Victorian homes incorporate accents and architectural styles that thrived during Queen Victoria's reign.
The term "Victorian" did not start out to describe a style, but a time in history. It refers to the years 1837 to 1901 when Queen Victoria reigned in Britain. This epoch was marked by technological advancements that made worldwide travel easier and sparked an obsession with all things exotic. In modern times, Victorian is used to describe a certain type of architecture and interior d cor. Homes in this style are easy to pick out, thanks to such hallmark characteristics as ornate furniture and sumptuous fabrics.
Types
Dormer windows and mansard roofs are characteristics of the Second Empire architectural style.
Second Empire, Shingle Style and Richardson Romanesque are all genres of Victorian architecture. Second Empire architecture began in France during the mid-1800s. The style is known for mansard roofs. These roofs have flat tops with steep sides angled downward and dormer windows that project vertically. As its name states, Shingle Style architecture refers to houses covered with shingles. They are also rarely symmetrical, have spacious verandas, turrets and little exterior decoration or carvings in the woodwork. Richardsonian Romanesque revived Italian Romanesque of the eighth through 12th centuries. These homes were usually made of stone, brick and terra cotta tiles and featured windows set in the walls, round arches and columns topped with foliage-style carvings.
Significance
Persian rugs were among the exotic accents that Victorians loved.
Thanks to steam ships, railways and improved canal systems, travel flourished in the 1800s. Victorian globetrotters decorated the home to convey a sense of worldliness. Popular d cor favored the exotic and included Oriental screens, Persian carpets, Egyptian objects d’art such as miniature obelisks and Cleopatra statuettes, jungle animal pelts, globes, maps and navigational tools such as astrolabes and compasses.
Furniture
Victorian chairs and divans often had scrolled arm rests.
Victorian homes are designed to impress and provide comfort, especially when it comes to furniture. Examples include divans with curlicue backs and velvet or brocade cushions and chairs with scroll arms and gilded legs. Special furniture touches included tables with baize-line swivel tops and game tables with reversible sides to let hosts and guests switch from card games to mah-jongg. Side tables were often etched with scrolls and leafy patterns, or held up with bronze statues of Greek goddesses or nymphs. Tassels, draperies held back by gold or silver rope and lace curtains are also Victorian signatures.
Colors
Victorian decoration favored strong color contrasts.
Victorians favored strong, contrasting colors, according to The Victorian Web. Beige, ecru, and sienna brown were often offset with dark blues, greens and twilight purples. Bright colors were avoided as they didn’t convey a sense of elegance, while white was unpopular because of increasing air pollution. Dark colors also represented wealth as paints had to be mixed on site and the process of creating deep hues was complicated.
Accents
Peacock feathers represent the Victorian era's penchant for exotic decor.
Even the little touches in a Victorian home were meant to project a sense of exoticism and sophistication. Elephant statuettes, peacocks embroidered on pillows and pineapples carved in furniture are not uncommon. Lace doilies, pewter candle holders, chandeliers and antique dolls also characterize a Victorian home.
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