Victorian Decorating
In 6 Easy Steps
by Michael Holland
Victorian decorating is considered one of the most intricate of all the
different interior decorating styles that you can choose from. The reason for
this is because the colors, fabrics, furniture and decorations are all elaborate
and full.
Victorian decorating is based on the period during the 19th century in jolly old
England. So, the more authentic you want your Victorian room to be, you can
expect that the furnishings and other decorative items can be quite expensive.
You will need to be very creative and crafty if you wish to make the most of
this theme. But, it's possible to makeover a room with a Victorian style, even
if you are on a tight budget.
Following is an example of how you can use Victorian decorating to transform the
look of your living room:
Step 1 - So that you know the size of the area you have to work with, the first
thing you should do before beginning your Victorian decorating is to measure the
space of the room.
Step 2 - Use colors such as deep green, red, dark pink, mauve, burgundy, and
purple for walls, rugs, upholstery and other accessory colors. These were the
most popular colors of the Victorian period.
It's also a great idea to add crown molding and wallpaper borders around the top
of walls. And don't be afraid to use more than one color when decorating the
room.
Step 3 - You can choose rich wooden furnishings such as sofas and chairs when
selecting furniture for Victorian decorating. The legs, backs and arms of these
furnishings are carved to stand out, while the upholstery is usually velvet,
embroidered fabrics, and brocade.
Accompanying these pieces are pillows that are created with similar fabrics, and
trimmed with lace, frills, beading, ribbons or bows. The other furnishings in
the room for Victorian decorating are various marbletop tables or they could be
made of wood such as bamboo.
Step 4 - Decorations that are placed on the tables, such as candleholders,
crystal lamps, porcelain figurines, or a vase of dried flowers, should be set on
embroidered doilies to add affect.
All paintings are usually in gold or wooden frames. Other exciting Victorian
pieces that can be added to the living room are a grandfather clock, porcelain
dolls and decorative plates.
Other Victorian decorating accessories that you can add to the room to give it
authenticity include paintings of young maidens, children, a portrait of your
family, or perhaps of your ancestors.
Step 5 - When Victorian decorating windows, you need to make them elaborate with
draperies, swags and braided tiebacks. Popular fabrics for the window are also
brocades and velvet.
Step 6 - The floors of the living room can either be hardwood floors or
wall-to-wall carpeting. But, no matter which flooring type you choose, it is a
good idea to add an area rug that is fashioned in an oriental style to complete
the authenticity of the Victorian decorating look.
As you can see, Victorian decorating is very involved and comes with a heavy
feel to it. That being the case, make sure you pick a room that can handle this
décor. That way, you can enjoy it to its fullest.
Michael Holland is the creator of
http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and
http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE
decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home.