Victorian Interior Design
Victorian interior design is relatively interesting to study due to the fact that the Industrial Revolution greatly changed the way that people were living during this time.
Once the Industrial Revolution hit, those that were considered part of the middle class became much more prosperous than they had been before. This meant that they could spend a great deal of time and money decorating their homes. Ornate decoration was considered the best sort, which is why many things from this era tend to be over the top. For many members of the elite, any room that was without decoration was considered in poor taste. Thus, there is nothing subtle about Victorian interior design.
Since paint colors were mixed on site and were largely limited, most houses were painted with only a handful of colors. The way that a home would be painted depended solely upon the location of the home itself (homes in the city were never painted with light colors due to grime). Generally, throughout the first half of this era, most interiors were painted with light colors with the exception of the library and dining room, which were always darker. During the second half of the century, colors became much more alive and lots of earthly greens and mahoganies could be found.
In addition to color, texture played a large part in Victorian interior design. During this time, wallpaper was considered the height of sophistication, and many homes also included embossed papers and fabrics that told a story using the fresco technique. Due to their love of nature, many homeowners during this period took it upon themselves to purchase any wallpaper that featured tangled lilies, brambles, and vines. Material wise, tapestries that may have come from castle walls were also popular.
Many think that large velvet curtains are part of the gothic movement, though they were also extremely common during Victorian times. If you want to re-create this era inside of your home, stick to those things that are highly decorated, lush, and extravagant (you can find a lot of authentic items in antique shops, though you will only find replicas in modern home stores).
Victorian interior design is not that common today, though there are some people that still love the look of this romantic era. Wallpaper, nature, and lots of exaggerated items are the way to go if you want to achieve this look.