Your hallway is the first thing that you or your guests will see when entering your property so this needs to be a welcoming space for visitors. Although many of us tend to overlook decor here, this space ultimately sets the tone for the rest of your home. So, it's vital to get your design right.
In recent years, hallway tiles have become an especially great option for tying your hallway into the style of your home. Classic designs, such as Victorian tiles, can add a sense of elegance and historic interest to even the smallest hallway and they are ideal if you're looking for a timeless choice.
So follow my guide for everything you need to know about choosing Victorian tiles to transform your hallway into a stylish oasis:
Why Choose Victorian Tiles for Your Hallway?
Victorian tiles are becoming a popular choice for hallway decor, and it isn’t difficult to see why. These tile designs are intricate, and vibrant, and are sure to compliment any hallway. Just a few top reasons to choose Victorian tiles for hallways include –
- Intricate designs: Victorian tile designs are intricate and endlessly rich. No matter which Victorian design you choose, this addition to your hallway is guaranteed to add interest to a typically uninspiring area.
- Durability: Victorian tiles are well-known for their durability, making them an ideal option for areas that receive daily traffic, such as busy hallways.
- Vibrance: Victorian tiles contain various vibrant colours, which can serve to transform a dark hallway with bright, inspiring tones that tie in with decor elsewhere.
- Enduring Style: Victorian tiles are a classic choice with an enduring style that means they can ensure a fresh and welcoming hallway for many years.
- Easy Maintenance: Victorian tiles require regular cleaning to maintain their striking patterns, but these designs are typically easy to maintain with regular washing.
The History and Charm of Victorian Tiles
Victorian tile designs date back as far as the ‘gothic revival’ period in the Middle Ages when they regularly featured in cathedrals and other grand buildings. However, Victorian tiles as we now know them didn’t become a popular design choice until around 1836 when Thomas Minton began developing affordable decorative tiles that featured iconic geometric designs and borders.
This style of Victorian tile became incredibly popular by the mid-19th century, when they were common in high-traffic areas of Victorian homes, especially in bathrooms where homeowners noted their durability and ease of maintenance.
This popularity has continued even now, and homeowners still enjoy the timeless Victorian tile designs in high-traffic areas including bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways. Modern Victorian tiles capture original Victorian geometric designs within sleek, easily installable multi-hue tile selections that ensure classic elegance, and a wide range of stylish hallway solutions.
Selecting the Right Victorian Design
Victorian tiles are now available in a diverse range of designs which span from classic black and white, to vibrant, quirky colours. Selecting the right Victorian design is key to ensuring a hallway that looks fantastic and compliments the rest of your home.
When selecting a Victorian design, you may want to think about key features, including the overall design of your home, as well as the level of traffic you expect as this could impact things like whether or not you need to choose darker design colours or dark grout.
It’s also important to consider things like hallway size. A small hallway will typically benefit from simplistic Victorian designs that use minimal colours, such as black and white chequered options, while larger hallways could look wonderful with vibrant Victorian designs with various details and additions.
Colour Schemes and Patterns in Victorian Tiles
Once you understand what you’re looking for within your Victorian tile designs, it’s important to consider colour schemes and patterns. Victorian tile patterns were originally created using small sections of single-coloured tiles, and it’s now possible to buy a wide variety of multi-hued patterns and colour schemes.
When looking at patterns, you’ll need to choose between options such as geometric shapes, floral designs, and chequered tiles. Many tile designs may also include features such as borders and corner patterns.
Victorian tiles are also available in a wide array of colour choices, including more muted greys or neutrals, as well as vibrant greens, reds, and blues. This variety means that Victorian tiles can be great complimentary features in any hallway when chosen to work well with existing home styles, colour schemes, and the size of your hallway itself.
Installation Tips for Victorian Tiles
The detailed designs on Victorian tiles mean that careful installation is key to a beautiful finish. This is the best way to ensure a hallway design that works within your home for many years.
Just a few installation tips to ensure that Victorian tile installation goes well include –
# 1 - Prepare Your Surface
The intricate and often small size of Victorian tiles means that even a slightly uneven area could impact overall tile design. Before installing Victorian tiles, it’s vital to thoroughly prepare your hallway floor by clearing the space of any debris and levelling the floor using a levelling tool. This ensures an even space that’s free of any dirt or debris which could impact how your Victorian tiles lay after installation.
# 2 - Plan Your Layout
Victorian tile designs are so intricate that you should always aim to plan your layout. It’s particularly important to think about things like design placement, as well as where you would like any borders or corner pieces. This ensures the proper alignment and spacing that will perfect your hallway design.
# 3 - Lay Tiles With Precision
Victorian tiles require precision throughout the laying process, which should include carefully aligning and cutting each tile to ensure that your pattern repeats consistently with an even coverage of colours. Victorian tiles also require grouting and sealing to ensure longevity in a heavily used hallway.
Maintaining Your Victorian Tiles: Best Practices
Maintenance is essential for ensuring attractive Victorian tile designs, especially in hallways that regularly receive heavy traffic. The more often you maintain your tiles, the more vibrant your designs will appear, and the longer Victorian tiles for hallways will last.
Best practices for maintaining your Victorian tiles include –
- Use a pH-neutral detergent to protect tile sealant.
- Sweep and wash Victorian hallway tiles regularly to avoid dirt buildup.
- Use a small, soft brush to remove tough stains.
- Reseal tiles every 3 to 4 years to avoid dirt build-up and damage.
Real-Life Examples of Victorian Tiles In Hallways
Victorian tiles are now a common choice for hallway design, and there are some fantastic examples of how well this tile choice can work in a wide variety of hallways. To get some great inspiration about how to use Victorian tiles in your hallway, consider stylish examples such as –
Black and White Chequered Tiles
Classic black and white Victorian tiles in a chequered design can add a unique monochrome finish to classic or modern hallways. This Victorian tile design works well on its own to brighten small hallways and add the impression of space. Equally, Wellington Black and Dover White tiles work well for bringing classic finesse to large hallways, either on their own or when paired with a complimentary border.
Soft, Muted Tones
Soft, muted tones like blues and greys provide a subtle hint of interest that can work wonderfully in any hallway. The impressive simplicity of this rounded sleek design isn’t at all overwhelming and could tie in nicely with either colourful or muted overall home designs. A white pattern background ensures a refreshing finish that could brighten even a dark or small hallway with a sense of grandeur and fun.
Victorian Style Patterned Terracotta
Victorian-style patterned terracotta tiles can create a classic hallway style and are available in a variety of patterns and style choices in keeping with traditional geometric designs. Classic pairings like rich terracotta reds and blacks can work wonderfully in large hallways with tall ceilings and will feel like taking a step back into the opulent 1800s. Equally, lighter colour combinations like pastel greens can work well for adding classical interest to a smaller space.
Kaleidoscope of Colours
Colourful Victorian tile designs can provide a modern twist to this classic style choice. This can work well for modernising a classic home or adding a touch of history to a newer property. This tile choice, which is reminiscent of classic mosaic-style Victorian designs, can be installed to create a wide variety of geometric patterns, making it ideal for simple installations in hallways of all sizes.
Explore Our Range of Victorian Hallway Tiles
Victorian tiles can transform even a neglected hallway into a rich, wonderful space for welcoming guests or returning home yourself. Regardless of the size or shape of your hallway, the diverse adaptability of Victorian tile designs means you can always find the right tiles to suit your style.
This is especially true when you browse our full range of Victorian tiles for hallways here at Hyperion Tiles. We stock high-quality Victorian tiles in a range of colours, shapes, and timeless patterns, as well as providing the opportunity to create your own classic designs. Simply browse our range of Victorian tiles to find the ideal design for your hallway, or contact a member of our team to discuss your needs today.
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