Victorian Interiors- Funiture

Victorian furniture commonly reflected a style known as Gothic Revival. Pieces were ornate and rich in design. During this era furniture was beginning to be made in bulk but much of it was still hand made by professional carpenters and furniture makers. Details were hand crafted and very ornate.

Bedrooms were the most simply furnished rooms while parlors could contain the most ornate decor of the house. Main components of the bedroom were the bed, armoires, and washstands. These rooms were kept simple as most of the money and energy for furniture and decor was spent in more public areas of the house. The parlor is where guests were received and were often where most of the money for home decor was spent. As this was commonly the only room for which guests to make an impression of their hosts, the interior furniture was designed to impress. It was during this era that coil springs were introduced and became very popular with furniture makers. Large and ornate furniture heavy in embellishments and rich in color where popular choices of the day. Later in the 19th century parlors became more focused on comfort but still retained their decorative flair. (Guild, 208) Dining rooms in the Victorian Era were designed to be more masquiline than the parlor. Furniture typically included a formal table and chairs, and a sideboard for serving. (Guild, 220)Studies, libraries, and billiard rooms were rooms mainly designated for the entertainment of men. The rooms had a darker atmosphere and furniture was heavier, darker, and more solid than the parlor furniture. These rooms often included writing desks and central tables, especially in the libraries.(Guild, 222)