The Style of Victorian Era Britain

August 21, 2008

When it comes to architecture and decorating there is one style that cannot be beat for the beauty that is inherent in the quality of it, that would be the Victorian era works. This is one of the most popular styles of decorating for the sake of having the classic look.

Marked by the increase in success in the days of the Industrial Revolution, Victorian became one of the leading ways to furnish that was embraced by the middle class. Suddenly they could afford the beauty of the architecture and home furnishing that had been reserved only for the upper class in previous years.

The Victorian era covers basically the years from 1837 to 1901 and was named after Queen Victoria. The beginning of using the furnishings was a cluttered look. The middle class people who could now afford the luxury of these furnishing were so besought with them, that they crammed as much as they could into their homes in an effort to show off their new found status.

When people had drawing rooms rather than family rooms they would use every available inch of space for the Victorian furniture. The colors used were based upon the area the person lived. If they lived in the city, darker colors were used due to the air quality. This was also affected by the availability of what was available to mix their paint.

They used what was available to mix paint to the desired color. Since the first part of the Victorian era, the color of the dining rooms and libraries were a lighter color than the rest of the home. Sometimes a blue green was used as a wash on paneled walls. During the second half of this era, people grew a little bolder and started using deep colors. It was not unusual for bedrooms to be a vivid green.

Wallpaper began to be used and it would be stenciled as well as the looks that were popular in our world recently. By sponging and splattering, they achieved a look of texture rather than the plain walls of earlier times. Sometimes it was hard to tell where the wallpaper ended and the paint began. Simulating wood grain was another way the Victorian era decorators would embellish their walls.

The popularity of wallpaper took on a whole new meaning during the Victorian era. The wallpaper was richly decorated. Flowers were one popular way of enhancing their wall paper. The backgrounds were typically shades of red, blue or green, then painted with flowers of a light color.

It did not matter what room of the home you were in either. Flowers were everywhere. This was a point setting the Victorian era apart from any other style of decorating that we know today.

Some people may think this style is a little overwhelming because the use of the flowers and leaves for the walls did not stop there. They actually were carried over to furniture. Fabrics were designed that often would have the same pattern of the walls and used to cover the chairs in the room. But it did not stop there. Ceilings were also papered to equalize the look of the walls.

Ed Terran is the pen name for the editor of My Furniture shop and house fitting listings

Article Source: http://www.ezineonair.com

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