Typical Victorian interior design tastes were opulent – think velvet upholstery, ornate cornices and moody jewel-toned wallpapers – but you really don’t have to spend a fortune today to emulate the iconic style. From dark wood cabinets to tapestry wall hangings, many of the pieces favoured by the Victorians can be found at charity shops and even car boot sales – yes really! Here are a few Victorian furniture pieces, homeware goods and antiques you should look out for on your next trip to the car boot sale.

Victorian rugs and tapestries

Let’s face it, not many of us can afford a parquet or hardwood floor, but an oriental rug offers a touch of Victorian-inspired opulence to a room without the extortionate expense. Alternatively, you could make room for a wall hanging behind your bed – a tapestry is ideal, but you can buy ready-made tapestry-style material that can easily be attached to the wall.

Victorian furniture

You can often pick up Victorian furniture at car boot sales for bargain prices. Options include wooden towel horses, footstools, mirrors, Victorian fireplaces, nursing chairs, chests of drawers, washstands and dressing table mirrors. You might even find a bed frame, but make sure these are dark wood – oak, mahogany or walnut are excellent choices. Alternatively, choose an iron bedstead or a highly-polished brass bed with a footboard and headboard.

Victorian glassware

An easy way to spend a small amount on making a big difference to the Victorian vibe in your house is to hunt for pressed glass that harks back to the era. While pressed glass doesn’t have the same sparkle as its cut glass cousin, it is far more ‘useable’ on a daily basis. Items can be used for a multitude of purposes: the trays from dressing table sets, for example, look stunning when filled with miniature succulent plants in pots. Victorian pressed glass can be picked up in charity shops and car boot sales for a matter of pounds and can be used in a multitude of ways to bring some period charm to your home.

Glass is a simple way to add a quick injection of Victoriana into your bedroom, whether you choose vases, cake stands for decorative purposes, candlesticks, decanters or dressing room sets. Dressing room sets in particular are still very cheaply available in a variety of colours, from uranium glass green to pink, blue, amber and clear.

Victorian upholstery

Upholstery fabric for chairs and ottomans can be sourced cheaply, recovered and given a new lease of life fairly easily. But make sure you get the colour right – research the shades that were popular in the era and use them in your bedroom. Remember, the Victorians used three shades in each room.

To find out more about Victorian interior decor, download the Adrian Flux Victorian Homes ebook for free. It is full of tips on how to create a Victorian style house — even if you live in a new-build home — and advice on where to source original Victorian and reproduction fixtures, fittings, furniture, accessories and art.

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