Victorian interiors have been associated with lavishness, the Victorians knew how to carefully spend their money to make the most of the decorative items they could afford. When applying this interior design style in your own home, carefully consider what items will make the largest impact in the room. Other, smaller items can be planner and of lesser quality and still retain the overall appearance of Victorian interior design.

Different types of Victorian Interior Designs
Victorian interior design evolved countless times during the reign of Queen Victoria. From Gothic to Neo, to Folk to Modern. All styles were slightly different but held the same principles in common. Gothic for instance, was vastly darker than French Victorian interior design style, which was much softer and prettier (think light blues, creamy whites and lace). Neo Victorian interior design took on many influences from both subcultures and eventually evolved into what is known today as ‘Steampunk’. Neo Victorian design is noted as mixing styles from the working-class industrial revolution movement with the lavish-ness of the traditional, more conservative, Victorian interior design fashion.

Modern Victorian Interior Design
A modern interior design style involves using and enhancing the natural features which are available to you. Are you lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home? Use this as the key focal point of your room and there will be no need to dress it up dramatically. Modern Victorian design tries to adapt and take on various Victorian interior design styles, however it is done in a more refined and subtle way. Modern Victorian interior design aims to strip back on excess of ornament but stays true to traditional colour schemes and Victorian interior design furniture styles. Folk Victorian interior design style can be considered as incorporating more aspects of nature into the design. Think stripped back/earthy colours and less ‘bling’. Victorian interior design has stood the test of time and is beloved by many, we can begin to understand why when we explore the range of styles under the umbrella.

Wood and chrome play a huge part in modern Victorian interior design. Take a look at the other style examples in this article for inspiration on how to get it just right. These days, minimalism is fashionable, therefore whichever Victorian interior design style you choose to take as inspiration, do it subtly, through statement pieces of furniture or one grand focal point, rather than the more traditional ‘more is more’ Victorian interior design approach. At Blucap Interiors,we use natural design principles to bring the outside world in whilst considering our environmental impact and positively influencing occupant / user wellbeing, this holy trinity is, for us at least, the essence of biophilia.

Neo Victorian Interior Design
Neo Victorian interior design takes a lot of inspiration from 1740’s English architecture. Also, the industrial revolution era of the Victorian age. In turn, neo-Victorian fashion and interior design has inspired a generation of ‘steampunk’ enthusiasts. Steampunk fuses classic Victorian looks with modern, punk/gothic design. Neo Victorian interior design can be reflected in exposed brick and metal structures (which could resemble a treacherous factory landscape?) Neo Victorian interior design is anything but whimsical and is more structured than a lot of other Victorian interior design styles.


Gothic Victorian Interior Design
Ahh, gothic Victorian interior design! Probably one of the first interior design concepts our minds drift to when considering Victorian décor and fashion. Gothic design at a glance looks like pointed arch doors and iron work embellished with intricate patterns. Dark colours are a must, blood red, forest green and sombre navy all play a part. Gothic interior design was made mainstream through novels such as Dracula, however the true Gothic revival period dates back as far as 1747. English writer and historian Horace Walpole was a huge fan of the characteristics of the Gothic movement and wrote what is considered to be the first Gothic novel ever written. He then went as far as completely redecorating his home, named Strawberry Hill as an ode to the Gothic architectural movement and style.


Dark Victorian Interior Design
Taking inspiration from gothic Victorian interior design, dark Victorian interior design also focuses on the use of dark/moody colours and the feeling of a solitary/isolated atmosphere. Gold embellishing and plants can be used to add a little light whilst still keeping the overall ‘vibe’ sexy and alluring. Dark colours look great in bigger houses with lots of space, and creates a cosy mood for you and your guests.


Folk Victorian Interior Design
Folk Victorian interior design can be recreated by adding flashes of earth tones and exposed natural materials to your interior space. What do we think of when we hear the word folk? For me, I picture shoeless flute players dancing on a ragged mountain whilst collecting herbs and praying to the rain gods. Just me?...Okay. Anyway, take this extreme interpretation and run with it. Folk design is all about the focus on nature. Not a fan of taxidermy? No worries, you can recreate a folk Victorian design look with cute vases of wildflowers and faux fur rugs, instead.


Classic Victorian Interior Design
Classic Victorian interior design incorporates concepts from all of the different genres of Victorian design together. Classic Victorian design takes a little bit of Gothic, a sprinkle of folk and a dollop of Anglo-Japanese, and makes it work together. Perhaps a big commitment for the average person (not to mention expensive, classic Victorian design requires original vintage furniture and certainly no knock offs - as it was all about showing your wealth) .


French Victorian Interior Design
French Victorian interior design is MUCH lighter and more feminine that classic Victorian interior design. French Victorian interior design typically enhances the existing natural features of the house. Rather than trying to decorate every surface within an inch of its life, it looks more minimal and airy. Realistically, it all comes down to showing respect for the foundations of the building. Whilst French fashion does not shy away from the obscure, it can be represented in a much more muted fashion. Rather than Classic Victorian interior design, which kind of screams it at you.


Anglo-Japanese Victorian Interior Design
Beautiful Anglo-Japanese interior design can be characterised by rich colours and ornate decorations. In particular, paintings or sculptures revolving around the lily, stork or sunflowers were popular and showcased an exotic approach to traditional Victorian interior design. Delicate depictions of oriental plants laced silver wear, chairs and rugs. The Anglo-Japanese trend was hugely popular across Europe and America however eventually Rococo design overtook the fashion and less and less pieces of Anglo-Japanese furniture began to be made.


It’s All About Mixing Modern Style With Victorian Style
Some may call this look eclectic, but we prefer to call this mixture, Modern Victorian. Really it only makes sense that this style has evolved into being. Most people who own a Victorian home want some small sense of modern design in their home, and those who don’t own a Victorian crave the Victorian quality and character that seems hard to come by now-a-days.

Creating a modern Victorian interior can be achieved by carefully meshing the two styles together. Stress on the word, carefully — you don’t want a messy mixture that makes your home look like it was decorated by a bunch of your grandmother’s cast-offs, mixed with some modern chain store furniture finds.This design is one that must be well thought out, not thrown together.

HOW TO CREATE A MODERN VICTORIAN DESIGN
Right now, a lot of Victorian design features are actually very trendy. As people move away from the minimalist designs of the 2020s, a lot of Victorian styles are starting to pop up. So how do you incorporate elements of Victorian design without looking like your living room is straight out of Queen Victoria’s time? Here are some tips for adding Victorian flair to home while still making it look modern and fresh.

MIX UP UPHOLSTERY STYLES
Those who love the curves and carving of Victorian furniture need to carefully look at their upholstery choices if they want to avoid things looking stuffy. Picking modern designs, like sleek stripes, for upholstery on Victorian style furniture can be a great way to modernize these pieces. Another option is using more modern furniture with clean lines but upholstering the furniture in Victorian patterns like floral or damask.


EXPERIMENT WITH WALLPAPER
Wallpaper is actually one of the biggest interior design trends for 2021, and many modern designers are taking notes straight from the Victorian playbook. Patterns made by the Victorian designer William Morris are especially popular right now. They can look great when you balance the ornate wallpaper with minimalist fixtures and decor.


ADD A GALLERY WALL
The Victorian style of covering walls in pictures can look great in a modern living room. The key to making it look contemporary is simply being selective with your art. Blending older Victorian pieces with some abstract art or quirky wall hangings can look fun and fresh.


ADD ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
A lot of the character of Victorian design came from the rooms themselves. Parquetry or patterned tiled floors, wainscoting, built-in shelving, and carved moldings provide a lovely Victorian style backdrop to newer furniture.


FLORAL COMPOSITION
In the Victorian era, the abundance of indoor plants and artificial floral composition play an essential role to give your interior a touch of the typical Victorian era. The flowers which are commonly used are tulips, carnations, daisies, lilies, dahlias, etc. tightly assembled flowers are an essential characteristic of the Victorian era. Victorian style arrangements are typically round and oval.


WINDOWS AND HEAVY DRAPES
The interior of the windows is usually decorated with the multi-layered wooden framework. It includes stained glass, moldings, and carvings with elegant, double layer curtains which are heavy drapes made of damask, silk velvet in harmony with tulle lace curtains to make your interior look royal, and aesthetically beautiful.