Victorian house layout ideas (2024)

With the combination of a population boom and a strong economy, the Victorian period was cemented as a seminal time for architecture and Victorian layouts were strong. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) was founded in 1834, three years before Queen Victoria ascended the throne, and it was a great time for building. The houses were constructed solidly and, epitomised with their covetable high ceilings and generous proportions, they’re still one of the most sought-after house types to buy and renovate in the UK.

However, there are many ways you can remodel them to work for you and be fit for purpose for modern life. A renovation can course correct some of the issues that we commonly see with a Victorian house, whether that’s upgrading their energy efficiency to a sufficient standard (all the way to Passivhaus standards), draught-proofing sash windows or sorting issues with damp.

Victorian houses lend themselves to adding a single-storey rear extension, a loft extension or a side return, although some people prefer to retain the house’s characteristics and retain the external structure and look at moving walls instead. Given their history, any extensions will need to be carefully planned, especially if the property sits within a conservation area where you’ll need to match the original materials when updating. Contemporary extensions to Victorian properties have fallen into favour, but there’s also an argument to retain as much of the houses original layout as possible to stand the test of time.

Opt for large picture windows

Bi-fold doors and floor-to-ceiling glass are de rigueur, but vast expanses of glass come with their own issues. With climate change and temperatures rising, you’ll need to think about adequate window dressing to prevent the rooms from being heated up like a greenhouse. Picture windows are a great and often more affordable way to flood natural light into your home. They create a strong connection between the indoors and outdoors, framing the alfresco scene like a picture.

The picture windows pictured below from Mark Edwards and Penny Talelli’s careful restoration of their Victorian gatehouse lodge in Haringey, North London are a great example of modernising the space to work functionally and stylishly. It’s a good idea to mix picture windows with bi-fold doors, as picture windows are typically are fixed and sealed within the frame, so while they have a good U-Value, they’re often not built to open and you’ll need to think about proper ventilation in the room.

Victorian house layout ideas (1)

Image credit: Fraser Marr

Open the hallways

Victorian house layouts usually have a good hallway. Hallways were an important hallmark of the time, as the first area that guests were welcomed into the home, a good impression was imperative. However, they were often long and lacking in light. You could think about opening up the space to create the wow-factor in the thoroughfare of the house. The entrance space of the Grade B listed Victorian villa in Edinburgh (pictured below) has an axial window view at the bottom that’s been created to bring in light and add a connection to the garden.

In many Victorian layouts the design is that the staircase is boxed in on either side. You can open up the staircase by taking out either one (or both in some cases) of the walls to create a brighter, airier feel. It’s most common to remove the wall that separates the staircase from either the reception room or even an unused outdoor space, like a coal store.

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Image credit: David Barber

Go broken plan, not open-plan

While going open-plan is common when thinking of Victorian house layout ideas, it’s not for everyone. A great compromise if you still want more space and open areas but like to zone things off, is broken plan. But, what exactly is broken plan? Instead of having traditional solid walls to separate different areas, broken plan uses different ways to divide the space. Such as Crittall panels and doors, like the renovated Victorian stable block in West London (pictured below).

In this Grand Designs renovation, Emily Brooks reports that the couple “moved the stairs into the centre of the building and installed a skylight above them. The staircase forms the backbone of the new layout and is a glorious architectural centrepiece with a sinuous oak handrail and slim black steel spindles. A Crittall glass wall provides a view of the stairs from the living area and allows daylight to flow around the first floor”.

There are plenty of other ways of creating a broken plan design in your Victorian house, including opting for open-plan shelving that runs across the room or placing a bespoke piece of furniture to divide. If you want something more adaptable, a moveable screen can work well. Or a design trend that’s been resurfacing lately is a sunken living room, in the 70s they were called a “conversation pit”. Think steps down from the main living area.

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Image credit: Alex Maguire

Mix materials on your extension

Dependent if you’re in a conservation area, or the type of planning permission you need, you may be able to get creative with your Victorian house layout extension and bring in a modern material to contrast with the existing original stock brickwork. This three-bed Victorian semi-detached villa in Hackney, east London is a four-storey house that owners Andrew and Lotti have turned into two apartments. The three-storey extension at the back of the house allows for a double-height space clad in incredible Corten steel. We’ve got more Victorian house extension ideas to help you plan.

Victorian house layout ideas (4)Image credit: Stale Eriksen

Get creative with your layout

Jon and Jenny Plant had a vision to create create “a stylish family home with well-designed details” in their Victorian semi-detached house in Wandsworth. In a masterclass in zoning they’ve added an open-plan ground floor with a pocket door (a sliding door that disappears into the wall cavity when it’s opened) that connects the entrance hall and the living area. Built-in bespoke bookshelves line the walls and create more storage, as well as a striking look.

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Image credit: Luke Casserly

Double the size of your kitchen

One of the most common Victorian layout ideas is to have the living space at the front of the house, opening up a large kitchen at the back of the house, most likely with an ample kitchen island, open-plan dining area and glazed or bi-fold doors that open out onto the garden. The back of Jon and Jenny Plant’s house shows just that. Their kitchen-dining-living room has full-width doors that open out on the courtyard and garden and rooflights to flood in natural light.

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Image credit: Luke Casserly

Add a side return

Victorian terraced houses often have a narrow alleyway running down one side of the house to access the garden, and are most likely cluttered up with bins or bikes. Utilise this space by adding a side return and turning that disused outdoor space into valuable square feet for your home. You may not need planning permission unless your building is listed but you will need a party wall agreement if you’re in a terrace. Use Resi’s checklist to see if you fall within the PDR (permitted development rights).

This London side return (pictured) by John Norman at Mustard Architects has added considerable space to the kitchen and created a connection to the garden. To regulate the temperature there’s added insulation in the walls and floors and triple-glazing on the rooflights.

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Image credit: Tim Crocker

Add a loft extension

The steep pitch of a Victorian house lends itself to converting the attic into an extra room, and given that many Victorian houses have large landings, it should give you the space to create an ample staircase to reach it. In many Victorian house renovations, you’ll find an additional bedroom in the loft conversion, which, particularly if you add a bedroom with an en-suite, will add value to your house.

Look into dormer loft conversions, hip-to-gable loft conversions, which are seen in semi-detached and end of terrace houses and for the most space a mansard roof, which has two pitches on each side. This flat-roofed loft extension (pictured), by Browning Architects is a sensitive addition to a Victorian property and incorporates wall-to-wall glazing to flood light into the room.

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Image credit: Browning Architects

Use a mezzanine

While you won’t usually need planning permission to add a mezzanine floor to your home, there are other considerations to make, such as building regulation approval. A mezzanine will add additional weight to your home’s supporting walls and the structure and calculations will need to be within legal requirements. If your Victorian house is a terraced or semi-detached, you’ll also need a party wall agreement. However, once you get it all signed off, mezzanines can create some striking design statements and add value to your home, as you can use them for anything from a home office to a cosy living spaces.

This former Victorian school laundry and kitchen in Clerkenwell (pictured) has been transformed into a modern open-plan living space with high vaulted ceilings and queen post timber trusses. The mezzanine floor adds a dining room space and another floor without losing any of the light or double-height space.

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Victorian house layout ideas (2024)

FAQs

What is the typical layout in a Victorian house? ›

One of the most common Victorian layout ideas is to have the living space at the front of the house, opening up a large kitchen at the back of the house, most likely with an ample kitchen island, open-plan dining area and glazed or bi-fold doors that open out onto the garden.

How to make your house look Victorian? ›

Here are 13 easy tips to decorating your home like the Victorian era while still keeping a modern edge.
  1. Consider your colors carefully. ...
  2. Decorate with different fabrics. ...
  3. Add some fringe and tufting. ...
  4. Create a simple collection. ...
  5. Hang a gilded mirror. ...
  6. Line a wall or two with wallpaper. ...
  7. Replace light fixtures.
Feb 2, 2023

What were key features of a Victorian home? ›

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.

Is it possible to build a Victorian style house? ›

Can you still build Victorian houses? Yes, you can still build Victorian houses. As stated earlier on this page, Victorian technically refers to a period rather than a style, so any home built in the present day would be in the style of a Victorian house.

What is the perfect home layout? ›

Ideally, to provide the best layout for your family, there should be one bathroom for every two bedrooms in the house. Homeowners who entertain frequently should choose a house layout that has a full or a half-guest bathroom near the living area. The guest bathroom should be downstairs in homes with multiple floors.

How to style an old Victorian home? ›

Be a Little Dramatic

Another option is to embrace statement lighting by adding candelabras, fringe-shaded lamps or intricate sconces. The Victorians also loved stained glass, carved furniture, crown molding and shiny brass hardware.

What color is best for Victorian house? ›

Darker & highly saturated colors are some of the most popular and most traditional with Victorian-style homes. Traditionally quite dark, olives, browns, greens, dark reds and maroon were all quite common.

How many colors should a Victorian house have? ›

But, they say, there are colors that combine harmoniously and those that don`t. You don`t need seven or eight hues to accent all the wonderful details of a Victorian: three colors, juxtaposed properly, may do just fine.

Can you mix Victorian and Modern? ›

The modern Victorian look is one that blends the style of the Victorian era with modern day decor. And it's totally personal! You choose which elements of Victorian decor you want to combine with modern elements. Welcome to the Victorian Mystery Season, Redecorator!

What type of roof do Victorian houses have? ›

Wood, clay and the beginning of the Victorian era

When the architectural design choices that have grown to be known as the Victorian style emerged, wood and clay tiles were the roofing materials of choice. For higher end buildings, clay was typically used, whereas wood was sought as a less expensive alternative.

What makes the Victorian style unique? ›

Towers, Turrets And Dormers

During this time, builders began experimenting with asymmetrical architectural designs. As a result, round or octagonal towers and turrets became prominent features of Victorian homes. Dormers with windows that extended out of the homes' sloped roofs were also popular.

What is Victorian design style? ›

Victorian design is widely viewed as having indulged in a grand excess of ornament. The Victorian era is known for its interpretation and eclectic revival of historic styles mixed with the introduction of Asian and Middle Eastern influences in furniture, fittings, and interior decoration.

What are the disadvantages of a Victorian house? ›

The cons of buying a Victorian house
  • Uncomfortable draughts and difficult to heat. ...
  • Less precise construction. ...
  • Inefficient sash windows. ...
  • Upkeep can be more expensive. ...
  • Small and cramped. ...
  • Nowhere to park. ...
  • Dangerous paint residue.

Is it expensive to build a Victorian house? ›

In the U.S., it costs, on average, $350,000 to build a Victorian-style house. Typically, most homeowners spend between $250,000 and $600,000. The average cost per square foot to build a Victorian-style home is $100 to $200.

What state has the most Victorian style houses? ›

Old Louisville in Kentucky has the highest concentration of restored Victorian homes in the US. Originally called the Southern Extension, Old Louisville was built in the 1870s as a suburb, which was 48 city blocks long and filled with Victorian mansions.

What kind of rooms are in a Victorian house? ›

The top floor would typically house the servants quarters and the children's rooms with a nursery. The second floor would include the master bedroom and the second bathroom. On the first floor you'd find the drawing room or parlour, which acted as a receiving room for guests and visitors.

What is Victorian style interior design? ›

Victorian interior design can be characterized by its unique ornamentation. Decorative wallpapers, tapestries, ornate rugs, curved furniture, and vibrant colors are all representative of the era.

How many rooms were in a Victorian house? ›

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.

How many floors are in a Victorian house? ›

Most Victorian homes are two to three stories tall and have a steeply pitched, pattern shingle roof. The roofs of Victorian houses are pitched with a triangular shape that faces the front, often with many gables.

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