26 April 2016
 Categories: , Blog

If you have dreamed of having a Victorian-style home, you can still have one, regardless of the type of house you have. Whether you have a modern home that was built in the last decade or a midcentury home, you can still decorate it inside and out with items that portray the Victorian era style. Here are some different ways to get inspiration from this era for designing and decorating your home.

Purchase Victorian Antiques

You don't need to have 100 percent of your décor come from the Victorian era to have the appearance of a Victorian-style home, but adding some antiques definitely helps. Check local antique stores and tell them the type of items you are looking for. You might be able to find some interesting furniture pieces to add to your living room, area rugs and linens, and maybe a piano or sewing machine. These small changes can make a drastic difference in how the inside of your home looks.

Replace Your Current Lighting Fixtures

Many modern homes have lighting fixtures that clearly show what decade it is. However, it is relatively easy to either find antique fixtures or those that have an old-fashioned look to them. Instead of traditional lamps and ceiling lights, go for a chandelier in the dining room and beaded lampshades on your lamps. Hang lanterns or use antique Victorian candle holders you found at an antique shop or flea market.

Do Away With Stainless Steel

While it can be difficult cooking with truly authentic vintage appliances in the kitchen, you can at least choose those that have the appearance of being old-fashioned. This means getting rid of the overly modern appliances in your home, including those made of stainless steel. Someone in the Victorian era would not have had a nice stainless steel refrigerator or stovetop. Try to find kitchen appliances in a cream white color, which many older appliances often had.

Remodel the Exterior

This is a much bigger job, but one that can really transform your house into one that is much closer to being Victorian-style. You don't have to change the entire housing structure, but remodel small portions of the house. For example, you can add a steeper pitch to the roof. Victorian houses were often made with steep roofs and a third floor that was built like a tower. Ask your roofing company if there is any way they can remodel just the roof and add tower-like structures with steeper pitches. Also consider adding scalloped shingles to the roof and replacing your current ones, since textured surfaces were very common with Victorian houses.