What Are Victorian Houses?

There's a certain dazzling quality about Victorian homes that make them stand out in a lineup of houses. With a "more is more" mantra, Victorian houses embrace highly-elaborate and ornate details, incorporating elements like steeply pitched roofs, decorative trim, and asymmetrical facades.

"These homes often feature architectural styles such as Gothic Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne, with characteristic elements like turrets, towers, bay windows, and large porches," explains Kaitlyn Sage , principal designer and real estate professional at Salt + Sage Real Estate and Home Design.

Inside, you'll find high ceilings and intricate artwork, perhaps some glowing stained glass, and saturated colors on all the walls—all an emphasis on craftsmanship and attention to detail. Keep reading for a quick dive into the history of Victorian architecture, its evolution, and what defining traits set it apart from other design styles.

Victorian Architecture History & Evolution Victorian architecture rose to popularity in the 1800s under the reign of—you guessed it—Queen Victoria, and lasted through the early 1900s.

"This period was marked by a fascination with history, ornate decoration, and eclecticism, which blended various styles and elements from different eras and cultures," Sage explains. "The Industrial Revolution also played a significant role in the spread and popularity of Victorian homes. New materials and mass production helped make elaborate designs more accessible."

Victorian architecture eventually spread from England to the United States (becoming especially popular in places like San Francisco, New Orleans, and Savannah), as well as Australia and New Zealand. Over time, Victorian architecture has evolved to accommodate local preferences, modern tastes, and the availability of building materials.

"Recently, a refreshing design trend known as grandmillennial has emerged, deviating from the sharp lines and neutral colors prevalent in contemporary designs," says Jeri Brown , founder and principal interior designer for Jeri Brown Design. "This resurgence of interest in charm and depth has prompted homeowners to incorporate intricate details such as wainscoting , decorative wallpaper, molding, and elegantly patterned drapery."

Clearly, Victorian architecture remains a steadfast influence in our modern world. Not only are designers and architects hearkening back to the classic design style as they build and decorate, but historic Victorian homes remain cherished living artifacts.

Common Characteristics of Victorian Houses While the very nature of Victorian homes is that they're one-of-a-kind, you'll find that this architectural style and interior design approach has some throughlines.

Tall Frames with Multiple Stories While ranch style builds and modern architecture both tend to spread out and look flat, Victorian homes are almost always very tall with multiple stories. The height was a sort of status symbol—a tall home meant a noteworthy status. It also just made sense in more urban settings where ground space was limited. Further, the height allowed for grandiose ceilings and lots of natural light via large windows.

Ornate Exterior Detailing If it's not over the top, it's probably not Victorian. "Victorian-style homes feature stunning decorative trim and millwork around windows and doors," interior designer Audrey Scheck says. "By utilizing fanciful cut trim and moldings, builders were able to achieve a one-of-a kind look for each home." Sage adds that typical features for these decorative trims include scrollwork, spindles, and brackets.

Large Verandas Many Victorian houses feature spacious, covered front porches complete with ornamental posts and carved railings. Not only does this make visitors feel welcomed as they approach the home, but it provides an extension of the indoor living space. Some porches even wrap around the house for an extra dose of grandiosity.

Saturated Colors Before the Victorian era, the majority of houses were painted a singular color—usually a neutral, non-fussy white or beige. "By 1887, bright earth tones, like burnt sienna and mustard yellow, became more popular," Brown says. "The shift toward incorporating bright earth tones was influenced by the time's broader artistic and cultural movements."

She adds that the Victorian era was notably characterized by a keen interest in nature, the arts, and historical design elements. These rich, earthy colors were reminiscent of natural landscapes and ancient architectural styles, aligning with the romantic and nostalgic sentiments of the era.

Stained Glass Windows Stained glass windows are also a common feature of Victorian houses, and it's rare to find them in many other home styles. "The stained glass adds color, artistic flair, and uniqueness to the interior and exterior of the house," Sage says. It's an opulent addition that taps into the rich color schemes and decorative details throughout.

Steeply Pitched Roof Lines Unlike the modular builds of the modern era, Victorian-style architecture features elaborate roof lines, towers, and turrets. "Victorian homes often have steeply pitched roofs with multiple gables facing in different directions," Scheck says. "The purpose of this is to draw the eye upward and to allow for grand, tall ceilings within the home."

Bay Windows Bay windows are another prominent detail in Victorian architecture. These serve the practical function of expanding the interior living space and letting in more light, but also create more interesting architectural lines.

"From an aesthetic standpoint, bay windows were a way to add visual interest to the exterior facade, breaking up the flat plane of the wall and contributing to the overall picturesque and ornate appearance characteristic of Victorian architecture," Brown explains.