The Victorians, like us, took great pride in the interior decor of their houses. Many new possibilities were opened due to the fact that in the second half of the 19thcentury, furniture and materials were for the first time produced in factories and became therefore widely available. Also, wall paper was for the first time mass produced, mostly with large flower and animal patterns.
The British Empire was thriving and still expanding during the long reign of Queen Victoria and its importance and opulence was reflected in the way houses were furnished. The floors mostly consisted of elaborately decorated tiles or glossy wooden floor boards covered by patterned carpets. The walls of living and dining areas were painted in rich colours, for instance burgundy or green to partner the dark furniture, or blue to show off precious metals, such as silver cutlery and chandeliers in the dining room.
The walls were often also at least partly wallpapered. Tables were covered in lacy expensive white linens, windows had velvet curtains in warm colours... large overstuffed mahogany wing chairs mostly Louis XV or Baroque style, invited the visitor to sit down in front of the cast iron fire place. Cushions with vivid patterns were scattered in select places on sofas, beds and chairs. There were paintings and large mirrors with highly crafted gilt frames hanging on the wall. The artifacts displayed, both on floors and walls, were of major importance and came from all parts of the empire, from the small collapsible brass from India to the stuffed fox from Scotland. Sideboards and glass cabinets were used to display china. All this reflected the house owners' status in society and they were enormously proud of their lavish decor, which prompted Oscar Wilde to make his famous comment "I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china"
The minimalist home decor which was in fashion in the past years was possibly too reminiscent of similar interiors at work; this may be the reason why, in the first decade of the 21stcentury, we started to focus on the ornate Victorian style which forms such a big contrast.
It is easier and cheaper than one would at first think to create a Victorian atmosphere, although due to lack of space in the 21stcentury - and a lack of maids willing to dust - the number of knick knacks on display might have to be cut down to a minimum.
