Designing a modern Victorian living room is the perfect way to strike a unique balance between your favourite newer decorations and special antiques.
There’s little need to worry about a clash of styles if you carefully combine modern and Victorian elements within your living room. The general consensus is that there was no single exclusive style in the Victorian era, so there is certainly leeway for creativity
Victorian fireplaces and relevant accessories, as well as Victorian mirrors, are often cornerstones to help set the right mood alongside your modern decor.
A Victorian living room with a modern twist could feature a wide range of impressive antiques.
Victorian fireplaces and Victorian mirrors, along with antique carpets and other furnishings, add the perfect Victorian touch. Combined with modern lighting and decorations, these pieces will inevitably look stunning.
If you’re looking for Victorian living room design ideas which can blend in seamlessly with more modern tastes, consider the following:
×
Victorian fireplaces and surrounding accessories
Victorian fireplaces serve as impressive centrepieces in any modern house. These impressive pieces are often made of marble, stone, wood, cast iron or other metals,
A Victorian-style living room should ideally feature an eye-catching antique fireplace, mantel or chimneypiece at its heart.
Aside from surrounding the fire, Victorian fireplaces have another key purpose. They display your treasured possessions, such as beautiful vases, family photographs or perhaps an antique clock on the mantelpiece.
Victorian fireplaces, whether made of marble, stone, wood, cast iron or other metals, serve as impressive centrepieces of any modern living room.
There’s a wide range of additional accessories which you can add to Victorian fireplaces to complete the look. Look out for beautiful antique fire grates, screens, antique andirons and chenets.
One of the most practical features of a typical Victorian living room is a club fender. It provides extra seating space for entertaining, and is an excellent place to warm up after a cold winter walk.
×
Victorian mirrors to reflect a sense of grandeur
Today mirrors are often used to make rooms look larger and lighter, and Victorian mirrors are no different.
A beautiful 19th-century overmantel antique mirror above a fireplace adds grandeur to a Victorian style living room.
Alternatively, other wall-mounted Victorian mirrors will help to complete the period look wherever you place them.
No modern Victorian living room is complete without the right lighting to complete the unique atmosphere.
Antique rugs - setting the tone for your Victorian living room
Antique carpets are a fantastic way to bring the rich colours and textures of Victorian living rooms to life.
They're comfortable underfoot and available in a large variety of sizes to suit all living spaces. The perfect carpet can give your Victorian style living room an especially luxurious and cosy feel.
×
Other Victorian living room ideas
For the finishing touches, add some additional antique furniture and decorative items alongside your more contemporary possessions.
Perhaps a mahogany armchair, rosewood table, coffee table, oak sideboard or leather room screen would fit perfectly into your Victorian style living room. A blank wall could look less bare with an oil painting or leather panel.
Alternatively, look for something smaller to sit on an empty surface. A gilt bronze or marble clock could be the last piece of the jigsaw to complete your Victorian aesthetic.
There’s little need to worry about a clash of styles if you combine modern elements with those of a Victorian living room carefully.
Aside from a club fender, try dressing a bay window with cushions for more cosy seating.
Whether for entertaining guests, reading or watching the world go by, a welcoming and well-furnished bay window adds another dimension to the room. As with glass doors, it can also help draw attention to the view and natural world outside (and may also provide some hidden storage).
Another idea to consider is strong, bold colour schemes. Victorian style design often painted whole rooms in rich blues, reds and greens. These opulent colours added characteristic drama to homes and living rooms.
Accent specific walls in Victorian palettes for a brighter, modern take. It could also serve as a dramatic backdrop for your prized antique pieces.
Finally, no modern Victorian living room is complete without the right lighting to complete the unique atmosphere.
Think carefully about the positioning of your furniture depending on where the best light is currently. You could also consider adding antique lighting, such as an antique candelabra.
×
Final thoughts: Modern Victorian living room ideas
Aim for a base of timeless elegance that reflects the grandeur of the Victorian era while keeping things functional. Use soft lighting throughout the living space to maintain a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
-
Victorian homes often used rich fabrics such as velvet or damask, so include these on curtains or cushions to echo that heritage. Choose emerald green or royal blue for accent chairs or rugs to nod to traditional colour palettes while staying bold.
-
Frame your cosy seating area with glass doors that open into another room or garden, helping natural light reach deeper into the space. Fine china displayed in cabinets or on wall decor adds detail without overwhelming the room.
-
Include contemporary design touches to add visual interest, like streamlined furniture or modern metal finishes. Try balancing intricate embroidery on cushions with plainer upholstery to prevent things from feeling cluttered.
-
Window treatments with layered fabrics or tasselled tiebacks suit Victorian charm, but you can pair them with sheer panels for a contemporary twist. Soft lighting from lamps with intricate designs or brass bases keeps the atmosphere intimate and inviting.
-
Use intricate patterns on wallpaper, rugs or even the ceiling to echo the depth seen in many Victorian homes. The living space should blend new with old, combining visual interest from both eras in a way that feels natural rather than forced.
Choose occasional furniture with carved wood or inlaid detail to reflect the intricate designs popular during the Victorian era. To tie it all together, decorate with framed prints or mirrors featuring ornate frames that match the scale and drama of the room.
Victorian living room ideas: How to create a modern Victorian living room - in summary
There are many features typical of a Victorian terraced house which you can embrace to help create the modern Victorian style living room of your dreams
Designing a modern Victorian living room is the perfect way to strike a unique balance between your favourite newer decorations and special antiques.
Cornerstone pieces like Victorian fireplaces, accessories and Victorian mirrors help set the right mood alongside your modern decor.
Well-placed antique carpets, furniture and other decorative elements (for example, fresh flowers) alongside more contemporary furniture will add to the overall ambience in your living space.
As one of the key cultural figures of the period, William Morris, once said:
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
When investing in antique furniture, it’s vital to ensure you’re buying from reputable sellers. Check their customer ratings, or see if they’re members of organisations such as LAPADA.
If you’re interested in bringing Victorian style into your sitting room, take a look around our website. And if you’d like to know more about anything in our collection please do get in touch.