Give Your Outdated Carved Victorian Furniture New Life In A Modern Home

When you come across a great vintage piece of furniture, the idea of renovations or revamping it may not even cross your mind. Victorian pieces, for example, are made with top-quality materials and designs that last through the years and can bring style to a room. However, a full room of Victorian furniture with its red wood hues and heavy, often formal designs could date a space rather than modernize it. The great thing is there are many ways to upgrade even the most antique pieces, whether you renovate the piece itself or change the surrounding decor to help minimize the outdated features. When it comes to updating your Victorian furniture, you can reupholster, paint, stain, or even add accents and textures that help make them appear more updated. Whatever your budget, there's an option to fix up any piece without the need to get rid of it.

There are plenty of retro design trends that are making a comeback, but what happens if the formal Victorian style doesn't fit your home? Victorian furniture is typically such good quality that upcycling it makes more sense than getting rid of it. For everything from couches and tables to armoires and wardrobes, the option to paint will modernize the finish to match to your home's aesthetic. Using a good wood paint in a light hue and sanding down your piece before applying it will ensure the color sticks, as some Victorian furnishings can have a thick layer of gloss that could keep your paint from adhering. If you prefer the natural wood look, choose a lighter stain with a matte finish to soften the piece.

Reupholstering Victorian furniture is another way to update the look, whether you just reupholster it or combine it with painting or staining the wood frame. Using lighter-colored fabric or material on the cushion portion of couches, stools, benches, or other upholstered furnishings with the darker wood can create a dramatic look. Use a neutral shade to make the piece versatile enough to pair with other colors and textiles. That way, if you change up your room design, the shade of the upholstery matches anything. Cream, beige, light taupe, and other colors within this palette will make the dark wood pop while also complementing brighter colors in pillows, throws, and other accents. You can also update the piece with fabric covered in a modern print or modern materials like cotton or linen.

Unless you are trying to decorate your home like the Victorian era, you want to use a variety of textiles, like throws and pillows, to conceal some of the more antique elements of the furniture and add layers that balance the darker or heavy elements. A throw pillow propped against the back of an ornately carved dining chair softens the look. Throw blankets hide outdated detailing on sofas or lounge chairs. You can even drape scarves or decorative handkerchiefs over other furniture that doesn't feature upholstery or fabric.

You do also have the option to turn a Victorian piece into a new furnishing or design altogether, but your level of comfort with building and crafting items will determine if this is a good choice. Sometimes a larger fixture can be chopped down to make smaller tables or decor. For anything that features hardware, swapping out older selections for more modern pieces is a simple solution and means you can keep the original item while still revamping it. Take into consideration the other decor in a room where you are keeping your Victorian piece, then match your hardware to other elements within the space.

The ultimate guide to Victorian decor suggests a maximalist layout is ideal. If you want to bring your pieces into a more modern aesthetic, you can go the opposite direction, creating a simpler, sleeker space. Everything from the floor coverings to the other furnishings can help bring balance to heavier furniture. Use the Victorian piece as a focal point with most of the remaining furnishings taking on a newer look. Add in sleeker items with spindle or slim designs to complement the sturdy Victorian items. Soft rugs, airy drapes, and modern accents like taller vases or metallic decor will help create a fluid layout so you don't have a room that seems overbearing or cluttered. Leaving space beneath some furnishings will help open it up, too.