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Freestanding baths, colourful tiles and oodles of opulence...
Victorian bathrooms are having a moment. An odd statement, not least because bathrooms were a rarity in Victorian homes. But our modern day fantasy of a Victorian bathroom, with all the added benefits of plumbing and underfloor heating and rainfall showers, is definitely having a moment.
What we can glean from this is that our decorating desires have little to do with historical accuracy, and that a Victorian-style bathroom needn't be a faithful reproduction of the era. What we are all so seduced by is an impression of opulence, of comfort, and of a room that feels more decorated and less installed.
According to Richard Ticehurst, brand expert at Burlington, Victorian bathrooms allow us to 'escape the modernity of our homes' and step back in time.
'Victorian bathrooms symbolise timeless elegance, which many people have come to love,' says Richard. 'Often featuring design elements such as pedestal basins and clawfoot baths, the intricacies of the Victorian style convey a sense of sophistication and luxury.'
The development of the UK's sewage system and the arrival of indoor plumbing in the late 19th century benefitted middle and upper class homes before anyone else, and so bathroom design evolved within a small corner of society.
It was vital for those households that the bathroom felt like any other room, with all the comforts and decoration of a bedroom or sitting room.
Early attempts were wildly impractical, almost entirely clad in dark wood – bath and all – and finished with wallpaper, framed paintings, curtains and rugs. Design developments toward the very end of the 1800s saw the introduction of freestanding baths with slippered or claw feet, intricately painted porcelain tiles and ornate hardware. This is the style most familiar to us, and one that is fairly easy to replicate today.
There are some key components in the Victorian-style bathroom that are relatively accessible to us. They can be embraced altogether, or mixed and matched with more contemporary elements for a modest nod to the era.
The centrepiece of the Victorian bathroom is the freestanding tub. You have nearly unlimited choice of colours, and there are several fabulous DIY painted baths in our list too. Exposed metal pipes were a necessity in Victorian homes, but the look is often replicated in the form of floorstanding bath mixers. And although showers were a rarity in private homes at the time, this striped cubicle feels like a playful tribute.
Victorian decoration can be very opulent, and too much of it can feel heavy. This bathroom is a lesson in finding balance. The rolltop bath and elaborate brass curtain rail are tempered with a natural linen curtain, the patterned tiles creating a clever rug effect in the middle of the room are bordered with a plainer counterpart, and the brilliant white walls brighten the heavy wooden cabinets.
Smaller bathrooms can do away with some of the bulkier Victorian elements, but still retain its spirit. This bathroom in a restored property on the Kent coast has a compact fitted bath instead of a space-guzzling, freestanding version. The washstand is a typical Victorian design, and these are usually available in narrow sizes, and the wall tiles by Fired Earth offer a nod to tiles of the era.
This Victorian home in London nods to the period in which it was built, but doesn't overdo it with the design references. The sink unit – sourced from Facebook Marketplace in a bargain bathroom makeover – is a great alternative to spindly washstands, and reminiscent of the porcelain basin that would have been propped on top of a handsome wooden unit. The floors are a toned down checkerboard – grey is less of a commitment than black and white – and hardware is delicate but not ornate.
Modernising traditional designs with contemporary colours is a well-established decorating convention. This homeowner's original freestanding bath updated with Rust-Oleum paint is proof that almost anything can feel fresh and irreverent in an electric pink. This Victorian home is worth a look for a lesson in mixing old and new. The floral wallpaper is by House of Hackney, who should be the first port of call for anyone interested in Victorian-inspired design.
Where a lot of bathrooms on this list pick and choose Victorian elements, this charming example is about as faithful as it gets in a 21st century home. All of the elements are there, down to the burgundy checkerboard tiles, illustrated plants – botany was a fascination of the era – and the nickel caddy holding a sponge. This is your blueprint if you want a true Victorian-style bathroom.
Pictured: Senator Bath without Feet at BC Designs
The typical Victorian colour palette was dark and moody, but contemporary interpretations certainly don't have to be. This bathroom belongs to interior blogger Melanie Lissack, and sits on the second floor of her Victorian home in Essex. While Melanie has been sympathetic to the era – the Burlington bath, wood panelling and antique dresser wouldn't have been drastically out of place some 130 years ago – it's all made considerably more cheerful with a sunny combination of blue and yellow.
The brass washstand, burgundy panelling and geometric tiles are all reminiscent of Victorian design. 'Brass was widely used to create a variety of functional and decorative elements throughout homes during this period,' says Tom Revill, co-founder of Plank Hardware. 'These elements often featured intricate detailing and ornate designs, reflecting the overall opulence of the era.' The lovely floral wallpaper touches on the burgeoning Arts and Crafts movement of the time too.
'Victorian interiors often embraced darker and more dramatic colour schemes,' says Tom. 'Deep reds, blues, greens, and rich gold tones were commonly used to create a sense of opulence.'
If this all feels a bit serious to you then adding an element of the unexpected, something from an entirely different design era, is key to lightening it all up and making it feel modern. The poster does the job here, but anything with a high contrast like a vintage formica Tulip Chair would work just as well.
Pictured: Walls and doors painted in Stone Blue at Farrow & Ball
Sticking to Victorian-style sanitaryware when shopping around will often save you from the cold and clinical finish of more modern designs. Even expanding your search to Edwardian styles (we're not overly concerned with historical accuracy, and the difference in bathroom design is nominal), will offer more options in off-white and warm cream.
Pictured: Design by Space Exploration
House Beautiful columnist Sophie Robinson displays very Victorian sensibilities here, as she too approaches the design of her bathroom as she would a living room or bedroom – she explains how to do the same in her handy bathroom design guide. Wallpaper, rugs, cushions, and even an oil painting are fair game here, and in typical maximalist style, she has painted her Burlington bath in Farrow & Ball’s fiery Blazer.
'If you want to incorporate the opulence of a Victorian bathroom, a freestanding bath will help create a timeless centrepiece in your space,' says Richard.
The difference between a bathroom that feels installed and one that feels decorated usually comes down to fitted vs. freestanding furniture. The sameness and symmetry of fitted cabinets can look a bit rigid, whereas freestanding furniture like dressers, side tables and occasional chairs are far more relaxed and welcoming. In the Victorian-style bathroom, antiques should be your go-to.
'Victorian tiles are increasingly being used as decorative pieces of art in the home,' says Adrian Blundell, production director at Craven Dunnill Jackfield. 'For practical reasons, encaustic tiles are easy to clean and stylistically, they are the perfect way to incorporate pattern and colour into a scheme.'
As Victorian-style tiles are so ornate, you can save on decoration elsewhere – and indeed the contrast shown here between the decorative tiles and sleek shower screen is a good example of sitting old with new.
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