Victorian-style homes, named after the Victorian era of the 1800s, became popular through the early 1900s with the new-found affluence of a growing middle class during the Industrial Age. Other home styles often referred to as Victorian architecture, such as Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne, all share elaborate design elements and the time period in which they were built. The ornate design of Victorian homes lends itself to more intricate front door designs as well. It’s more common than not to see Victorian front doors with glass, especially with decorative or privacy glass. More elaborate homes feature French doors, sidelites and transoms.
ATTRIBUTES OF A victorian house
The grand estate
Two or three stories tall
Asymmetrical design
Large wrap-around porches
Ornate decorative trim
Multi-panel front doors, often with decorative glass, sidelites or transoms
Victorian doors and homes are recognized for their embellishments. Front doors with colorful stained glass or decorative glass patterns add to the opulent design of these homes. ProVia’s design team recommends these front door glass options.
Unlike some other architectural styles, Victorian homes tend to celebrate the liberal use of color, with three or four colors working together to highlight various features of the house. Victorian door colors can range from distinctive shades of orange, blue, red and purple to rich woodgrain stains, depending on whether one wants to provide a muted contrast to stained glass or colorful siding, or draw attention to the more ornate door. Here are some Victorian door color ideas from ProVia’s design team.