Have you ever seen an interior you’d die to live in—literally? As interior designers, our primary job is to create a safe and functional space. One that not only flows and provides an inviting atmosphere to connect and socialize, but also one crafted with safe materials. 

 

In recent years, particularly after the pandemic, homeowners have become increasingly aware of what is being introduced into their homes. There are more conversations about the naturally antimicrobial properties of soapstone counters, non-toxic upholstery options, etc. 

 

However, just a short century ago, Victorians were decorating their homes with arsenic-laced wallpapers, lead-based paints, and poisonous flowers. And while we would never consider hanging arsenic wallpaper in our homes today, many folks still want the look of arsenic green paint or the delicate beauty of a lily of the valley wallpaper motif.  

 

After all, these designs were drop-dead gorgeous. 

The Victorian Cult of Death 

The Victorians had a cultural fascination with death. After all, the mortality rate was high in those days, especially among children. Queen Victoria famously mourned the death of her husband, Prince Albert, for 40 years. She wore black every day and preserved his bedroom as a shrine frozen in time. This period was also marked by easily accessible poisons, ghost stories, and spiritual encounters, such as seances or the services of traveling clairvoyants like the Fox Sisters. How could death not enter the zeitgeist or your home?

It is only logical that the Victorians would incorporate motifs of death into their literature, fine arts, and interior design. Aristocrats who could afford to decorate their homes did so with dark opulence, cladding the walls in dark paneling and ornate wallpaper and using jewel tones like emerald green. The style leaned into Gothic Revival with a dark and heavy feel. This is not all that different from the “Dark Academia” trend that took over the internet during the pandemic years. Seems we still have a fascination with death. 

 

Elsie de Wolfe, noted as the first professional interior designer, would put an official end to the dark and moody Victorian style in 1905. By pulling back heavy drapes, ripping out arsenic wallpapers, and painting paneling white, she literally gave homes a breath of fresh air. 

Before Elsie came along, what were the deadliest design decisions that Victorians were making? Let’s take a look. 

 

Deadly Design Decisions 

Arsenic and Old Lace 

During the Victorian era, rich jewel tones were a popular choice. And the best shades of emerald green paint were made with arsenic. Arsenic paints, particularly Scheele’s Green and Paris Green, were highly sought after due to their vibrant colors and durability. However, these arsenic-based paints were also highly toxic. Although their toxicity was known, many Victorians still chose to use them because they were simply too beautiful to pass up. 

 

Today, Farrow and Ball pays homage to the historic hues with their own (non-toxic) paint color: Arsenic No. 214. They describe it as having “a lively, stimulating feel despite its name being derived from the poison that was rumoured to have been in the wallpaper that poisoned Napoleon after his capture.” It’s a color I’m quite fond of, and we’ve used Farrow and Ball in our Studio and many client projects. 

The Yellow Wallpaper 

Did you have to read “The Yellow Wallpaper” in school, like I did? It’s a Victorian era short story examining the declining mental health of a woman confined to her room with nothing else to do but stare at the peeling yellow wallpaper. The unreliable narrator describes it, saying, “I never saw a worse paper in my life. One of those sprawling, flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin.”

 

While the wallpaper here is a metaphor, there is truth to the fact that Victorian papers caused health declines because many of the popular patterns were laced with arsenic. William Morris, leader of the Arts and Crafts design movement and founder of Morris & Co. wallpapers, created some of the most iconic wallpaper designs in history during this time.  

Interestingly, Morris acquired his wealth from his family’s arsenic mine. Of course, he used arsenic in his wallpapers and denied any reason to be concerned. He described people opposed to it as “bitten by witch fever.” 

 

Today, Morris & Co. patterns are still in production, and many folks are still papering their homes with the now arsenic-free wallpapers. 

 

Lily of the Valley 

Another lovely juxtaposition of beauty and death is the lily of the valley flower, which Victorians actively grew in their gardens and brought into their homes. The flower symbolizes “domestic happiness.” However, it can kill you. 

 

Lily of the valley botanical patterns have been popular for decades prior to and after the Victorian era. In Paris, there is a holiday called Fête du Muguet, a celebration of the lily of the valley, where people exchange the flower for good luck. French designers, such as Cartier, have drawn inspiration for their designs, and Christian Dior went so far as to make the lily of the valley his signature flower. 

 

To no surprise, you can find lily of the valley motifs in many interiors, from wallpaper and textile patterns to even lighting designs. 

Mindful Materials, Drop Dead Gorgeous Style 

While many Victorian design motifs could literally kill you, that didn’t deter Victorians from decorating their homes with arsenic wallpapers or us from finding ways to create toxic-free versions over a century later. 

 

The practical side of being a designer involves selecting materials that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also sustainable and safe to use. Interestingly, many of our selections today reference moments in history where people lacked an understanding of materiality and its effects. 

 

Why are we still drawn to colors mimicking the hue of a poison? There is a juxtaposition of danger and beauty that coexist. It’s the contrast that makes choices like arsenic green alluring. 

I’m just glad we can live to see the beauty of these drop-dead gorgeous designs.