How to Decorate Modern Home in Victorian Style

Victorian decorating means over-abundance and luxury and that is seen in the Victorian home décor which is still popular in the modern 21st century. The Victorian decorating comprises of antique accessories and modern methods that can completely make your house outstanding. There are many creative and excellent ideas that can fit well in your modern homes and still can be adorable in the traditional and gracious Victorian theme.

Let us discuss on how to decorate your modern home in Victorian style.

  1. The major thing by which you can give your modern home a vintage Victorian style is by first considering the walls and its color tones. You should consider of putting the reds and dark colors and anything with vintage appeal and depending on the particular style many colors either in your wall color or your accessories.
  2. Use antique style wallpaper and border sets on the walls and you can use paint and stenciling also. If you have a tight budget then you can only consider painting your room with the neutral shades and decorate the room with the accents. You can simply texture walls in warm neutrals to eliminate the coldness of white.
  3. The next most important thing is the flooring which can be given a traditional and unique Victorian feel by placing carpets or soft area rugs. Even the genuine antique rugs or reproductions also work best in budgeted plans. Opt for wall-to-wall carpet with an all-over floral pattern but nowadays hardwood floors are considered as they require less maintenance. Small tiles floors are best fit for bathrooms.
  4. Another key to make your modern home outstanding in Victorian theme is to place the hanging accessories on the walls to make the room dazzling and appealing. Buy the old photos, artwork and mantle clocks that match your Victorian décor. The antique pieces in abundance work very well. Additional strokes of vintage fabrics and vases filled with flowers can give a special touch that gives your home a professional look.
  5. If you want to consider light fixtures that are stylish as well as appealing then go for the Victorian themed light fixtures such as old fashioned ceiling lights with lamps with silk fringe shades along with table lamps and sconces.
  6. There is no need to use antique furniture but you can use sofa with reproduction. Wooden pieces like side tables and curio cabinets would look best.  Try to combine Victorian cabinets and side chairs with modern sofas.
  7. Dressing the windows is also very important with the draperies and lovely lacy curtains. Go for the layered drapery or velvet curtains or heavy draped curtains with different fabrics. Consider chintzes if you cannot afford velvet.
  8. The ugliest or infancy walls can be made look worthy by adding vintage paintings and old photos. Thus with this you can give an interesting look to your parlor walls to bring out the charm.

Thus modern homes can easily blend with the traditional Victorian style just by coordinating your furniture and decorative accessories.

Georgian and Victorian Style Conservatories

Georgian and Victorian style conservatories are in vogue nowadays because of their elegant design and classy look. In fact, the demands of these conservatories have increased enormously in the last few years. Here is a description of both styles of conservatories, so that you can choose the one that best suites your needs and budget.

Georgian Conservatories
Georgian architecture was the style of 18th century, especially from the reign of King George 1, who ascended the throne in 1711, into the reign of King George 4. Georgian design has unique features that draw up both classic Greek and Roman architecture. In residential settings, the Georgian design was typified. The red brick house with courses and cornices of white stone and trimmings of painted woodwork is perhaps the best known example of Georgian design, still popular in the 21st century. Due to the growing industrialization of many parts of United Kingdom, there was a huge demand for the construction of large, gracious residences for those who had acquired new wealth during this period.

Georgian conservatories have gained huge popularity in recent years. There might be some architectural devices that blend easily together, when considering the addition of these classic conservatories, this design truly works best when being added to the preexisting residences or edifices. There is definitely an element of grandeur attached to the Georgian conservatories and the person who is interested in appending the conservatory will certainly appreciate the depth and versatility of the design.

Victorian Conservatories
Victorian conservatories are gaining popularity, even as this historical period has faded beyond the century mark. Victorian styling is famous for its’ ornate flourishes. In fact, during the actual historical period these designs were euphemistically known as “the high Victorian style”. More often, when we think of the Victorian designs, we tend to describe the designs as “lush, abundant and cultured”. After an era featuring more stark design work, the designers and the public seem to long for a more sophisticated and intricate work- and vice versa. Victorian conservatories take the best design outfitting from the Victorian Era and combine them with openness and freshness that is elementary to any conservatory. The end result is a unique conservatory that bears ornate markings, well recognized from the late 1800s combined with a view towards nature that is at once remarkable and delightful.

In spite of the above delicate designs and intricacies, Victorian designs are not very popular or suitable for all kinds of homes. Because of its’ ornate design-work, a Victorian conservatory is not something that is easy to remodel. In short, care must be taken, to ensure that this design conception that can be lived with and enjoyed for years to come.

So, you can choose the type of conservatory that best suites the look and design of your house.

Victorian Beds for Antique Lovers

If we talk about Victorian beds, then the first image that comes to our minds is that of an elegant set up with a backdrop of historical past, with the women’s dressed in tight bodice and men donning coarse jackets and linen trousers. Obviously, it reminds us of the Victorian era, where such dressing sense and backdrop was a common sight. In those days the Victorian beds were prevalent and had an impressive and enchanting effect on the minds of those who used them. No wonder, the elite and classic collection of Victorian Beds is still so popular today.

The present generation lives for luxury and that’s the reason why people go head over heels, to have a collection of such elegant beds in their homes. When we think about luxury, we often focus our attention towards the bedroom furnishings, as it is the place where we finally get to relax. Of the various items present inside our bedroom, the bed is the most important of them all. In fact, same was the case in Victorian era, where the massive Four Post bed was considered opulence, which only a few could afford. This bed was carved out of the finest wood known to man.

The concept behind the present day luxurious beds is generally taken from the Victorian era. If we take the example of a modern day bed, we will find endless similarities to that of a Victorian bed. So like most of the things, the modern day bed is inspired by the lavish and eye-popping designs of the past.

If you want to give your bedroom a luxurious and warm look, then having a suitable Victorian bed would be the right decision. In fact, many couples prefer to have such massive and elegant beds in their rooms so that they can experience the same classy feel. In order to have these beds, you might want to surf the net or locate a suitable dealer, so that you can select the best design. You will come across exclusive collections and it would be surprising for all of you to know that they are not limited to the confines of the rich and famous only. In fact, a number of designs and styles have been created to suit the needs and the budget of the middle class.

So, go ahead and let luxury ooze into your daily life!

Antique Glass Door Knob

Glass door knobs can give a classic and warm look to your door. Many people who want to have an old Victorian look or other historic décor style in their home opt for paintings, furniture and other larger things to get this look. Although, these things do create a proper décor style but even after adorning your house with such accessories, you may find that something is still missing. Its’ the details! From light switch plates to accents around the door knob, there are a number of things that are necessary to make sure that the room is a complete package.

The most important thing that we overlook is the door knob! The Victorian or the rustic looking door knobs make a style statement right at your door step. You can choose from rustic to conventional style and they can be personalized too. The shape, design and look of the door knob can be shaped to suit your needs and requirements.

Antique door knobs are made from steel, cast iron, brass, wrought iron, aluminum and bronze etc. The various finishes include polished brass, antique brass, oil rubbed bronze, rusty iron and polished chrome. The door knobs are available in various shapes such as fruits, animal face, geometric designs, flowers and horizontal designs. Antique door knobs are extremely ornate and artwork is done in an elaborate manner.

You might be having a beautiful antique glass door knob, but it still might not look complete. The reason is that a glass door knob is not enough to finish the image (of your door) in a very convincing way. Adding a plate in the right direction or offering a metal background may be quite right, but it may not give the same setting as you aspire. What you are missing is the key hole! Without a keyhole and a skeleton key how can you lock your room? The antique keyhole plates and skeleton key can be found in either working or show pieces. The working one swill take a little more work to install since there will be actual operational locking mechanisms to be put on the door, while the other ones are just show pieces.

If you don’t want to put money and search to one the real antique plates to match with your glass door knob, then you can even opt for the replica plates. With the popularity of Victorian style of décor, many companies have created new versions of the old favorites in both working and show styles to ensure that you have those finishing touches.

So, go for an antique door knob to give that elegant touch to the doors of your home.

An Enjoyable Way to Add Style to any Room

Victorian styling comprises of lavish accessories and antique furniture. The rich colors nicely adore the rooms with the contrasting lightweight draperies or velvet curtains. Since Victorian era was popular because of the hanging accessories and displayed over-abundance, so the style was also enhanced with the door and cabinet knobs in the antique polished finished.

Let us discuss the popular methods of adding style to your room.

  • We know that there are lots of cabinets in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, etc. to store lots of stuff. So definitely the cabinets need the knobs and Victorian styling means the decorative and highly attractive knobs. You can easily find the knobs in various décor stores nearby and can also buy them from the Internet.
  • The cabinet and door knobs are available in various shapes, sizes and colors. They even come in various varieties either stainless steel or glass or even polished metals.
  • You can simply add a shabby chic look to a white cabinet with some green milk glass knobs or a modern look with some brushed silver ones. You can easily rejuvenate the rooms ranging from bug shaped knobs to colorful jewel shaped ones.
  • You can also go for the antique period Victorian look knobs made of solid wood, ceramic or glass. It really becomes vey important to choose the right one that suits your doors and cabinets with the complete look and finish.
  • You can get the one that has a smooth cut shaped like a round ball that comes in a clear, crystal type color. Or, for something a little more detailed, you can get one that has an octagon shape that is a bright violet color. Also you can have one that has a rosette shape and is of amber color.
  • There are lots of choices regarding the door knobs such as of reflecting starburst centers or a fluted design in the colors of baby blue, emerald green and even plain white.
  • The cabinet and door knobs really have a great effect on the room by enhancing style and refreshing the environment of the room and giving it a trendy look. So try to research on the various kinds of knobs for doors and cabinets before buying them online. The cabinet and door knobs are actually the little details which should that can really pull a room together.
  • While purchasing the knobs, make sure that you are buying them for the inside of your home and not outside. The reason behind it is that the glass knobs are not durable as others and outdoors they will not be able to handle all the elements and might break under the harsh conditions.
  • For the indoor ones, handle them with care and buy those that have a long warranty so that even if they happen to break they can be easily replaced.
  • You should not indulge in buying the costlier ones because even the simple glass or metallic knobs can help in giving the enhanced look to the doors and cabinets.

Thus these are some popular and interesting ways to add beauty to your room with the nicely shaped crystal glass, metallic or wooden knobs.

Decorating a Home Office in Victorian Style

The fancy ornamentation is seen in the Victorian decorating style. You do not have to be very challenging but with the great imagination ideas, you can give the pleasing look in your home office. You can very nicely create an efficient, comfortable and non disturbing home office while keeping in touch with the Victorian style.

Here are some useful tips for your home office to impart professional environment as well as that splendor in a pure Victorian style.

  • You should use bright red colors for decorating your Victorian home office. Make sure that you keep a paint card to match the tone of the wall paint. You can also take the help of the paint cards to buy the matching accessories. Try adding master paintings in gold gilt frames in groups on the bright colored walls.
  • Try to renovate the Victorian-era kneehole desk by hinging the lap drawer’s front; the drawer can then pull out as a platform for the computer keyboard.
  • If you want you can also try out the reproduction style in furniture such as a roll top desk with cupboards for the telephone and computer equipment as well as a keyboard tray.
  • Another option is that in the home office, you can add atmosphere with office staples and accents combined with desk and chairs.  Go for a frilly and ornate style with mahogany or wrought iron furniture.
  • The fancy metal accessories favor the room in lots of ways on the walls, windows and floors.
  • Choose that chair which is of the old Victorian style and is very comfortable for you. Try out the antique wooden office chair that tilts backward, a recent reproduction or a modern-style office chair depending on whether you use the home office frequently or not.
  • Do remove the distracting pieces or accessories on the walls such as mirrors, pictures, etc. Just be selective in placing few favorite pieces, which may be in elaborate frames with gold design such as hand painted china in a curio cabinet or porcelain figurines on display shelves as well as crystal and sterling silver, roses in vases, and candelabras dripping with prisms to accentuate your interior decorating scheme.
  • Do not forget the lighting which holds its unique importance. Home office should have the best desk lamps. Pick lighting that is fringed or has crystals or crystal with prisms to coordinate with the Victorian decorating style interior decor. Try out the ceiling fixtures such as multi-bulb styles, with faceted-crystal or frosted-glass shades.
  • About the flooring; then put a low-pile Oriental-style rug on the floor and make sure your chair rolls on it. You can also opt for a painted canvas floor cloth which could be a trompe l’oeil Oriental pattern with artificial fringes or a design suggestive of a needlepoint-floral look.
  • Regarding windows then they should be treated elegantly with draperies and velvet, lacy or damask curtains. Dress a window with a swag treatment with a tasseled cord draped in front of the swag and then use companion fringes as tiebacks for the curtains.
  • Try for the stylish metal file cabinets hidden in a larger cabinet or closet. Try out the hand painted Asian or floral motif, or use a wicker file box.
  • The electronic equipments such as printer or fax machine should be placed on petite marble-topped night table or carved occasional table if your desk does not hold all the equipment.

Thus in this way you can add style to your home office in Victorian theme.

Decorating Porch in Victorian Style

Porch is the area where you can enjoy the sun and other soothing weather and relax in the calm environment in your house. You have a personal contact with the Mother Nature in the form of plants and greenery and even protect yourself from the flying insects, wind, rain or cold weather. But decorating a porch in Victorian style really involves lot of creativity and inspiration. With the innovative and refreshing decorative ideas, you can transform your porch into a formal and elegant space. Employing the Victorian decorating is a tempting way to show off your porch with fancy and ornate atmosphere.

Let us discuss various ways by which we can enhance and beautify porch in Victorian style.

  • With the help of mahogany and marble furniture in the typical Victorian style, you can make your porch very appealing. You can also fancy the metal structures with accessories with bright red and pastel colors. You just have to imagine in the traditional Victorian styling.
  • To get the utmost help you can look into the various websites on the Internet and magazines to decorate your porch in Victorian theme.
  • This style needs fringed lighting or crystals and do concentrate on the outdoor lawn lighting. The porch light means a lot in decorating the porch. You can hang small chandeliers or you can use candle holders to give it a more romantic touch to spend time with your couple. Low voltage landscape lighting is another way to light up your entry and front porch. You can also use walk lights to define your walk in the corners.
  • The Door bell cover selection, stepping stones and porch swings can never be disappointing.
  • Victorian furniture is typically more petite and detailed than your average portico or tea room set. Wrought iron, wicker or pieces with exposed wood generally work in such a room. So for the furniture, stick to the formal side. So if you are decorating on a budget, then handicraft chairs and tables can be bought from the second hand stores or sale shops.
  • You should be comfortable in mixing Victorian patterns such as floral, stripes, damasks and scrolls, as well as solids. The floral seat cushions and grayish-pink colored curtains. You can mix and match the way you want but make sure that nothing goes out of taste and theme. For the windows you can also use window blinds and ruffled sheers to be more creative.
  • The most sought after fabrics for Victorian decorating are lace, chenille and velvet. Victorian fabric can be used as upholstery, throw pillows, seat covers, drapes and doilies. The lacy curtains with velvet touch give the charming look.
  • The accessories for decorating porch include beaded lamp shades, black and white portraits, porcelain tea sets, and mirrors with intricate and detailed frames. Even the candelabras and other light fixtures on the walls appeal a lot. Use seasonal plants and flowers to bring mesmerizing effect to your porch.
  • Even the soft patterned carpets or the area rugs under the tables can complete the space. This piece should complement your other decorations as a final and finishing touch and try to focus on the oriental rugs in vibrant colors.

Thus in this way you can add a stylish Victorian touch to your old and ordinary porch and make it live and refreshing again.

Design Approaches to Accessorizing the Victorian Decorating Style

The frilly and ornate decorative accessories are the major style options that should be included when decorating your home in the classic and traditional Victorian theme. The glorious Victorian era was the era of lavish accessories and over-abundance in the art of decoration in homes. So that same thing can be involved in modern home to give it a unique Victorian style. With the help of best designing ideas and accessories, you can add that extra charm and attraction.

Let us discuss the ways by which you can accessories your home in the typical Victorian theme and looks.

1. Wall Art
To add that utmost charm to your home, you can indulge in the wall art. When hanging art, think like a gallery and put the middle of the piece at eye level. But if you are designing group of items then, first lay them on the floor to know how to make them more pleasing. Even the large paintings should be enclosed in the gold or brass polished frames in groups.

2. Decorative pillows
The pillows can be used in the kitchens and bathrooms to give the ultimate touch of grandeur and art. You should place the number of embroidered pillows on the bed in the living room and bedroom and those who are on a budget should rely on the fringed or buttoned pillows to bring that special aura in their rooms. The pillows can also be placed on sofas, chairs and beds. Trims include embroidery, lace, braid, fringe, cording and tassels; fabrics include brocades, velvets and needlepoints.

3. Light fixtures or candle stands
The lighting part is very important to add that style and fashion in Victorian touch. You can try out the candelabras dripping with prisms, crystal and sterling silver, or roses in vases, etc. Just try to set out slim candles in holders made of silver, brass, crystal, glass, china and wood or use wall-mounted candleholders, or sconces, as desired. If happen then do not miss Select traditional-style lamps, especially ginger jars and candlesticks, for the many occasional tables typical of bedrooms, Victorian parlors and other living spaces.

4. Old-style Dishes
This is the complete creative and unique idea of decorating your home with the old style dishes on the walls along with the vases on the table tops. You can also place the crocheted doilies on the tables, sofa backs and sides.

5. Other small beautiful embellishments
You can decorate your room with the embellishments such as ornately framed mirrors and pictures, ancestral portraits, vintage photos, botanical subjects or etchings. You can showcase with clocks, hand-blown paperweights, thimbles, antique dolls, figurines and vases containing cut flowers.

6. Furniture
The mahogany or marble furniture should be used to accessorize your rooms. It is not necessary that you use the antique furniture but the non-antique dark stained wooden furniture can be very attractive. Try to select the furniture according to the scale of your bedroom and other items so that nothing appears to be disorganized or messy. Try to incorporate shelves into the décor to hold many stuff and collectibles for garnishing your home. Shelves should be carved or bamboo wall-hung versions, corner pieces loaded with cutouts, and tiered display tables.

7. Window Treatment
The draperies and velvet curtains dress up the windows elaborately. The curtains can be of velvet, brocade, eyelet, ornate laces and patterned rugs such as Orientals, floral, leaf patterns and other machine-made, swirly designs are also very dazzling.

Thus the splendid accessories add the extra beauty to your room so that it may look refreshing in the typical Victorian style.

Victorian Style on a Budget

Most of the people love to design their homes in the traditional Victorian look and feel. This Victorian theme is still popular in the 21st century and is creating its own aura in most of the modern houses as it can easily blend with the new look. The Victorian home decoration style comprises of many vintage accessories that ornate the walls along with the dark tones of color that compliment with the antique wood furniture. But Victorian decorating style is sometimes difficult just because achieving delightful excess means acquiring a lot of stuff.

So, let us discuss ways by which we can give a Victorian style on a budget.

1. No-Sew curtains or Portieres
The Victorian houses often have high windows and for them the readymade curtains can go costly. So go for the Cafe clips and a cafe rod which are the key to this problem. If you want to give the romantic look then use lace tablecloth and for the fresh summer look start with a white sheet. As the windows are high so you measure the excess length, fold the curtains so that you have a sort of top ruffle, and attach cafe clips. If you want you can also add fringe or tassels.

2. Cottage furniture

You can have a cottage look on a budget with unfinished pine furniture. You can easily mix pine furniture with the old furniture pieces. To dress up the plain pieces, use wood ornaments from a craft store. Try to paint the furniture with quiet colors and even paint the ornaments to contrast with the finishing look of the glass knobs and bright floral chintzes, and you will have a Victorian cottage bedroom.

3. Dressed-up Table
Try to dress up the old table with layers of gorgeous fabrics. Place a plain table cloth but if you want to give it a fluffy look then use a sheet and tuck the ends under so that the fabric swells on the floor. Then second layer should be smaller lace tablecloth or a square piece of fabric that covers only the top of the table. Try to coordinate with colors and patterns. Look for the tiny boxes, miniature figures or cover up the shabby frames with tiny sea shells.

4. Brighten up the bathroom

There are various ways to give your bathroom the Victorian look and that too within your budget. Look for the glass bottles or jars with interesting shape and sizes and fill them with colored water. You can even use the small affordable antique bottles. Use the unusual soap dishes or storage containers. Even use the smallest chairs, couch, shelves or some other non-bathroomy piece of furniture.

Thus with the little creativity and patience you can easily have a complete Victorian look in your homes in a budget.

Home Decor Victorian Style

The Victorian Era lasted from 1830s to 1900s and during this time there emerged ways of making beautiful Victorian homes with the lavish stuff and vintage accessories. At that time, there appeared changes in style and decor and this time saw the abundance in the rich high tone colors such as moist colors of crimson, purple and forest green, ornately textured fabrics and elaborate carvings and moldings. The brass or gold polished pots stood on the wooden tables or piano tops. It gave the wonderful and interesting looks. But you can also decorate your room with the 19th century Victorian decor theme which is still popular and highly appreciable.

Let us discuss ways by which you can get a Victorian style in your home.

  1. Colors are always the base of any old traditional style. Similarly, the Victorian style was also appealing with its authentic dark color tones. The colors ranged from adventurous reds, greens and purple shades. The mixing of two to three different colors should be appreciated.
  2. The flooring is also very necessary to give a nice and comfortable feeling to our feet so try to use the wall-to-wall soft carpets or area rugs. These carpets will really compliment the artistic and traditional look of your home. The carpets should be chosen in such a way that they are in geometric black and white designs. If you want you can also use designed tiles, or use dark and wooden floors. Get the look by staining light wooden floors to a darker hue.
  3. The Victorian furniture also holds its own importance.  You can chose sofas and chairs with rounded corners. Try to get that furniture of dark wood that are ornately carved. The number of embroidered cushions with fringes and patterns can also line the sofa. Tables used are curved and would be topped with ornaments, framed pictures, china figures, brass boxes, ceramic pots and bowls. You can also place the silver boxes on a dark wooden table.
  4. The candelabras were very popular in the Victorian era and those same light fixtures can be used on the walls. The light fittings made of with etched glass or colored lampshades of gold or brass are popular to decorate in your homes.
  5. The draperies and curtains should not be missed as they make the environment most creative and innovative with the freshness in its own. Try to use the heavy velvet curtains from ceiling to floor fringed with gold. It is also necessary to match the curtains with the colors of the walls to make the room look spacious. If the wall paper has a cream or pale background, curtains in that color would work well.
  6. Walls in the unique Victorian style were a complicated mix of paint, paper, dado and picture rails. So try to hang very large paintings in gilded frames, beside dark wooden framed photographs. Even try to group small pictures around a central large one.
  7. The stained glass windows used in panels in front doors or in windows are very attractive and decorative. The pieces of colored glass were fused together in geometrical patterns. So this style of stained glass with pictures of animals and birds can be used in modern homes to give it a traditional Victorian look.

Thus in this way you can create your own Victorian styling in the modern houses and get the appreciable responses from everyone.