What are the characteristics of a Victorian house?

Key Elements

Two to three stories. Victorian homes are usually large and imposing.
Wood or stone exterior.
Complicated, asymmetrical shape.
Decorative trim.
Textured wall surfaces.
Steep, multi-faceted roof or Mansard roof.
One-story porch.
Towers.

How would you describe Victorian architecture?

Generally, most Victorian architecture can be described as dollhouse-like, with curlicue trims, bright colors, and asymmetrical designs. Most Victorian buildings were brick with large interior staircases and windows, balconies, fireplaces in every room, and porches.

What did houses look like in the Victorian era?

The houses were cheap, most had between two and four rooms – one or two rooms downstairs, and one or two rooms upstairs, but Victorian families were big with perhaps four or five children. There was no water, and no toilet. A whole street (sometimes more) would have to share a couple of toilets and a pump.

What are the different types of Victorian houses?

The most common Victorian style is Folk Victorian. The classic Victorian styles (Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Stick Style, Romanesque Revival, and Shingle Style) were created by professional architects, and were built mostly by the well-to-do.

How would you describe a Victorian room?

Defining features of a Victorian home

Steep, gabled roofs.
Round angles.
Towers, turrets and dormers.
Shapeley windows, especially bay windows.
Stained glass.
Decorative woodwork.
Bright colors.

What makes a Victorian house unique?

Common features of Victorian homes included towers, turrets, dormers, and wide wrap-around porches. Decorative railings and turned posts were typical of these Victorian porches that usually wrapped around at least two sides of the house. Ornate trim work around the porches included gingerbread cutouts and spindle work.

Why is Victorian architecture creepy?

“They were thought of as dust traps.” So it made sense that people began associating ornate Victorian houses, where perhaps their grandparents had lived, as old, decaying, spiderweb-filled messes. Many of his films involve Victorian mansions, but Psycho, made in 1960, really turned the spooky Victorian into an icon.