Step Into a Victorian Bedroom: Décor, Daily Life, and Traditions

 

Sometimes, we wonder how people lived a long time ago, trying to wrap our heads around some strange traditions and questionable practices; other times, we are surprised at how similar our lives are and how little has changed. Take, for example, the bedroom. It had served the same basic purpose throughout history, except that its functionality had been enhanced or downgraded at times according to needs and, most importantly, trends. Let's look today at the Victorian bedroom - that is, in the Victorian Era in England between 1820 and 1914.

The bedroom, both in Victorian times and today, serves as a private, personal space for rest and retreat from the outside world. In both eras, the bedroom is where people unwind, sleep, and clean themselves, with furniture like beds, dressers, and mirrors remaining central. Though the décor and daily routines may differ, the bedroom's role as a space for intimacy, comfort, and personal rituals—whether it's dressing, reading, or simply resting—remains a constant. Let's enter the Victorian bedroom and take in the life of its occupant(s).

Queen Victoria's bedroom at Windsor Castle as painted by William Corden the Younger

First, furniture and Décor

Victorian bedrooms were known for their heavy, ornate furniture. Beds often featured intricately carved headboards made of dark woods like mahogany, oak, or walnut, and many had four posters or canopies. Beyond the bed, essential pieces included large wardrobes (closets were rare), washstands for morning ablutions, and dressing tables with mirrors. The upholstery was often plush, using rich fabrics like velvet and brocade in deep colors—crimson, burgundy, or dark greens. Oil lamps, brass candlesticks, and porcelain vases were standard for accessories. Decorative items like lace doilies and embroidered cushions added a feminine touch. Victorian walls were often covered in patterned wallpaper with floral motifs or damask prints. Popular colors included dark reds, golds, and greens, though paler hues like lavender were used in upper-class homes.

Daily Life in the Bedroom

In the Victorian era, bedrooms were multifunctional spaces, especially in middle—and upper-class homes. Morning and evening grooming rituals took place, particularly for women who spent significant time brushing their hair and applying face creams at their dressing tables. For men, too, it was a private space to dress, shave, and occasionally read.

Morning routines involved using washbasins and jugs of water to wash the face and hands. Hairbrushes, combs, and pomades for men and hairpins and perfume for women were arranged on dressing tables.

In more affluent homes, bedrooms were sometimes equipped with writing desks for letter writing or prayer books for personal devotions. Wealthy women might spend hours here, away from the bustle of household management.

Class Differences in Bedroom Layout

The wealthy's bedrooms were spacious, often featuring separate dressing rooms or even boudoirs attached for added privacy and comfort. Bedrooms might include large bay windows with heavy draperies, Persian rugs, and marble-topped washstands. Fireplaces were common in larger homes to keep the room warm.

In contrast, working-class families typically had far less space. They often shared bedrooms among several family members, and furnishing was minimal. Sometimes, several family members slept in a single bed. In rural or poorer urban homes, personal space was scarce, and the bedroom could double as storage or workspace. 

A Small Gentry Victorian Bedroom in Scotland

Health and Hygiene

Contemporary beliefs about health and hygiene also shaped the Victorian bedroom. Ventilation was a major concern, as many Victorians believed that "miasmas" (bad air) could cause illness. This led to installing windows that could open wide and fireplaces in bedrooms to ensure proper air circulation. Heavy drapes could be drawn to keep out cold drafts in winter.

Complete with a jug and basin, washstands were essential for washing up before bed. Toothbrushes and handkerchiefs were typically kept in the bedroom. Chamber pots, or night pots, were placed under beds or in cabinets for use during the night.

Bedrooms were often used for recovery when sick, with family members and servants bringing meals and tending to the sick person. Sick rooms were meticulously cleaned, and bed linens were changed frequently to prevent the spread of disease.

Privacy and Social Norms

The concept of privacy became more defined in the Victorian era. Bedrooms were seen as intimate, private spaces, especially in wealthier homes. They were off-limits to guests, and strict gender roles played a part in how they were used. Even married couples were used to having separate bedrooms, especially if the couple belonged to the upper class. This allowed each person to maintain their personal space while still enjoying shared intimacy when desired.

Children's rooms, when they had them, were often located in separate wings or on different floors. The Victorian ideal of childhood as a time of innocence meant that children's rooms were considered sacred spaces to shield them from adult concerns.

Victorian Children's Bedrooms

Victorian children's bedrooms were designed to reflect the era's emphasis on childhood innocence and discipline. Wealthier households often had these rooms brightly decorated, adding toys and small furniture. Cots, cradles, and small wooden chairs were common. Toy chests, dollhouses, and stuffed animals would also be found in the bedrooms of wealthier families. In a nursery room, you can often see wallpapers with floral or animal prints that stimulate a child's imagination.

Many children's bedrooms would contain educational materials such as alphabet blocks, small desks, and books to foster learning from an early age. For working-class children, however, toys were often homemade, and their "bedroom" might be a shared bed in a cramped space with their siblings.

Bedtime Rituals and Sleep

The Victorian approach to sleep was heavily ritualized. Wealthy Victorians took great care in their bedtime routines, often involving wearing specialized nightclothes like nightgowns, nightcaps, and slippers.

Women would remove their elaborate day clothing, often with the help of a maid, and dress in simple cotton nightgowns. Nightcaps were worn to keep the head warm, as the belief was that cold air caused illnesses. While the very wealthy might enjoy luxurious feather beds and linen sheets, the lower classes typically slept on straw mattresses or makeshift beds stuffed with hay or rags.

Some Victorians believed that too much light could disrupt sleep and cause illness, so heavy drapes or shutters were used to block out moonlight. In addition, night lights or candles were used to keep the room dimly lit for safety.

Victorian nightdress by Thomas Quine

This is just a general overview of the Victorian bedroom. But even during the conservative Queen Victoria's reign, things changed. Details were added or subtracted, habits acquired or dropped, ideas brought to life or buried. When your writing is set in a specific year or decade, it is advisable to look into details, especially if we are speaking about the lower classes, as much has changed due to the rapid industrialization of England's cities.

Check out this worksheet to help you in your research. 

The Victorian Bedroom: A Worksheet for Your Story

I also have a comprehensive guide and worksheet for extensive historical research. You can visit my store or buy it here.