Victorian homes are a quintessential component of town and city architecture. 

However, it’s no secret that these properties often struggle to meet modern living standards in terms of energy efficiency, comfort, and functionality.

Modernising Victorian homes often require a tasteful mix of materials and fittings.

The goal of applying modern upgrades to older and period properties certainly isn't just cosmetic; it's also vital for building more comfortable, higher-spec homes that deliver excellent energy efficiency.

So, let's explore the latest materials and technologies we can use to breathe new life into Victorian homes. 

Modern Insulation 

Improving insulation is often the most impactful upgrade for Victorian properties.

These homes were built long before energy efficiency was a consideration, and their solid walls and single-glazed windows frequently result in massive heat loss. 

Top Insulation Materials for Victorian Homes

Here are some modern insulation materials to consider for your Victorian home:

1. Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIPs): Excellent performance in minimal thickness

2. Sheep's Wool: Natural, breathable option for loft spaces

3. Phenolic Foam: High performance for external wall insulation

4. Spray Foam: Versatile option for hard-to-reach areas

Sheep's wool insulation is an excellent choice here. It's a natural, breathable material that helps regulate moisture levels, reducing the risk of condensation and mould growth often associated with older properties. 

Spray foam insulation is another very popular and versatile solution for hard-to-reach areas, such as between floor joists or in awkward roof spaces.

Its ability to expand and fill gaps makes it effective at sealing air leaks, a common issue in older properties. 

Upgrading Windows

Some Victorian properties still sport older single-glazed panels. Since 30% of a property’s heat is lost through the windows, this is among the most potent upgrades you can make. 

Even if a Victorian property already has double-glazed windows, if they were installed more than 20 or so years ago, there's still room for improvement in energy efficiency and insulation.

Window technology has advanced hugely, and advanced double and triple glazing isn't as expensive as it once was.

Window Upgrade Options for Victorian Homes

Here are the three popular window upgrades you should consider when extending or renovating a Victorian property:

1. Draught-Proofing: Cost-effective improvement for existing windows

2. Slim-Profile Double and Triple Glazing: Modern performance with a traditional look

3. Low-E Glass Coatings: Improves thermal efficiency without changing appearance

Vacuum glazing deserves a special mention here. Its exceptional thermal performance comes in a profile as thin as 6mm, often allowing it to be fitted into existing window frames. This makes it ideal for upgrading original sash windows, especially in conservation areas where replacing the entire window is tough. 

Vacuum glazing can achieve U-values as low as 0.7 W/m²K, significantly outperforming traditional single glazing while preserving the delicate glazing bars and sightlines characteristic of Victorian windows.

If you’re going to upgrade the entire window unit, consider triple-glazing. These days, it’s not much more expensive than double-glazing.

Finally, low-emissivity (Low-E) glass coatings can be applied to existing single-glazed windows or incorporated into new glazing units.

These microscopically thin, transparent coatings reflect heat back into the room while allowing sunlight to pass through. 

Triple-glazed low-E panels are among the most efficient on the market, with A++ ratings. 

Adding New, Modern Flooring

Upgrading flooring can greatly improve comfort and energy efficiency in Victorian homes. 

Modern materials can replicate the look of traditional floors while offering improved performance in terms of insulation, durability, and ease of maintenance. 

The key is to select options that add aesthetic value and durability while addressing common issues like draughts and heat loss through floors.

Flooring Options for Victorian Home Upgrades

Here are five flooring options to consider for your Victorian home:

1. Engineered Timber with Underfloor Heating: Classic look with modern comfort

2. Cork Flooring: Natural insulation with period-appropriate aesthetics

3. Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT): Durable and waterproof, available in Victorian-inspired designs

4. Reclaimed Wood: Authentic period look with the option to incorporate modern insulation

5. Encaustic-Style Porcelain Tiles: Replicate Victorian patterns with improved durability

Combined with underfloor heating, engineered timber offers an excellent balance of traditional appearance and modern comfort.

It's particularly well-suited to ground floor rooms in Victorian terraces, providing a warm surface underfoot without the draughts often associated with original floorboards. 

Cork flooring is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly option for Victorian home upgrades. Its natural insulation properties help keep rooms warm, and its slight give underfoot provides comfort and sound dampening. 

For purists, reclaimed wood flooring offers the most authentic option for Victorian home upgrades.

Sourced from old buildings, these floors bring genuine period character and patina. However, they can be combined with modern underlays and insulation to improve thermal performance. 

Some specialists even offer reclaimed wood-engineered flooring, combining the best of old and new technologies.

Smart Home Integration

While not a material per se, smart home technologies can transform the functionality of Victorian homes without visible alterations.

Installing smart home systems simultaneously with renovating or extending your home is smooth and cost-effective, allowing you to truly modernise your property with discreet technology upgrades. Fun and functional!

Smart Home Upgrades for Victorian Properties

Here are five great smart home upgrades to consider for your Victorian property:

1. Smart Heating Controls: Optimise energy use with zoned heating

2. Air Source Heat Pumps: Efficient heating and cooling

3. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR): Improve air quality and reduce heat loss

4. Smart Lighting Systems: Energy-efficient lighting with period-appropriate fixtures

5. Wireless Security Systems: Modern protection without damaging original features

Smart heating controls are becoming the norm in all properties, enabling precise temperature control in different zones of the house. 

Advanced smart thermostats can learn occupancy patterns and optimise heating schedules, making the most of modern heating systems in Victorian homes with varying heating requirements in different rooms. 

Consider air source heat pumps if you’re looking for a serious upgrade for your home’s long-term efficiency. 

These systems extract heat from the outside air, even in cold temperatures, and use it to heat the home and provide hot water. While the external unit requires careful placement to minimise visual impact, the internal components can often be integrated discreetly within the home. 

When combined with underfloor heating or appropriately sized radiators, air-source heat pumps can provide comfortable, low-carbon heating for Victorian properties.

Renovating your property is also a great opportunity to add some modern tech, from wireless security systems to smart doorbells, motion sensors, and remote-controlled locks, all of which can be managed via smartphone apps. 

Wrapping Up

Upgrading a Victorian home with modern materials solves many challenges. Of course, it's fair to say that Victorian homes weren't built with modern living in mind. But that doesn't mean they don't make a superb platform for extending and renovating to a high modern specification and standard. 

Ready to breathe new life into your Victorian home? Design Team specialises in transforming period properties into modern, comfortable living spaces that seamlessly blend the old and the new. 

Our extensions and loft conversions prove that elegant, modern adaptions to Victorian homes can be both practical and beautiful. 

Check out our home extension and loft conversion design packages, or contact us for more information.