful Victorian interior design
Wood in the interior of a Victorian apartment
Victorian style apartment interior
The cabinet is decorated using velvet fabrics and silk. When children's bedrooms and dining rooms can be decorated with chintz slipcovers with floral prints.
Victorian style in the interior includes such accessories and furniture solutions as a grandfather cuckoo clock, a massive sofa, a large dining table, and shelves for china. However, in modern use it is difficult to fit all these elements into a room without overloading it with furniture. Therefore, modern designers working with English design try not to overload it with furniture variations.
See also: Lining in the interior: types, photos, tips
Fireplace as an essential element of an English interior
The fireplace, during the reign of Queen Victoria of England, was the most important element of the house. None of the residential premises could do without this attribute. The distinctive features of an English-era fireplace are:
- cast iron grate;
- mantel made of natural stone, such as marble.
The fireplace represents peace and comfort in the home, providing a place to relax. Tile patterns are laid out on the sides of the fireplace. Today, this attribute can be made in a classic form, performing its main function, or be electric, being a designer accessory.
Victorian style in the interior of the room
Victorian style room design
See alsoHigh-tech in the interior: principles, materials, photos
Wood is the main element in decorating an English-style room
Wood inserts and panels are a must-have element in a Victorian interior. In the classic version, these shelves occupied the entire wall. However, today this approach is rarely used.
When decorating walls, wooden panels with various patterns are often used. They are located 1/3 of the wall from the floor. Wallpaper with a symmetrical pattern is glued on top of such panels.
Solid wooden furniture, stairs, parquet flooring are the distinctive features of the classic Victorian style in the interior.
Beautiful Victorian interior design
Wood in the interior of a Victorian apartment
Victorian style apartment interior
See alsoFuchsia color: combination with other colors in the interior
Victorian style lighting solutions
Thanks to high ceilings, it became possible to use voluminous chandeliers made of brass or natural crystal with ornate patterns. They create a soft and dim light that perfectly complements the overall design of the room. Chandeliers play the role of decorating a room and do not act as the main source of light. Floor lamps, sconces, and table lamps are used for this purpose. Floor lamps have fabric lampshades made in the general color scheme of the room.
See alsoJapanese style in the interior with a modern interpretation
Victorian interior decorations and accessories
Flowers are the main decoration of the house. Bouquets with fresh flowers are located in each room. During the reign of Queen Victoria, gardens and greenhouses gained great popularity. It has become an integral part of every home. In modern times, not everyone can afford their own flower garden. Therefore, flowerpots will perfectly fulfill this role. Flowers are also a decorative element of fabrics used in the interior of the house.
Victorian style in the interior of the room
Victorian style room design
Other decorative elements include art and home crafts, as well as china. Porcelain products in those days were collectibles and occupied display cases in living rooms. Satin stitch embroidery was also popular and was used to decorate textile elements of the room.
Victorian style involves a large space, so those with a small area should refrain from such an interior solution. It looks most advantageous in country houses, creating an atmosphere of comfort, homely warmth and tranquility. This style is very popular among connoisseurs of English traditions and romantic personalities.
See alsoThe concept of architecture and interior design of residential interiors
Decor elements and accessories
With the abundance in the metropolis of various objects used exclusively for decorating the home, it would be surprising if the English under Queen Victoria did not gravitate towards decorating their own homes.
It was literally an era of total flourishing for various entertaining gizmos, and the mansion of every wealthy person was not much different from a museum - here one could everywhere see the most interesting exhibits brought from distant countries, including ancient ones.
Although by that time consumer goods were already beginning to gain momentum, the emphasis in decorating the house was still not on it. If wealth did not fall directly on the current owner of the house, and the family has at least some history, it was certainly reflected in the interior, for example, in the form of antiques, figurines of past times, various souvenirs that were fashionable in past decades and centuries.
Forged candlesticks could be used despite technological progress - simply because it is very stylish. The British during the reign of Queen Victoria were also very fond of paintings and mirrors - all this was necessarily taken in beautiful carved frames.
We have already mentioned carpets as a decorative element above - they seem absolutely logical due to trade with the East, but this same trade ensured the influx of many other fabrics. In many Victorian houses they were even used to decorate the walls, and even more so as decoration.
It has always been possible to protect yourself from the unpleasant English weather thanks to fashionable roller blinds.
However, the fireplace remained the central element of decor and interior design in general in Victorian homes. It served a dual function - it was responsible for heating the entire building in a cool climate and the lack of adequate alternatives, and it was also a kind of entertainment, because, as you know, you can look at a fire forever. It was always located in the living room (although there could be other smaller fireplaces in the house) and was decorated with rich carvings.
Today, in a multi-storey building, you cannot install a full-fledged fireplace, but it is important to purchase at least an electric version.
