How to Decorate a Country Victorian Kitchen

Since the kitchen is the hub for family gatherings, home-cooked meals and food preparation, it should be decorated in a warm and friendly manner. Choosing a country Victorian theme for the kitchen is ideal because the distressed wood cabinetry, addition of colorful patterns and comfortable surroundings make it an enjoyable and livable space. When decorating a kitchen in a country Victorian design, two motifs are being combined. The first interior design factor is the country appeal, which includes comfortable kitchen furniture, distressed wood finishes and rustic accessories. The second decorating factor in the country Victorian kitchen is the Victorian element, which is defined by a feminine color palette, friendly patterns and embellished home accents. These two decorating themes combine to create a colorful and inviting kitchen environment.

Things You'll Need

• Interior wall paint
• Distressed wood painting kit
• Kitchen furniture
• Countertop appliances
• Patterned window treatments
• Decorative accessories

Instructions

1. 

   Paint the kitchen walls.

   Paint the kitchen walls a soft muted yellow. Choose a satin or semigloss interior paint in a soft yellow hue that might resemble the color of squash or sunflowers. A true lemon-colored paint is too bright for a country Victorian theme. Paint the trim with a semigloss interior paint that is eggshell white. This color combination will provide a basic and cheerful backdrop for the country Victorian kitchen design.

2. 

   Select wood or tile flooring.

   Choose natural wood floors or large tile flooring. Select a natural wood flooring with an oak, maple, walnut or birch stain color. Darker wood stains are more indicative of the Victorian style, but wood stains that are too dark could shrink the appearance of the kitchen. If natural wood floors are out of the budget or require unwanted maintenance, select a large neutral-colored tile pattern in beige or white.

3. 

   Distress kitchen cabinet wood.

   Distress the wood on the cabinets. Use a faux-finishing procedure that allows the wood in the kitchen to gain a distressed wood appearance. A distressed wood painting kit can be purchased at a local hardware or home improvement store. The distressing procedure is not difficult, but it requires several stages including sanding, painting and applying a glaze. Avoid the faux-finishing method that is a form of wood distressing but includes crackling. This procedure is preferable on a single furnishing like a wooden chair but not on the kitchen cabinetry.

4. 

   Add neutral-colored appliances.

   Select kitchen furniture and countertop appliances. If the kitchen has space for a table, choose a round wooden table and wooden chairs. Round tables are the best option for combining the friendly conversational elements of the country design with the social ambiances of the Victorian era. Select appliances that are simple in design and structure. Avoid modern metallic coffee pots and toasters and opt for a more traditional, neutral white appliances. Place a Victorian tea kettle on one of the stove burners for an era-specific appliance addition.

5. 

   Choose red floral or striped window treatments.

   Add window treatments in a patterned fabric. A country Victorian kitchen design implements colorful and patterned fabrics into the decor. Floral, striped and plaid materials create simple and ornate kitchen window treatments. Choose patterns that use red as a complementary color. The soft yellow walls adorned with red patterned window treatments will bring a cheerful atmosphere to the country Victorian kitchen.

6. 

   Add fresh lemons.

   Choose colorful kitchen accessories. Select an intricately detailed rustic wrought-iron chandelier to place over the kitchen table. In order to combine elements of the country and Victorian design appeal, add a colorful pot of fresh flowers to the center of the kitchen table or on a highly visible kitchen counter. Set a stacked set of floral patterned dishes on the center kitchen island. Place a clear or wrought-iron bowl filled with fresh lemons on the kitchen counter. Add a coordinating striped or floral table runner or place mat on the kitchen table. Add yellow or white kitchen canisters to a corner area on the countertop and paint the words coffee, tea, sugar and flour on the surface of the cans.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix and match striped, floral and plaid patterns together. Country Victorian kitchen design incorporates a variety of patterns into the space.

• Even though a country Victorian design is colorful and ornate, avoid clutter in the kitchen by limiting the number of countertop appliances. Store knife boards, mixers and utensils in a drawer or cabinet.

References

• How to Choose a Wood Floor
• The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating
• Traits of a Victorian Kitchen

Resources

• Victorian Style Kitchen Decor