Victorian living room design takes its inspiration from the exotic colors and influences of Middle Eastern and Asian cultures. While Victorian style went through several very distinctive changes during Queen Victoria’s long reign, the color palettes remained fairly consistent – deep jewel colors like royal reds, jades, chocolate browns, blues and purples, that made rooms like the parlor (the room that would be the living room in today’s contemporary home) rich and luxurious. By choosing scaled down furniture pieces and selecting lighter shades of the standard Victorian color palette for window treatments, area rugs and upholstery, you can adapt Victorian style for apartment living that is elegant and dramatic, yet functional in a thoroughly contemporary sense.
When selecting furniture for a Victorian style living room in an apartment, include some pieces with lighter finishes. Since dark colors have a tendency to make a room seem small or cramped, introducing an accent chest, console table or coffee table in whites or creams with openwork or open shelves will provide contrast while creating the illusion of space. You will want to choose judiciously, but in addition the two end tables found on either side of the sofa, a Victorian parlor included a number of small occasional and accents tables scattered throughout the room.
Even though furniture is lushly upholstered, sofas, chaises, ottomans and armchairs should have exposed wood frames. In keeping with Victorian tradition, wood furnishings will typically be intricately carved and have flowing, curved lines, scroll profiles and bun feet. Popular Victorian motifs for both furniture and textiles include rosettes, trailing vines, acanthus leaves, shells and pineapples.
When deciding upon upholstery colors, lamp shades and accent pillows and cushions, pick as many different textures as possible. The Victorians loved to dress a room by using velvets, silks and nubby wools in the same space. Embroidered fabrics with gold thread are popular for bolsters and other types of accent pillows. They also liked to mix paisley patterns, plaids, damasks, brocades and stripes with one another.
The fireplace would be an important part of the Victorian parlor. A compact, electric fireplace in a medium to dark wood finish will create the perfect focal point in a Victorian style apartment living room. It also adds a timeless feel to any living space.
Of course, the Victorians were famous for their lavish detail, particularly when it came to accessorizing. To give your living room a Victorian look without making it feel cluttered or untidy, you can decide how little or how much. Use dresser scarves, tablecloths and elaborately embroidered runners on tabletops. Place heavy silver or crystal candlesticks on the mantel of the fireplace, family photographs in scrolled oval metal frames on tables and elaborately detailed round or oval mirror in wood or bronze one wall.
