Interior Victorian Decorating: Victorian Decorating Ideas
Over the last few centuries, styles of decorating have evolved into different varieties but the two that stand out in popularity are the Victorian and the English Country. The Victorian style, named after Queen Victoria, came into prominence in 1837 and ruled the roost till the early 1900s.
This style is in fact a mixture of diverse decorative styles reminiscent of the Gothic, the Baroque and the Renaissance designs. The Gothic style is characterized by use of the pointed arch and ribbed vaults. The Baroque style is lavishly ornate bordering on the excessive while the Renaissance, the age of enlightenment, had more solid floors, glass windows and smaller and more rooms etc. But the overall Victorian style was excessively ornate with elaborate carvings, varnished wood, Persian rugs and used strong dark colors.
Colors In The Victorian Style - Interior and Exterior
The original Victorian colors were of a rather subdued palette with hues of beige, brown, ochre, russet and ecru. One of the trendsetters in the design of Victorian landscapes, Andrew Jackson Downing, believed that a house should merge with its natural environment. But the Victorians also believed in vivid and striking colors. And as such some Victorian homes were not painted in these subdued hues but by very dramatic colors. One newspaper account even described these colors as being "loud". The colors used were orange, yellow, blue, red and chocolate.
The interiors of these Victorian homes wee painted in the traditional earthy tones. Earthy tones in hues of deep red, dark brown, and amber. The style and décor of Victorian homes reflected the affluence obtained by the Industrial Revolution and the owners enjoyed flaunting it. Victorians developed the use of contemporary colors to enhance the dramatic effect.
The use of wallpapers commenced during the Victorian era, the patterns usually vibrant floral and paisley. Upholstery, wall hangings and draperies were rich in fabric, color and texture. The material were usually silk, velvet, brocade, chintz(floral patterns) and damask and could be embroidered using crewelwork - a kind of work with yarn twisted loosely and simple stitches. The colors were deep reds, browns and greens, mauves and purples and blues.
Laces were used predominantly with white the preferred choice for tables and curtains in spring and summer. These were replaced by heavier ones in winter. Found as fringes and swags on tablecloths, chairs and draperies were the tassels, complementing or matching the fabric.
To somewhat soften the bright and lively colors of the rooms and the accessories in it, were the rugs; often in pastel shades and large floral patterns. Another architectural innovation of the Victorian era was the "stained glass". These were always in bright colors and adorned doors, by the side of doors, above staircases and in rooms. The style was known as "Art Deco" style.
In contrast to the bright and heavy colors of the rooms, the hallways were usually painted in neutral shades of grays and tans. So were the entrances. These colors were brought out by the use of faux painting techniques such as marbling, wood-graining and stenciling.
Furniture
The Victorian style brought more comfort to the homeowner, like the contemporary styles of today. Leather buttoned upholstery on furniture can be stained either black or dark green. The wood for the furniture consisted mainly of oak, mahogany and rosewood. They were either simple in construction or at the other end of the spectrum, the more ornate neoclassical kind with elaborate wood carvings. Some furniture gave the room they adorned an 18th Century old world look.
Lighting
In the actual Victorian day of yore, before the advent of electricity, the prime source of lighting was from candles and as such Victorian style of these days consist of reproduction pieces of chandeliers, table lamps or standing lamps made of a wide selection of fabrics in different shades of color and of stained glass. Lamp holders can be in brass, pewter or crystal.
When decorating your home in the old Victorian style, the essential thing to bear in mind is that walls are classically broken down into three sections; the lower - known as the dado - is about 2.50 feet in height; the mid-section - field area - is the main area where portraits, pictures and other sundry wall art are hung; and, the top section - a few inches of the wall - is where the cornice is located. It can either be simple or highly complex.
It is fun to go in for a Victorian decorating style because choosing the color scheme is in itself a fun process. But keep in mid that it is your home and don't overdo it and make it look garish.
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