Victorian Style is one of the main styles of Melbourne Architecture.
Queen Victoria’s reign was too long to have a single style not only of the exterior of the house but the interior as well.
The beginning of the Victorian era came at the end of the Industrial Revolution and the next century’s technology development made possible many household items and decorations to be mass-produced and affordable.
7 MAIN FEATUREE of ViICTORIAN HOUSE interiors could be described.
- BUSY LOOK
At the second stage of Victorian era emerging middle-class of homeowners were able to afford the furniture, fabric, and decorative arts for their houses. People being people are tried to show off their wealth and were stuffing living spaces with all sorts of objects contributing to one of the main characteristics of Victorian interior– “BUSY LOOK”
Busy look was not only showcasing the wealth of the house owners, but presented them with a possibility to show their preferable styles of the art, décor and furniture from different parts of the world, such as Continental Europe, North Africa, Asia and other continents.
- COLOURS
Victorian era is associated with rich bold colours. The early period is defined by darker colours like burgundy, ruby red, forest green, navy blue and deep brown. During that time most homes were heated by coal and darker colours helped to hide the effects of the smoke on the walls. The later periods of the era featured brighter hues and pastels, as the life got brighter.
- PATTERNS.
The patterns of the early period are quite simple and plain, as the colours were created from vegetable-based dyes. Later, with the invention of aniline dyes, the patterns changed. The home owner’s preferences moved towards the plaids, stripes and florals of wallpapers, curtains, and upholstery. Australian floral patterns became very popular at that time.
- LIGHTING
Lighting fixtures were an essential part of interior design of Victorian House. Table lamps, wall sconces, bras and chandeliers with glass shades in areas such as dining rooms, living rooms, sitting rooms bedrooms and entryways were a popular choice towards the end Victorian era.
- WINDOW AND WALL COVERINGS
Windows generally featured heavy fabric drapes and curtains lined with silk or wool. Walls were typically painted in dark colours or covered by tapestries or wallpaper with bold floral, leaf, or vine motifs.
- FLOORING
Wooden floor of the early period with growing wealth of home owners changed to intricate parquet patterns, one of the most common flooring of the late Victorian era. Parquetry became very popular choice before the other common floor types such as carpet, became common toward the end of the era. Tiled floors with repeating geometric designs on the other hand were the most preferable choice for the entries, hallways, corridors, as well as bathrooms, kitchens and other wet areas.
- FURNITURE
It would be very hard to single out a specific furniture style of Victorian houses. However, the main furniture feature of the era is an excess of ornamentation. Pieces like armchairs, chaise lounges, and ottomans were decoratively carved and over-stuffed.
Victorian interior design gained popularity because it presented the opportunity to showcase one’s uniqueness and allowed home owner to have specific and personal design choices. Till this day proper Victorian interior is going to be noticed and admired and by all means will be showcasing it’s owner unique taste and style.
