Victorian houses were often built with large porches.
Victorian houses are known for their porches, an inviting feature that is much less common on contemporary houses and bungalows. Roofed porches on Victorian homes usually had finished ceilings, and these ceilings were often painted distinctive colors along with the rest of the house. Victorian houses, such as the "Painted Ladies" of San Francisco, are known for their bright and lively color schemes.
White
White is the most frequently found color for a porch ceiling. White has always been popular as a ceiling color because it makes a space feel bigger and reflects daylight effectively. Particularly in the days before widespread electric light, residents would do what they could to extend the effect of daylight in their homes. Having a bright white porch ceiling allowed Victorian homeowners to relax a bit longer into the evening while still being able to see each other.
Cream
A cream ceiling is similar in appearance to white but has a slightly more muted effect. Bright white has a minimalist and absolute feel to it while cream is more easily blended into surrounding colors and harmonized with walls and floors.
Blue
Blue porch ceilings have been a tradition in some areas since Victorian times, particularly in the American South. There are various stories about the reasons for this, ranging from a belief that the color blue deters spiders to the popularity of "Haint Blue," a color that was supposed to keep evil spirits away from a house when it was applied to porch ceilings, doors and window frames. Many Victorian houses in the south can still be found with blue ceilings.
Natural Wood
Although less common than white, cream or blue, the natural wood porch ceiling had a place in some Victorian homes. Natural wood lends a calming and grounded feel to a room or a porch, and the wood was often preserved and beautified through repeated applications of linseed oil.
Related posts
Decorating & Painting Colors of a Victorian HomeThe American Victorian era of the late 1800s and early 1900s ushered in a new wave of interesting paint and decor colors. Both the interiors and...
Victorian homes often feature intricate decorations and colorful paint schemes.The cool restraint of mid-century modern houses appeals to the intellect, but ebullient, ornate Victorian homes tug a...
Victorian kitchens reflect the exterior of Victorian homes in shades of cream, green, brown and black.During the Victorian era, kitchens were built "large to deflect the vast amounts of heat...
This Italianate Victorian house has subtle paint colors.Italianate Victorian houses, generally built between 1860 and 1880, are so well-known for their fancy trim and colorful exteriors that they...
The medallion is a ceiling treatment used by the VictoriansVictorian ceiling treatments testify to the Victorians' lavish, color-saturated design preferences. The Victorians didn't believe in aust...
