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Modernise your Victorian living room

3 min read
Oct '25 • by Molly-Sue Moore

Quick summary

To modernise your Victorian living room effectively, focus on mixing bold patterns and textures with bright colours like paprika or terracotta, and incorporate modern furniture alongside heritage pieces. Use monochrome accents, wooden tiles for warmth, open up the space if possible, and add indoor plants. Budget around a few hundred pounds for small updates or several thousand if knocking down walls, with results visible in a few weeks.

Use a mix of patterns and textures to create a modern look

If you're looking to modernise your Victorian living room, try mixing up the patterns and textures to stand out and stimulate. This year, there’s a growing trend for boldly expressive designs with bright walls, patterned wallpaper and colour-clashing textiles. Confirming the shift towards brighter hues, Head of Design at My Bespoke Room Lucy Henderson says, ‘Expect to see more paprika and terracotta walls compared to cold blues and greys that have been so popular up to now.’ Refreshing your colour palette and introducing print can breathe new life into your space without losing any character.

Opt for modern furniture in Victorian homes

Victorian homes are adored for their distinctive spaciousness, height and windows – features which, despite maintenance issues, still draw people to them. While these elements are huge draws, it’s not necessary to create a Victorian scene in your own living room in order to do the property’s structure justice. If you’d like to pay homage to the heritage of your home but don’t want to be stuck in the past, scour antique markets, Ebay and beyond for one-of-a-kind pieces to upcycle. If you’re ready for a big change, embrace the beauty of contrast and select contemporary pieces that draw your attention – they don’t have to match or fit in with your space, they just have to feel right. We love the simplicity, freshness and elegance of Cox & Cox’s new season range.

Choose modern furniture for your living room

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