Victorian Keeping Room

A keeping room, a beloved Colonial-era space, is enjoying a resurgence in modern home designs. This cozy seating area, typically located off the kitchen, serves as a perfect spot for family or guests to gather and keep the cook company. From a scullery to a larder, once upon a time, every traditional home featured a set of staple rooms designed to assist everyday living.

However, due to modern-day demands, house design has drastically changed, and many of us have long forgotten about the once. Design experts highlight the main qualities of a keeping room, how to furnish such a space, and what to do if your home does not have space for one. From the bedroom to the parlor, every room in a Victorian home presented its challenges.

The Victorian objective was to create, in every room, a setting that was both functional and attractive. The room needed to be warm in winter and cool in summer. Furniture needed to be comfortable and functional.

Many Victorian home magazines recognized that their readers were decorating on a budget, so. The history of Victorian houses is a fascinating one, and it's one told by a rising middle class, rising affluence, snobbery, and the need to differentiate. The history of a Victorian house is the history of rooms.

For this essay, I will walk through a typical, middle-class, detached Victorian home. Homes of the very wealthy were laid out much the same, but with bigger spaces and more rooms. Safety was, of course, a huge concern for the Victorian parents where the child was concerned, and in addition to the barred window and the whitewashed walls, the grate would be guarded by a high and sturdy fireguard and the room would be lit by gas to avoid accidents caused by lamps or candles being knocked over by the child &c.

The keeping room is a Colonial colonial concept but unfortunately has become a code word for "open concept." Let's put the "cozy" back in the keeping room. Whether you choose to embrace tradition or infuse modernity, a well-designed keeping room can add value to your home and enhance your daily living experience. Consider the factors discussed before deciding if a keeping room is the right addition for your home, and enjoy the timeless appeal of this must.

William Kibbel III solves the mystery of the small rooms upstairs in some Victorian homes -- what were they? How were they used? And how should you consider them in your home renovations and restorations? A Victorian pantry or larder is practical addition to your period kitchen and allows you to store your food in one room with accessible open shelving.