16 Ideas to Keep Your Victorian Home Decor Looking Fresh

If you’re a color fan however, it might be time to join the dark side. Traditional Victoria interiors were usually dark and ornate, so your Victorian home was made for the rich inky shades which are currently taking the interior world by storm. From cool navy, to forest green and even plush plum, these rich shades are perfect for whole rooms and features walls, or if you want to just dip your toes in the dark side, as accent colors.

Victorian houses are known for their windows and will usually be one of their biggest design features, especially if you’re lucky enough to have bay or sash windows. Original Victorian windows need careful maintenance to keep them in good condition and if they have already reached the point of no return, you’ll need to look at updating them. Choosing new windows is one of the most important jobs of updating a Victorian home, as adding standard modern double glazing can instantly ruin the home’s aesthetic. So do your research before you get started to make sure any changes won't alter the building’s character.

Ornate cornicing is also usually a staple feature of Victorian house decor. These decorative touches around the edge of a room can also extend to surround lighting fixtures and are one of the most iconic design elements of period homes. If your home still has these touches then try to lovingly restore them, or if you’d like a different design you can add new. Just whatever you do, don’t get rid of it entirely.

With your beautiful cornicing in place, you’ll want to make sure it gets its time in the limelight. There are a few tricks you can use to draw the eyes up never-ending Victorian walls. Picture rails are a strip of moulding which usually sits level with the top of the windows in a room. Traditionally used to hang pictures from, they’re now a stylish design feature for period homes. They can be used to break up wall colours by adding another color above it, painted in the same shade as the walls, or even in an accent color. However they’re painted, they instantly take your eyes skyward. Another great trick is to paint fitted or tall free-standing furniture in the same color as the walls to create a continuous look straight up to the ceiling.

Certain areas in Victorian homes were more likely to have tiles rather than wooden flooring, with hallways, bathrooms and kitchens being popular. Boldly patterned Victorian inspired tiling is highly sought-after at the moment so there are endless options to choose from if you don’t have original tiling to work with. More modern geometric designs are also fabulous in these areas to create a contemporary contrast to the home’s period features.

Certain areas in Victorian homes were more likely to have tiles rather than wooden flooring, with hallways, bathrooms and kitchens being popular. Boldly patterned Victorian inspired tiling is highly sought-after at the moment so there are endless options to choose from if you don’t have original tiling to work with. More modern geometric designs are also fabulous in these areas to create a contemporary contrast to the home’s period features.

Chances are if you’ve bought a Victorian home, you’re a fan of traditional design but when modernizing, bringing in contemporary touches will create an effortlessly sophisticated feel and are a fabulous way personalize the space. Modern and traditional design sits harmoniously together as you can see with the ornate sideboard styled with more contemporary elements above. So don’t discount the details you love just because they’re not in the same style as your period home.

Victorian fireplaces are the epitome of dream home features for period property owners. If you’ve got one, don’t ever let it go. If you can, restore yours to its former glory with a fresh lick of paint, polish and new tiles and it will instantly become your favorite feature in that room. Not to mention a new best friend for chilly winter nights.

Large rooms and high ceilings are a blessing, however filling these rooms can be harder than those with more standard dimensions. Make sure furniture is large enough to fill the space and don’t be afraid to set items away from the walls if you have particularly big rooms. Roll-top baths are an excellent example of this as not only do they beautifully match Victorian house decor but they will grandly fill big bathrooms too.