With Halloween almost upon us, why not take the opportunity to give your interior a lift with some simple Gothic touches. Rather than cobwebs and cauldrons, think rich charcoal walls, quirky collections and a decadent chandelier or two. Check out some ideas for how to incorporate this moody, spirited vibe into your home.
Dine by candlelight
Who can help but love the drama and decadence of a hanging lantern complete with flickering candle? Or perhaps an elaborate baroque candelabra is more your style? If both appear a little too theatrical, why not simply try a cluster of white church candles at the centre of your dinner table for a perfectly unearthly Gothic glow?
Collect curiosities
When it comes to re-creating a brooding Gothic feel, cabinets and bookshelves filled with curiosities inherited or collected over time are a good place to start – the weirder the better.
Create a spooky focal point by housing objects in glass bell jars and cloches. Try mini gilt ornaments, a twinkly piece of costume jewellery and a sprig of fragrant dried lavender for a sufficiently eccentric display.
Discover ways of using inherited pieces in your home
Choose charcoal walls
This room embraces the Gothic mood wholeheartedly and without restraint. The mottled, charcoal-coloured walls envelop the space in a veil of darkness, while the skull sculptures enhance the eerie look. In contrast, the dainty white lace tablecloth brings in overtones of Miss Havisham-chic (for the Dickens fans out there) and old-fashioned charm.
If this is simply too sombre for your tastes, try one wall painted in a fabulous shade of slate grey.
Check out 10 chic ways to decorate with antlers
Welcome weathered pieces
What’s so captivating about the modern-day Gothic vibe is that anything goes, from rich burgundy paintwork and stag heads to charcoal skirting boards and less-than-perfect antiques. Pieces that have a rich patina, a quirky shape or just have that something a little bit different wouldn’t look out of place in a Gothic scheme.
See more interesting ways to style your hallway or landing with these ideas
Say it with skulls
Whether it’s to your taste or not, we can all appreciate the striking impact of this oversized skull print. It adds a little grit, plenty of glamour and just the right amount of rock ’n’ roll edginess to an otherwise conservative scheme.
Tone it down
This simple, classic living room shows that you don’t need to go all out with ornate carvings, skull motifs and antique furniture to channel Gothic chic. Instead, the sophisticated dark-grey walls, upholstered sofa and carefully positioned lamps hint at the style without going overboard.
Go for gold
The glint and glimmer of gold is the perfect antidote to the deeper, more dramatic colours normally found in a Gothic scheme. And it’s the perfect way to add an opulent slant to a more moody interior.
Be it a single wall of gold leaf, a band of glittering gold mosaics or simply a gilt-framed baroque mirror, a little gold is all it takes for Gothic to go glam.
Big up your boudoir
Bedrooms can take dark colours on the walls particularly well, creating a cocoon-like sleeping den. But if full-blown black walls are too spooky for your style, try a lighter shade of grey paired with an antique wardrobe and a little splash of neon to give the scheme a contemporary edge. And don’t forget wall sconces – a must-have for Gothic chic at its best.
Darken your hallway
One surefire way to create a Gothic-inspired look is to paint your hallway floor to ceiling in a gloriously dark paint. Remember to lighten up the look with a selection of quirky artworks and perhaps a lighter floor unless you’re feeling particularly brave.
Browse ways to achieve a personality-packed hallway
Lara Sargent, Houzz Contributor Article first published on Houzz
