Decorating
Decorating: 10 Ways to Update a Victorian Living Room
Bring your period living room sensitively into the 21st century with these simple yet effective design tricks
We love our Victorian homes, but that’s not to say we want our living rooms to be kitted out with museum-style pieces that painstakingly reflect an archaic way of life, down to every last historical fabric swatch and period paint colour. So, while we adore the lofty ceilings, original plasterwork and beautiful sash windows, let’s not be afraid to put our own, 21st century stamp on these historical bare bones.
This doesn’t have to mean anything as dramatic as stripping away original picture rails and marble mantels (heaven forbid!); it’s more about adding a few, well-chosen contemporary decorative touches here and there. Try a striking modern light fitting, or a sleek, low-slung sofa in a neon pink velvet that will look fabulous against the period architecture. Be inspired by our 10 top tips and let the decorating commence.
This doesn’t have to mean anything as dramatic as stripping away original picture rails and marble mantels (heaven forbid!); it’s more about adding a few, well-chosen contemporary decorative touches here and there. Try a striking modern light fitting, or a sleek, low-slung sofa in a neon pink velvet that will look fabulous against the period architecture. Be inspired by our 10 top tips and let the decorating commence.
Layer modern pattern and colour
The Victorians were big on layering pattern, so tap into the spirit of the era, but with a modern selection. This room has a fabulously graphic rug, a bold, retro-print sofa and an industrial-style coffee table crafted from salvaged wood, all working effortlessly with the ornate fire surround and plasterwork.
The Victorians were big on layering pattern, so tap into the spirit of the era, but with a modern selection. This room has a fabulously graphic rug, a bold, retro-print sofa and an industrial-style coffee table crafted from salvaged wood, all working effortlessly with the ornate fire surround and plasterwork.
Install a wood-burning stove
This is a popular way to rocket a Victorian living room straight into the 21st century. While it’s considered sacrilege to rip out an original fireplace, we might not all relish the idea of an open, roaring fire to tend to and clean day after day (and the heat wastage can be excessive).
Instead, keep the traditional surround and call in the professionals to install a wood-burning stove. It will offer easy maintenance and maximum heat efficiency, as well as adding a contemporary touch to a period space.
Read expert advice on choosing the right fire for your home
This is a popular way to rocket a Victorian living room straight into the 21st century. While it’s considered sacrilege to rip out an original fireplace, we might not all relish the idea of an open, roaring fire to tend to and clean day after day (and the heat wastage can be excessive).
Instead, keep the traditional surround and call in the professionals to install a wood-burning stove. It will offer easy maintenance and maximum heat efficiency, as well as adding a contemporary touch to a period space.
Read expert advice on choosing the right fire for your home
Streamline your windows
Do away with thick, heavy drapes in a Victorian room and opt instead for a neat, discreet solution, such as white slatted shutters. This smart window treatment is beautiful yet functional, and also gives you a blank canvas to play with. It means you won’t have to incorporate a particular shade when you’re decorating your room, and it leaves more floor and wall space around the windows, creating a light, airy mood.
Browse more ways with window shutters
Do away with thick, heavy drapes in a Victorian room and opt instead for a neat, discreet solution, such as white slatted shutters. This smart window treatment is beautiful yet functional, and also gives you a blank canvas to play with. It means you won’t have to incorporate a particular shade when you’re decorating your room, and it leaves more floor and wall space around the windows, creating a light, airy mood.
Browse more ways with window shutters
Max out on a white backdrop
While this Victorian living room might be filled with well-worn, vintage furniture, the all-over white surfaces can’t help but instil a huge dose of slick and contrasting modernity.
By simply layering walls, floors, paintwork and original features with nothing but white, white and more white (vary the shades and textures if you want to soften the effect), the beautiful velvet chaise longue and antique rug are given a new lease of life. It’s a simple design trick that really works wonders – and it’s incredibly easy to pull off, too.
While this Victorian living room might be filled with well-worn, vintage furniture, the all-over white surfaces can’t help but instil a huge dose of slick and contrasting modernity.
By simply layering walls, floors, paintwork and original features with nothing but white, white and more white (vary the shades and textures if you want to soften the effect), the beautiful velvet chaise longue and antique rug are given a new lease of life. It’s a simple design trick that really works wonders – and it’s incredibly easy to pull off, too.
Accent with bold hues
Don’t be afraid to use vivid flashes of jewel colours in a Victorian living room. While citrus yellow and fuchsia pink might not traditionally appear on a heritage colour chart, they can add so much personality to your 21st century abode.
This space is full of pretty touches, including the multicoloured chandelier, cute wallpaper and retro, fringed lampshade that all give this vintage room a fresh update without taking away from its character.
Don’t be afraid to use vivid flashes of jewel colours in a Victorian living room. While citrus yellow and fuchsia pink might not traditionally appear on a heritage colour chart, they can add so much personality to your 21st century abode.
This space is full of pretty touches, including the multicoloured chandelier, cute wallpaper and retro, fringed lampshade that all give this vintage room a fresh update without taking away from its character.
Create clever contrasts
In my opinion, it would be a shame if this architecturally grand room was just furnished with period furniture and antiques – it would only serve to create an unliveable, ‘don’t-touch-me’ museum piece. However, by choosing a low-slung sofa and slick sideboard, the ornate cornicing, carved panels and decorative plasterwork really shine.
What helps to hold together this juxtaposition of eras is the considered colour scheme, which picks out shades for the modern pieces from those incredible stained glass window panels, installed by the original owner in 1870.
In my opinion, it would be a shame if this architecturally grand room was just furnished with period furniture and antiques – it would only serve to create an unliveable, ‘don’t-touch-me’ museum piece. However, by choosing a low-slung sofa and slick sideboard, the ornate cornicing, carved panels and decorative plasterwork really shine.
What helps to hold together this juxtaposition of eras is the considered colour scheme, which picks out shades for the modern pieces from those incredible stained glass window panels, installed by the original owner in 1870.
Make an impact with modern art
Paint walls in a deep, muted hue for an authentic touch that reflects the architectural heritage of your home (this grey is actually rather Georgian, but it works in this Victorian house). Then set a daring piece of modern art against it for a fabulous contrast.
Period rooms can take all sorts of shades – partly due to their often grand proportions – from the darkest inky blue to stark, bright white. It’s time to get out the colour charts and choose a shade to set off your art to best effect.
Paint walls in a deep, muted hue for an authentic touch that reflects the architectural heritage of your home (this grey is actually rather Georgian, but it works in this Victorian house). Then set a daring piece of modern art against it for a fabulous contrast.
Period rooms can take all sorts of shades – partly due to their often grand proportions – from the darkest inky blue to stark, bright white. It’s time to get out the colour charts and choose a shade to set off your art to best effect.
Add a neat storage wall
If you have the lofty proportions, sash windows and original cornices to start with, you can put almost anything into a period room and get away with it. Storage can be a problem in older houses, though, due to uneven walls, so building a bespoke wall of shelving for books and media can tackle clutter.
Update the Victorian heavy bookcase with slimline shelving incorporating different-sized sections. Further lighten the look by stopping short of the ceiling. Stick to a simple black and white palette for the rest of the room, so the space doesn’t feel too overwhelming.
If you have the lofty proportions, sash windows and original cornices to start with, you can put almost anything into a period room and get away with it. Storage can be a problem in older houses, though, due to uneven walls, so building a bespoke wall of shelving for books and media can tackle clutter.
Update the Victorian heavy bookcase with slimline shelving incorporating different-sized sections. Further lighten the look by stopping short of the ceiling. Stick to a simple black and white palette for the rest of the room, so the space doesn’t feel too overwhelming.
Make use of high ceilings
One of the great benefits of grander Victorian dwellings is the ceiling height, which can be very lofty. Such proportions offer the perfect opportunity for building in a mezzanine level – a great architectural solution if you need to squeeze more rooms into an apartment. Go all out for a striking, sleek glass version for a modern statement amid the decorative plasterwork.
TELL US…
Have you updated your period living room? Please share your design tips, tricks and photos in the Comments below.
One of the great benefits of grander Victorian dwellings is the ceiling height, which can be very lofty. Such proportions offer the perfect opportunity for building in a mezzanine level – a great architectural solution if you need to squeeze more rooms into an apartment. Go all out for a striking, sleek glass version for a modern statement amid the decorative plasterwork.
TELL US…
Have you updated your period living room? Please share your design tips, tricks and photos in the Comments below.
There is no need to choose a vintage chandelier when it comes to lighting up a Victorian living room, as a modern-day alternative can put an altogether different slant on things.
For sure, this scheme has been given a contemporary makeover anyway, thanks to the deep teal feature wall and white shelving, but the contemporary lattice light contrasts effortlessly with the period ceiling rose, throwing playful shadows across the ceiling. And it’s just as beautiful as any twinkly glass dropper in my book.