Victorian Wallpapers by AngelF

The History

The reign of Britain's Queen Victoria (1837-1901) was an era of growing affluence and prosperity. There was an explosion of exploration, empire building and trade, bringing new, exotic objects and styles to Britain and the Western World. Simultaneously, the Industrial Revolution introduced mass-production, making items that were once rare and expensive available to everyone—at affordable prices.

London's Great Exhibition of 1851 showcased the very best, creating intense interest in home decoration. The emerging middle classes in particular took great pride in their homes as new-found symbols of their elevated economic and social status.


The Style

The Victorian style of England and America in the 19th century can't be confined to a single design influence. It's an eclectic blend of styles including Elizabethan, Classical Greek, Neo-Baroque, Gothic, Queen Anne, Colonial, Egyptian and Oriental elements.

Ornate and opulent, Victorian rooms were heavily decorated, full of furniture, filled with rich fabrics, and accented with artistic arrangements of knickknacks, collections, photographs and artifacts.


The Colours

Many people today are surprised to discover that the Victorians were far from reserved—they loved vivid, bold colors both inside and outside their homes.

Interiors
Victorian decorators believed that using deep, rich colors would enhance the importance of a room. Rich, dark colors such as ruby reds, forest greens and golden ambers were choices for the main rooms. Contrasting colors, those opposite each other on the color wheel) (see The Creative Power of the Color Wheel feature), were also employed to create visual drama.

Neutral colors—grays and taupes—were applied in hallways, entryways, and connecting rooms, often with a faux marble or stone technique.

Faux painting (see Having Fun with Faux feature) techniques, such as sponging, marbleizing, wood graining and stenciling, were popular as inexpensive ways to create the look of costly wallpapers, fine marbles and expensive woods.

Furniture
Victorian furnishings—both original and reproduction—are solid, ornate and rather large. Pieces are made from dark woods such as mahogany, walnut and rosewood. Tables and chests are frequently topped with fine marble.

Upholstered furniture is typically "overstuffed", with deep-buttoned upholstery. Many original pieces have curving shapes, with exquisite carved detailing of vines, scrollwork, leaves, and acorns.

Fabrics
Original and reproduction Victorian fabrics are highly patterned, sumptuous and luxurious. For seasonal variety, rich velvets and damasks are perfect for winter, and can be exchanged with cotton, muslin and chintz for the summertime.

Flooring
Opulent, natural-dyed Persian and Oriental rugs are the perfect complement to dark, polished hardwood floors.

Accessories
Lamps are generally made from colorful Tiffany glass, painted china, and brass, and crowned with shades decorated with fringe, bows, and rosettes. Period note: candelabras—fittings bearing real candles—were used throughout most of the Victorian period, even after oil, gas, and electrical lights became more common.