Victorian style in the interior (20 photos): history and features

It is common for a modern person to experiment and the interior of the house is no exception. The luxury of ancient palaces, the respectability of family castles, gives rise to the desire to display a piece of each of them in your home. In the middle of the 19th century, a Victorian style was born in the interior of houses, indulging in the desires to combine elements of exotic and classic, Gothic and Rococo. Rooted during the reign of Queen Victoria, he is now associated with the stability and aesthetic taste of the noble English of that era.

A bit of history

The beginning of the Victorian style was laid by the English bourgeoisie, which is actively getting rich thanks to the rapid development of the country's industry. The opportunity to travel made it possible to get acquainted with various cultures, art, traditions of other nations. The attractive interior items, the British gladly introduced into their homes. Over time, these new acquisitions have become a sign of solidity and respectability of their owners. As a result, a design with a characteristic eclecticism created a new style - Victorian.

Gradually, Victorian houses began to be considered historic buildings, and their interiors - exemplary. The splendor of forms and the richness of finishes, which became the hallmark of the style, did not compete with comfort, but favorably focused on the reliability and quality of the elements used.

Distinctive features

The stylized Victorian design of the house has a number of distinctive features. The basis is deconstructivism. It allows you to decorate each individual room with an emphasis on a specific style direction. For example, bedroom decoration may contain elements of rococo, kitchens - classics, and cabinet - Gothic. An important role is given to demonstrating the wealth of the owner: the use of valuable wood, antique accessories, expensive textiles.

Victorian style in the interior is distinguished by some characteristic features:

• good lighting, provided by high windows, all kinds of sconces or lamps that mimic candles or candlesticks;
• a combination of straight lines with arched;
• the presence of ceiling moldings;
• decor of cornices with ornate patterns;
• brass door trim;
• arched or gothic windows;
• antique floor, wall clocks;
• paintings or sketches in spectacular frames;
• heavy weight solid furniture;
• the presence of shelves, shelving, a rich library;
• heavy curtains, combined with a light lace tulle.

The design of the house with a Victorian style is recognizable, but not monotonous. For the most part, it is typical for spacious rooms, because it involves the use of a large amount of furniture.

Color palette

Despite the abundance of frills, the interior of the Victorian era is permeated with harmony and a sense of proportion. A significant role in this is played by the color scheme of all its constituent elements. The dominant tree in the decoration of the room is mainly light brown or dark red - brown shades. Hence the decor colors harmonizing with them:

• pale pink, lavender for light furnishings;
• red - brown, almond, lilac, lingonberry for furniture made of oak or mahogany.

Shades of gray, pale blue, gray and blue, which are characteristic for the decoration of the bedroom and reminiscent of the foggy weather in England, are not excluded. Gilding, often found in the inlay of living room furniture, gives a special touch to the expensive interior. The color palette of the kitchen or dining room can vary from light sandy shades to deep emerald green colors.

The design of the Victorian style is not characterized by brilliance, for this reason deep shades of color are often involved. Graceful decor and contrast play allow avoiding gloom.

Wall decoration

Queen Victoria's characteristic wall decoration allows only fabric and wood. At the same time, heraldic signs, realistically depicted flowers, birds, vertical stripes of various widths dominated as drawings. Over time, the textiles on the walls changed the wallpaper with complex drawings and imitation of bas-reliefs. The first wallpapers were partially painted by hand with golden curls or birds of paradise. The modern design with Victorian style allows manual painting of plastered walls, imitating a three-dimensional picture.

The constant companions of the English style are wooden panels, sometimes occupying a third, or even half the height of the wall. In the living room, panels are decorated with elegant ornaments, while in the bedroom and study, carvings with straight lines.

Victorian interior does not have “empty” walls. The empty wall squares of the bedroom are filled with paintings, mirrors with vintage frames, antique watches. The cabinet or living room is characterized by the placement of bookshelves or shelves, richly laden with valuable books. The task of wall decoration of the kitchen is perfectly handled by Moroccan tiles, which contrast with the restrained luxury of the prevailing wood.

Floor decoration

A classic accent is made in the overall Victorian design of the house. The basis is natural wood parquet, covered with oriental carpets.

The pragmatic division of rooms into front rooms and private rooms, characteristic of the British, was also reflected on the materials used for their decoration. So, in the reception rooms the flooring was dominated by walnut and mahogany wood, thereby demonstrating the prosperity of the owners. For a bedroom on the floor, a coniferous tree was often used, the cost of which is much lower. Particular attention should be paid to the parquet pattern, which is a complex mosaic composition that adds sophistication to the overall interior of the room.

Kitchen floors were covered with a more practical material - tiles. But, despite this, the tiled floor of the Victorian-style house was not inferior in beauty to the eastern carpet decoration: the tiles were generously decorated with original patterns and ornaments.

Today, a high-quality laminate is a worthy competitor of parquet, which will harmoniously fit into the overall design of a house with a Victorian interior.

Furniture as echoes of tradition

Like all elements of the interior during the reign of Queen Victoria, the furniture was distinguished by restrained luxury. More often made of dark wood and decorated with intricate carvings, the furniture was large. Each room in the house is associated with a specific furniture set:

• the living room, designed for friendly meetings, certainly contains a table with chairs spread out, soft sofas;
• inlaid sideboard and buffet - indisputable companions of the kitchen;
• a high bed under a canopy or carved headboard, a massive chest of drawers, a couch with an oval back - the invariable attributes of a bedroom.

Victorian-style furniture keeps echoes of English tradition. For example, the fireplace located in the bedroom and living room is not only a decoration element, but also the only source of heat in cold weather, which dominates foggy England. Massive furniture is explained by reliable protection against cold and drafts.For the same reason, the backs of chairs and chairs are quite high and upholstered with dense materials: brocade, velvet, plush.

The design of the house in the Victorian style, worthy of the royal people, it is quite possible to reproduce now. The arrangement of the living room or bedroom will not cause much trouble. More attention will be required on the implementation of the kitchen.

Since the planned style should not fade in the abundance of modern technology, all of it should be built in or hidden in cabinets with wooden trim. Replace artificial materials with natural ones: marble, wood, glass. The kitchen design is also inconceivable without a candelabra, which gives the room special sensuality. Artificial aging of furniture with the help of patination will bring the closest resemblance to the chosen style of decoration. A bright accent of the kitchen will be the centrally located dining table, complemented by chairs with high carved backs.

Victorian design excludes simplicity. To implement it, first of all, you will need a spacious apartment or a country house. Do not forget about the decor, which plays an important role in shaping the style. Collections of porcelain figurines on the living room table, crystal glassware in the kitchen, glass baubles in the bedroom will be an appropriate complement to the luxurious interior.