Victorian Paint Colours
Victorian homes embraced strong, rich colour: deep reds and greens in dining rooms and halls, warm umbers and stones on woodwork, and darker shades low on the wall. These heritage-inspired shades suit terraces and villas as well as modern homes that want depth. Every shade is available as a 60ml sample.
Victorian decorating used colour to signal the purpose of each room. Halls and dining rooms were often deep red or green, drawing rooms lighter, and woodwork grained or painted in stone and umber shades. Below are our heritage-inspired Victorian shortlists. They resemble the period palette rather than reproducing any original scheme.
At a glance
- Start here
- Rich, purposeful colour. Victorian rooms were coloured by use: deep and rich for halls and dining rooms, lighter for drawing rooms and bedrooms.
- North light
- Deep reds and umbers. Deep reds and umbers. Cool north light suits the warm Victorian reds and umbers, which stay rich all day.
- South light
- Rich greens and blues. Rich greens and blues. Warm, bright light keeps Victorian greens and deep blues rich rather than gloomy.
- East light
- Warm stones for later. Warm stones for later. East-facing rooms cool down later in the day. Warm stones and umbers keep them welcoming.
- West light
- Greens for golden evenings. Greens for golden evenings. Warm evening light makes deep greens glow, ideal for a west-facing study or sitting room.
- Woodwork
- Stone, umber or deep colour. Victorian woodwork was rarely brilliant white. Stone, umber and deep shades suit original joinery and period doors.
- Before you paint
- Check old surfaces first. A heritage colour does not tell you whether a paint suits old lime plaster or historic finishes. Choose the coating for the surface, and ask a conservation officer about listed buildings.
- Sample tip
- Check every change of light. Move your sample between walls. Check it in morning and afternoon daylight, then under the lights you use at night.
Tap any tile to read more.
Deep reds and umbers
Rich reds for Victorian halls and dining rooms.
Best in north-facing rooms
Deep red was a favourite for Victorian halls and dining rooms: welcoming by gaslight and forgiving of everyday wear. Warm umbers did the same job on woodwork.
Best in north-facing rooms, where cool light keeps these warm, deep shades balanced.
Library greens and deep blues
Rich greens and blues for studies and sitting rooms.
Best in south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Deep greens and blues were popular for libraries, studies and smoking rooms. They feel enclosed and scholarly, especially with dark timber and brass.
Best in south-, east- and west-facing rooms, where warm daylight keeps deep cool colour rich. Shinney™ is best kept to south-facing rooms.
Stones, drabs and lighter rooms
Stone and drab shades for drawing rooms and woodwork.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Lighter Victorian rooms used stones, drabs and soft pinks, often with deeper woodwork. These shades make a calm backdrop for a period fireplace or cornice.
Brinners™ and Belle™ suit any direction. Fletching™, Creswell™ and Porkers™ suit north-, east- and west-facing rooms; Millstone™ and Ravenshede™ prefer south-, east- or west-facing light.
Sample it the way we would
Step 1
Paint your peel-and-sticks
Each £5.99 sample comes with three paintable peel-and-sticks. Give them two coats and let them dry fully.
Step 2
Stick them around the room
Put them on two or three walls, including the wall opposite the window, at eye level and lower down.
Step 3
Live with them for a day or two
Look in the morning, the afternoon and under your evening lamps. Move them around until you are sure.
Your questions, answered
Are these exact historic colours?
No. They're heritage-inspired Cameron Colours shades, chosen because they resemble the pigments and palettes of the period. They're not analysed matches to any original scheme.
What colours did the Victorians use?
Rich, deep colours were popular for halls, dining rooms and libraries: reds, greens, umbers and deep blues. Drawing rooms and bedrooms were often lighter, in stones, drabs and soft pinks.
Do I need consent to repaint a listed Victorian house?
Listed building consent is needed for works that affect a building’s special interest, and some redecoration can need advice or consent. Speak to your local conservation officer first, especially where historic decoration survives.
Keep exploring
Georgian Paint Colours
Stones, drabs and quiet greens. Elegant colour for well-proportioned rooms.
Edwardian Paint Colours
Creams, soft greens, gentle blues and rose. Lighter, airier period colour.
Heritage Paint Colours
Colours with history in them, made for the way we live now.
Burgundy & Deep Red Paint
Rich, warm reds that make a room feel like an occasion.