Victorian interior design guide

The reign of Queen Victoria was a long one - 63 years - in which fashions and styles came and went and travel to far-flung destinations such as Japan and India saw exotic influences in Victorian interior design.

It was an exciting period for textiles and furniture and it is no surprise that the patterns, colours and styles of this era are still highly desirable in our day and age.

Whether you’re going all out to renovate a period Victorian property to its former glory, or are looking to pepper a modern home with Victorian touches, our style tips below should help you emulate that opulent look.

How to decorate your holiday home in the Victorian style

Below we’ve created a list of elements you may expect to find in each room of a Victorian-styled house.

Including a few of these features, subtly juxtaposed with contemporary ‘Victorian’ items will help create the atmosphere of a Victorian home, set squarely in the modern day.

Victorian kitchen ideas and features

• Range cooker
• Pots and pans on show
• Open shelves
• Freestanding dresser
• Rustic island unit
• Decorative cornices and moulding
• Pale or wooden cabinets
• Belfast sink

Victorian bedroom ideas and features

• Fireplace
• Rich, dark colours
• Dark wood furniture
• Scrollwork and ornate cornicing
• Victorian patterned wallpaper
• Draping curtains and bed linen
• Embellishments, tassels, velvet, gold, textures
• Decorative ceilings
• Traditional lamps and candlesticks
• Oriental or patterned rugs
• Old paintings

Victorian bathroom ideas and features

• Free-standing claw-foot slipper bath
• Pedestal sink
• Raised toilet cistern
• Exposed pipework
• Ornate patterns
• Decorative taps
• Wall panelling
• Ornate mirror
• Victorian lighting fixtures
• Wood or tiled floor (squares, diamonds or Victorian patterns)

Victorian living room ideas and features

• Formal and opulent
• Dark, rich colours
• Heavy fabrics
• Rich upholstery
• Elegant sofas in brocade or velvet
• Decorative floral wallpaper
• Chandeliers and ornate light fittings
• Ornate cornicing and details
• Stone fireplace
• Heavy curtains with swags, valances, tie backs
• Original paintings in ornate frames

What designs and patterns were around in the Victorian era?

The mass production of wallpaper and textiles during the Victorian period enabled ordinary people to introduce printed patterns and colours into their homes. William Morris was a key figure in Victorian decor, and his beautiful designs can still be bought today.

An original button-backed chair or ottoman re-upholstered in these elaborate fabrics makes for a wonderful eye-catching focus piece for a room. Morris’ designs can also be found on wallpaper – the floral patterns in primary colours are as effective today as they were back then.

If you're looking for Victorian decorating ideas, think about creating a wallpapered accent wall, with the rest of the room decorated in subdued rose pinks, greys or soft greens, colours that are evocative of the period.

Add a touch of Victorian to your modern furniture with William Morris inspired scatter cushions or a large patterned rug - a great, inexpensive way to brighten up Victorian cottage interiors.

What is Victorian furniture style?

While you may not wish to go all out and invest in original hand-carved Victorian furniture masterpieces, the odd nod to Victorian design is a great way to subtly incorporate the best features of this era into your modern holiday home.

The trend was for accessories and furniture to be in abundance, which is perhaps an element you should pare back for the sake of cleaning on changeover days and risk of breakages!

Carved mahogany, oak and walnut furniture was popular, and as a relatively modern era of history you can often pick up pieces that are in need of some TLC on auction websites, antique shops and car boot sales. With some time and patience, they can be restored to their original glory and are far more authentic than replicas or modern-day equivalents.

Plump, overstuffed chairs, footstools, ottomans and chaise longues were a staple of the era and again, these can often be found online.

Walls should be adorned with carved mirrors, frames and lamps to add to that feeling of opulence. A marble fireplace or side table will further enhance the Victorian feel. Marbling was often used on walls or woodwork; a perfect detail for elegant Victorian cottage interiors.

A single, carefully selected piece of furniture with Victorian influences can make a stunning statement in an otherwise minimalist room.

What does Victorian period lighting look like?

A Victorian-style room requires ambient lighting achieved with lots of highly decorative lamps. Of course, if you’re going all out with your Victorian interior design, a Tiffany lamp would be a perfect option, adding the vibrant colours so typical of the time.

Chandeliers and wall sconces were popular when gas was the energy source, so electric versions of these would be the ideal modern-day solution. Keep an eye out for details such as gas valve handles which will lend authenticity to your lighting. The key to achieving a harmonious selection is making sure that the fixtures will sit comfortably alongside each other.

An elaborate centrepiece chandelier makes an eye-catching feature and nods to the Victorian way of demonstrating wealth through opulent design.

Find out how to make your stylish lighting and appliances as economic as possible in our article, 'How to save money on your energy bill'.

It’s all in the detail

Victorian homes were all about masses of accessories and ornaments, to the point of being cluttered. This isn't a recommended approach to decorating your holiday home, but you can use carefully selected accessories to enhance that Victorian feel.

Heavy, layered curtains were favoured by the Victorians, which allowed them to flaunt their wealth with luxurious fabrics and patterns. Floor-to-ceiling curtains in your choice of Victorian print with matching tie-backs will make the room feel cosy, or opt for a toned-down version to achieve a more modern look.

Fresh flowers on the table when your guests arrive will not only make your property feel homely, but will also help contribute to the floral, Victorian style.

Other accessories to consider are cast iron wall brackets, ornate toilet roll holders, scroll door handles, polished round knobs, authentic fireside companion sets and street lamp-style lighting for the garden.

Featured properties

Grand Victorian Mansion

Alness, The Highlands

Sleeps 11 + 2 dogs

View Grand Victorian Mansion

Ravenslaw House

Alnwick, Northumberland

Sleeps 18 + 2 dogs

View Ravenslaw House

More interior design inspiration...

Perhaps you're looking for ideas on how to create vintage-inspired interiors, or looking for a more general guide to decorating and furnishing your holiday home? Or maybe you've not quite decided on a style and would like to see some interior design examples in action. Take a look at our guides to nautical style and minimalist decor to find the perfect look for your property.

Let with us

If you are in the process of renovating your holiday home and have any questions regarding anything from décor to legislation, our friendly team would be happy to help. Simply give us a call on 01237 459951 or send us a message.