From Porch to Parlor: My Love of Birds in a Victorian Home

A small look at how the Victorians used bird imagery—and why I’ve come to love it too

As the seasons begin to turn and the first signs of spring return, I find myself reflecting on how my love of birds has quietly shaped both my home and my work.

Even though we’re not quite through February yet, I’m already starting to feel like spring is just around the corner. It’s my favorite season for so many reasons—the longer, warmer days, spending more time outdoors, watching new life push up through the soil, and listening to the birds as they sing in the morning.

I especially love the little wrens. They may be tiny, but they can really belt out a song. Whether I’m sitting on the porch listening to one sing as it builds its nest, or watching the parents feed their babies out in the yard, I find so much joy in their presence. As the weather warms and their songs return, there’s a real sense of life and renewal in the air.

Over time, I realized I’ve brought that fondness for birds into my home in many ways—through wallpaper, framed pictures, even a rug with a peacock design, and of course, in our Christmas decorating. I’ve also used bird images printed on silk as focal points on a few of my lampshades.

Some time ago, I wrote a blog about an autograph book I found in an antique shop. What first drew me to it was the gold-embossed bird on the cover. That small detail caught my eye, and of course, inside were the beautiful penmanship, poetry, and sentiments that made it even more special.

Because we live in a Victorian home and have decorated it as much as we can to reflect that period, I became curious about how birds influenced Victorians in their homes and even in their clothing.

Bird imagery appeared everywhere. Birds were embroidered into upholstery and drapery, printed on wallpaper, worked into carpets and needlework, and even incorporated into fireplace tiles and lighting fixtures. We’ve had some beautiful bridge lamps with bird motifs, and we’ve restored older shades with bird images as well—some of those can be seen on our website in the recover section.

Birds were also very present in fashion. I’ve always loved those grand hats with sweeping ostrich plumes, worn so proudly and adding such drama as ladies walked down the street. Bird motifs also appeared on brooches and hair combs.

Victorians were very fond of symbolism, and birds carried special meanings for them:

• Dove — peace, purity, spirituality

• Swallow — homecoming and loyalty

• Peacock — beauty, immortality, and pride

• Songbirds — joy and domestic harmony

Bird imagery reflected that wonderful Victorian mix of romantic symbolism, a love of nature, and a delight in ornamentation. They added life, color, and a sense of the outdoors brought inside.

For me, there has always been a romantic feeling tied to that era—and birds only enhance that feeling.