Many styles of Victorian homes were built.
Victorian homes, typically considered those built between 1830 and 1900, come in a variety of styles. A high degree of detail, often in the form of intricate moldings and trim work is common to Victorian-era homes. These details can make painting a Victorian home a time-consuming process, but selecting the right paint can make the details of the Victorian home shine.
Traditional
Neutral colors are traditional for most Victorian home exteriors.
While it is common today to see Victorian homes painted in an array of bright colors, most experts agree that vivid hues were not actually used during the Victorian era. According to Lori Tobias of HGTV.com, most Victorian home exteriors, especially those of the earlier part of the 18th century, were originally painted in dull or muted colors, such as browns, deep reds and greens. These were the paint colors most readily available at the time. Brighter, lighter colors became more accessible in the later 1800s, according to VictorianStation.com. And despite the abundance of detail on many Victorian houses, most paint schemes were usually simple, employing one, two or three colors. Careful sanding, or analysis of a paint sample, may reveal the true original color of your home's exterior. Many paint manufacturers sell specific lines of paint based on historical research tailored to various eras.
Painted Lady
This painted lady features multiple paint colors on each baluster.
"Painted lady" describes a Victorian home that is painted in more than three colors, usually bright, vivid hues. Some painted ladies have as many as 12 paint colors on the exterior. This style of decoration for Victorian homes was popularized in San Francisco in the 1960s; since then, examples have been seen around the world. The painted-lady style is often used to accentuate the fine detail of a Victorian home, such as dental molding, finely turned balusters or detailed shingles.
Contemporary
The exterior of your Victorian can be refined or brash.
Victorian houses don't have to look old-fashioned. Combining colors in a new way can bring a modern touch to an older home. James Martin, owner of The Color People, suggests taking cues from the surrounding environment to pick a color scheme that will work for that specific house. In an interview with HGTV.com, Martin noted that dark colors make a house look larger, while light colors have the opposite effect.
OldHouseWeb.com suggests a monochromatic color scheme, using various shades of the same color, for a subtle, sophisticated look. Complementary colors, which offer a high degree of contrast, give a house a bolder, more attention-getting look.
Monochrome
The details that characterize Victorian homes can stand out equally well in a single-color setting. As Martin explained in an interview with HGTV.com, when Victorian homes were first built and decorated, "More often porches, cornices, brackets and windows were highlighted quite simply, and sunlight and shadow were relied on to accentuate smaller details." Painted all in white, or another neutral shade, the home's moldings and details can speak for themselves. This subtle and refined decorating approach can also save the homeowner money on paint.
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