Decorating
Decorating: 10 Ways to Enhance Your Victorian Home With Colour
Embrace pattern and vibrant hues with these bright ideas for creating statement style in a period property
There are two main camps when it comes to interior design – those who favour neutrals and those with a passion for colour. If your tent is pitched firmly in the latter field, you’ll home in on primary brights and love nothing more than incorporating striking shades into your space.
Victorian properties share a certain set of characteristics – high ceilings, large windows, deep skirting boards, wooden floorboards and well-proportioned rooms – that make them the perfect canvas on which to express your flair for colour. Use these tips as a starting point to get your creative juices flowing and explore how best to enhance your Victorian home with vivid paint and statement accessories.
Victorian properties share a certain set of characteristics – high ceilings, large windows, deep skirting boards, wooden floorboards and well-proportioned rooms – that make them the perfect canvas on which to express your flair for colour. Use these tips as a starting point to get your creative juices flowing and explore how best to enhance your Victorian home with vivid paint and statement accessories.
Showcase impressive stairs
If your home has a stunning staircase, let it shine with a bold paint choice and patterned carpet. This London loft apartment features a striped wool runner, which subtly accents the rich grey banisters and skirting boards, but also wins points for practicality thanks to a dark brown/grey base colour.
If your home has a stunning staircase, let it shine with a bold paint choice and patterned carpet. This London loft apartment features a striped wool runner, which subtly accents the rich grey banisters and skirting boards, but also wins points for practicality thanks to a dark brown/grey base colour.
Try a bold bathroom
Lovers of Victorian-inspired design may like to embrace colour in unusual places, such as the bathroom. A traditional-style roll-top bath can take a bold shade on its underside, as can an enamel basin like this bright number.
Lovers of Victorian-inspired design may like to embrace colour in unusual places, such as the bathroom. A traditional-style roll-top bath can take a bold shade on its underside, as can an enamel basin like this bright number.
Go white and bright
Brights sing out against a white backdrop, and painted floorboards are a winning choice for your period home. This kid’s room is fun and cheery thanks to striking red accessories, a few pieces of blue furniture and a striped rug.
Brights sing out against a white backdrop, and painted floorboards are a winning choice for your period home. This kid’s room is fun and cheery thanks to striking red accessories, a few pieces of blue furniture and a striped rug.
Weave in colourful cushions
Upholstery is one of the easiest ways to introduce colour and, in often-dark Victorian homes, it can add much-needed brightness to dimly lit corners. A brightly patterned window seat or under-stairs nook also adds depth and dimension to a plain interior. Natural materials, such as cotton and linen, lend a pleasing organic element to soften bold brights.
Upholstery is one of the easiest ways to introduce colour and, in often-dark Victorian homes, it can add much-needed brightness to dimly lit corners. A brightly patterned window seat or under-stairs nook also adds depth and dimension to a plain interior. Natural materials, such as cotton and linen, lend a pleasing organic element to soften bold brights.
Rethink staid storage
You might assume a period home demands traditional, panelled-door storage, perhaps safely painted white to match other woodwork, but bright, contemporary cupboards with a flat face can liven up your bedroom. This unconventional overhead cabinet is just the right depth to stash an envy-inducing shoe collection.
You might assume a period home demands traditional, panelled-door storage, perhaps safely painted white to match other woodwork, but bright, contemporary cupboards with a flat face can liven up your bedroom. This unconventional overhead cabinet is just the right depth to stash an envy-inducing shoe collection.
Choose a cool colour combo
Give your kitchen extra kick with pretty painted cabinets. This stylish scheme pairs fresh mint cupboard doors with rich timber tops for ice cream appeal that’s cool and calming, but still has a Victorian vibe.
Give your kitchen extra kick with pretty painted cabinets. This stylish scheme pairs fresh mint cupboard doors with rich timber tops for ice cream appeal that’s cool and calming, but still has a Victorian vibe.
Feature your favourites
Try a bright feature wall for a fun splash of colour in the kitchen. For simplicity, primary-coloured emulsion in a wipeable formula is your best bet, or for an elegant upgrade, try a back-painted glass splashback in any colour of your choice.
Try a bright feature wall for a fun splash of colour in the kitchen. For simplicity, primary-coloured emulsion in a wipeable formula is your best bet, or for an elegant upgrade, try a back-painted glass splashback in any colour of your choice.
Rework a classic
Iconic white metro tiles get a colourful update in this characterful bathroom. Paired with sleek sanitaryware, the jade tiles emit a jewel-like shine that reflects the brave tastes of the Victorian era, but with a hit of contemporary style.
Explore 12 tile styles with modern appeal
Iconic white metro tiles get a colourful update in this characterful bathroom. Paired with sleek sanitaryware, the jade tiles emit a jewel-like shine that reflects the brave tastes of the Victorian era, but with a hit of contemporary style.
Explore 12 tile styles with modern appeal
Accent with appliances
While it’s tempting to choose classic white or sleek stainless steel for your appliances, a colourful fridge or toaster can bring a little flair to your kitchen in the most effortless way. To expand on a theme, highlight your feature colour with matching artwork, as in this traditional cook space.
TELL US…
How have you used colour – and is it inspired by the era of your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
While it’s tempting to choose classic white or sleek stainless steel for your appliances, a colourful fridge or toaster can bring a little flair to your kitchen in the most effortless way. To expand on a theme, highlight your feature colour with matching artwork, as in this traditional cook space.
TELL US…
How have you used colour – and is it inspired by the era of your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
The Victorians loved bold shades, so dial up the saturation for instant impact. If you’d discounted traditional tongue and groove as being old-fashioned, see how this simple painted panelling can introduce era-appropriate character and warmth in a way that still feels fresh.
Get more inspiration for adding blues to your interior