What We Love About Victorian Design and How You Can Use It Anywhere

We define the Victorian era most literally as beginning with Alexandrina Victoria’s coronation as Queen of England in 1837 (Fun fact: Victoria was her last name!) and ending with her death in 1901. More loosely, the time period begins around 1820 and ends at the beginning of World War I in 1914 — and aesthetically, well, that’s a third set of parameters.

Victorian exteriors (like the one above) riffed on Gothic architecture with details borrowed from French, Italian, Tudor and Egyptian traditions, and they boasted components that were fanciful rather than practical. Industrial-revolution innovations made it possible to create intricate decorative elements more cheaply and quickly as the 19th century wore on, and the mass-production of architectural trim meant that even families of limited means could add flourishes to their homes.

Communities across America (and on the other side of the Atlantic, of course) still boast historic beauties like this home, and they’re as easy on the eyes as they were 150 years ago. Floor-to-ceiling, period-appropriate Victorian interiors, on the other hand, make fabulous museums and what we’ll call challenging homes. Want to channel some of the good-gracious-we-can-decorate-everything exuberance of the era with 21st-century creature comforts and aesthetics? Read on for a closer look at quintessential Victoriana and how to make it work for you.

To get a sense of what no-holds-barred historic Victoriana looks like, consider this sumptuous space in Astoria, Oregon’s Flavel House Museum. Built in 1884-1885 for Capt. James Flavel, a maritime pilot and entrepreneur who made his considerable fortune managing boats on the Columbia River, it’s one of the Northwest’s best-preserved examples of Queen Anne architecture. The first floor features 14-foot ceilings and master craftsman-carved doors, moldings and wainscoting. This sitting room’s upholstered sofa and chairs boast sumptuous silks, velvets and floral patterns, and their legs and backs have gentle S-curves. Two generous windows prioritize privacy rather than natural light. State-of-the-art gas outlets throughout the home provided illumination for the well-heeled Flavels.

Floor-to-ceiling plum paint is the MVP in this updated and eclectic 1910 Queen Anne Victorian, where it modernizes the molding and interior door. Streamlined, contemporary window treatments and an angular contemporary chandelier contrast with more traditional elements like the intricate Oriental area rug and the heavy gilt frames on the wall behind a tufted leather Chesterfield. Balancing tradition and livability here is all about establishing a confident, maximalist mix.

Here’s a variation on that monochromatic move in a paler colorway: In this Victorian-influenced transitional living room, crown molding and paneling turn textural with an enveloping, midtone blue that carries across the ceiling, letting the ornate fireplace take the spotlight. Acrylic sconces above the mantel and a pair of sleek glass table lamps with minimalistic shades provide clean lines to balance busier elements like the area rug.