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Four Surprises Every Victorian House Hides (And How We Paint Around Them)
Victorian houses have so much character, but anyone who's worked on one will tell you they come with their own quirks. If you're getting ready to repaint a period home, here are four things we run into again and again, and how we handle each one to get a finish that actually lasts.
1. Uneven, original plaster walls
Old plaster settles and shifts over the decades, so walls in a Victorian home are rarely as flat as they look. A quick skim coat won't cut it here. We take the time to properly fill and level uneven patches before any paint goes near the wall, because paint only ever looks as good as the surface underneath it.
2. Layers of old paint on the woodwork
Skirting boards, doors, and window frames in older homes often carry decades of paint layers, sometimes including lead based paint from years ago. This needs careful, safe preparation rather than quick sand. We strip back what needs to go and make sure everything is properly primed before a fresh coat goes on.
3. Ornate cornicing and ceiling roses
Different houses call for different stair colours, and there's no one right answer. Here's how we'd think about it:
4. Dado rails splitting the wall in two
Lots of Victorian homes still have their original dado rails, which were traditionally used to split the wall into two tones, a darker shade below and something lighter above. If your home still has one, it's worth working with it rather than against it. It's a lovely way to bring in a richer colour without darkening the whole room.
Colours that suit the era
Victorian interiors traditionally lean into deep, rich tones, think greens, warm browns, and the odd burgundy. You don't need to go full theatrical to get that feel. Jetty brings a lovely warming depth that nods to those heritage tones without feeling like a costume drama, and Quinn's sage green works beautifully in a hallway or living room that wants a bit of period character with a more current feel.
If you're taking on a Victorian home and want a hand getting the colours and finish right, book a colour consultation with us. We've seen most of what these houses can throw at you, and we're happy to help you plan around it.