What Makes Victorian Decor Victorian

    Victorian décor can be hard for the untrained eye to spot. So I headed to Wheeling, WV to talk to interior designer Gretchen Figaretti and the manager of the Victorian Wheeling Landmarks Foundation, Carry Byrum, to discover some great tips on how to choose Victorian décor.

Furniture

    When it comes to choosing Victorian décor furniture pieces, you have a lot of flexibility. The Victorians incorporated many different styles of furniture into their homes.
    "Anything that is Victorian or pre-Victorian works," Figaretti said.
    If you prefer to have furniture made during the Victorian era, look for Victorian antiques or Victorian reproduction furniture. But Figaretti warns that those pieces of furniture aren't always exactly comfortable. So make sure you test the furniture before you buy, or choose furniture pieces made today that have similar shapes and styles to Victorian pieces.
    When shopping for Victorian furniture, remember that the Victorian period lasted from roughly 1840 until around 1900.

Wallpaper

    Victorian décor often included highly decorative wallpaper.
    "Victorians used elaborate uses of wallpaper," Byrum said. "They would use it as an art feature."
    And don't just think it was put on the walls. Victorian décor often incorporated wallpaper on the ceilings. The Victorians would repeat patterns in the same room by using numerous decorative borders and field patterns both on the ceiling and the walls. When looking for wallpaper, choose a manufacturer that offers Victorian reproduction wallpaper.

Decorative Items

    When picking out lamps, mirrors and other decorative accessories, go to antique stores or look for companies that offer Victorian inspired décor.
"Anything that feels good, that feels old, that feels vintage," Figaretti said.  "If you want to stay strictly Victorian, anything that is 19th century or older."
And don't be skimpy. The Victorians liked to pack their rooms with decorative numerous items. Fill empty bookshelves. Put decorative items on mantels and tabletops.
    "A lot of items together just kind of sets the mood," Figaretti said.

Kitchens

    Victorians did not have very sophisticated kitchens. Typically, they were pretty sparse. So finding Victorian décor for a kitchen can be difficult. Figaretti suggests using architectural details as inspiration. Find Victorian reproduction moldings and choose cabinets that are similar in style.

Colors

    Victorian décor used numerous different colors, but there were defiantly some colors that were more popular than others.
    "Certain colors were preferred in Victoriana," Figaretti said. "Burgundy was a very popular color."
To find colors to use in your home, look at reproduction Victorian wallpaper and fabrics for inspiration, or visit a paint store that offers historic paint colors. And be warned, Victorian colors aren't always somber.
    "The Victorians used contrast," Figaretti said. "Although we like to think everything was dark. Their decorating was very lively."