Victorian interior design has proven to have quite the shelf life. Originating in the 19th century, the style that epitomizes opulence stills has plenty of faithfuls, perhaps because it feels slightly more approachable than the glitz of Art Deco. To break down all the ins and outs of Victorian interior design, from its origins to modern Victorian iterations, we called in two experts. Susie Atkinson, interior designer and founder of Studio Atkinson, has worked with Victorian homes and with Victorian styles many times during her career. Hannah Cecil Gurney is the director of global marketing and development at de Gournay, the British brand known for its handmade wall coverings. Read on for a full Victorian home crash course!
What is Victorian interior design?
Victorian interior design is a style that originated in the United Kingdom during the Victorian era. Known for its abundance of pattern (in wall coverings and in textiles), ornamentation, and use of jewel tones, the interior decoration style absorbs the visitor in its rich world. The Victorian era produced both a distinct interior design style and a distinct architectural style.
“My favorite elements [of Victorian spaces] are the proportions of the rooms, the height of the ceilings, the scale of the windows, and the architectural detailing, be it ceilings, architraves, or cornices,” Atkinson says. “Internally, tiled floors—either black and white, terra-cotta, or patterns—characterize the entrance, high-proportion rooms have large fireplaces. It was a time when floral or patterned wallpapers, heavier curtains, carpets, and rugs were introduced. Colours were often rich and dark: reds, greens, blues, and browns.”
“My husband and I bought a Victorian property that had been extensively remodelled by its previous owner,” Gurney, who grew up surrounded by the imaginative wallpapers of de Gournay, tells AD. “For us, the joy was reinstating all the period details that had been taken out! Victorian is often unfairly labelled as fussy and ostentatious, i.e. Victoriana, but I find many of the architectural details have their origins in the crisp elegance of the Georgian era.”
History and origins of Victorian interior design
Economic prosperity in England during the Victorian period—when Queen Victoria was in power, that is—is the central factor behind the Victorian interior design style. The advent of mass production during the industrial revolution in the 19th century led to an influx of cash for the middle class and plenty of more affordable decorative products that would have previously taken much longer (and much more money) to produce. These mass produced decorations were far from subtle and have left us with a style today that some find overpowering, but others find to be a persuasive counterpoint to the minimalist interior design of the early aughts.
Along with the interior aspects, Victorian architecture itself is extremely desirable for some, causing people to hunt for Victorian houses specifically, or attempt to recreate these elements in new builds. Even though the decorative objects were mass produced and not quite made to last, Victorian homes are still capably sheltering families across England, America, and beyond to this day. Gurney’s favorite element of her own Victorian home is “the beautiful bay window on the ground floor that allows for so much light to enter the living space.” Other key details of Victorian homes include moldings, ornate gables, and wraparound porches.
“It is not only the handsome architecture of Victorian houses which gives character and interest, it is also that feeling of nostalgia knowing that generations of people have lived there before you—there is something very grounding about that,” Atkinson says. “Victorian houses were built so well. The proportions are generous, and there is a sense of understated grandeur about them which commands respect. They have stood the test of time and are still today places that work for modern-day living.”
Defining elements and characteristics
- Wallpaper
- Chandeliers
- Ornamentation
- Tapestries
- Upholstery
- Damask
- Wainscoting
- Rich colors
- Parquet flooring
- Dramatic window treatments
- Stained glass windows
Victorian room ideas
Gurney’s home is a Victorian delight, only fitting for the daughter of de Gournay founder Claud Cecil Gurney, and now the company’s director of global marketing and development. Her house is a space of fantasy for any wallpaper obsessive, yes, but the furnishings and immaculate restoration of the Victorian home are undeniably impactful too.
Here, a bay-windowed living room is outfitted with a built-in fringed sofa and a marble mantelpiece. The steadfast commitment to the green color scheme shows how cohesive a Victorian space can feel even as it mixes periods and patterns.
A separate sitting room features ornate ceramic lamps and a boho-leaning area rug.
Fringed pillows, colorful drapery, and a dramatic wallpaper are among the many Victorian decor details in this bedroom.
Victorian spaces are all about the harmony of small but commanding details, and this dining room is no exception.
How to achieve the Victorian interior design aesthetic
Many people find Victorian interiors to be a comfortable and stimulating backdrop for modern living. To create a Victorian style space, consider core elements (whether they be true Victorian furniture pieces or small details) to anchor the space and go from there.
You don’t need to completely overhaul your space either—contemporary furnishings are more than welcome. Above all, Victorian interiors were about mixing and matching different styles and elements, so it’s only right that current-day Victorian faithfuls work in styles and motifs that might not have existed during the time period to be true to the Victorian spirit. In its heyday, this meant bringing in Gothic-revival or international design elements, but in our day and age, you can interpret that with midcentury-modern accents, boho-leaning pieces, or just about anything else!
As Atkinson further explains, “The juxtaposition of a Victorian backdrop with contemporary furnishings can be fabulous: offsetting artwork, sculptural pieces of furniture, and interesting lighting—what’s not to love about that!”
Rich fabric, voluminous drapes, lush upholstery, detailed woodwork, and inspiring rugs are all essential elements of Victorian design. When you’re putting your room or home together, remember that adding a variety of textures creates just as much depth as adding different colors and patterns.
When coming up with new design ideas, consider what colors you want to center within each space. As mentioned earlier, sticking to a specific statement color (or a couple colors) can help make a space feel cohesive even if you throw in tons of patterns and textures.
Although you don’t necessarily need to commit to a full-on Victorian antique for your light fixtures, be sure to pay close attention to the pieces you choose for your space. Even if you go for something contemporary or modern, try to get something commanding. Lighting makes quite the impact on any room, and Victorian-inspired spaces are no exception.
“I think what is unique and exciting about designing the interior of a Victorian home is that the wealth of architectural features is the basis of a fantastic starting point, be it fireplaces, cornices, tiled floors, wonderful staircases, or large scaled rooms. They work as well now with modern-day living as they did in the Victorian era,” Atkinson says.
