Gothic Home Decorating

Black painted walls are a difficult color to cover up, should it end up being too dark in your room. Faux painting is your best bet, since you can master the look of aged stone which creates a traditional medieval style.

Jewel Tones:
amethyst, garnet, emerald, sapphire, and citrine.

Faux Stone Shades:
Gray, gray-blue, beige, tan, with darker black and brown shades to outline edges of stone.

Wallpaper is an option, however for apartment living or warmer climates it may not be the best idea. Thick brocade patterns and flocked velvet textures are ideal. You can still work an elegant pattern into your theme with heavy drapes as a main accessory if wallpaper is not for you.

If you can paint, or know someone that can paint, murals can be created of any scene or image you want. You can purchase long rolls of canvas at most craft and art supply stores to be able to take your murals with you if you relocate. Large pieces of artwork can also be arranged to create a full setting.

You can hang long pieces of fabric, tufted every foot or so, along the edge of your ceiling to give a more dramatic appeal or mix and match for accent walls. Lace, tulle, panne velvet, and light tapestries are easy choices.

Sometimes you need something a unique on your walls to show your own personality. Here's 20 objects that you can put together and frame, easily and cheaply for your own dark Gothic art:

1. Calendar pages
2. Magazine cut-outs
3. Fabric/lace, favorite clothing items
4. Scrapbooking supplies - paper, embellishments
5. Vintage postcards, stamps
6. Collections - trading cards, keys, pins
7. Poetry
8. Calligraphy
9. CD covers, book artwork
10. Handmade clay pieces
11. Dried or artificial flowers, leaves
12. Crafting supplies - ribbon, feathers, buttons
13. Bead work
14. Foam shapes
15. Glass mosaic tiles
16. Layers of tulle or tissue paper
17. Sand/glitter pictures
18. Wooden pieces
19. Puzzles
20. Music sheets

- Decorate your lampshades with fabric, lace, cording, and beaded edges.

- Make your own curtains (mine are wine-colored in a diamond pattern with black lace edging). Or, layer several styles together to look antique.

- Hang up hand-made artwork and props, such as wings, masks, jewelry, etc.

- Decorate picture and mirror frames.

- Fill red, purple, or amber glass bottles with special trinkets or paint tribal/vintage accents on the bottles.

- Replace appropriate chandeliers and lamps with flicker bulbs for a burning candle look.

- Check yard sales and thrift stores for antique furniture that fits your decor. Stain and refinish each piece.

- Add intricate molding to your bookshelves and square furniture pieces. Use a wood burner to carve scroll work, letters, words, and images.

Use in a garden, small area of your Home, or establish a full theme - essential for the morbid Goth...

Materials:
* Sheets of foam insulation
* Utility knife
* Spray paint
* Craft paint
* Stencils for Lettering

Visit a local graveyard to inspire you with ideas for decorating. Early carved images in stones may have been caused from the attitudes towards death, so be creative. Some of the older tombstones were less than a foot tall made in marble, or tall and thin granite but plain in design. Others were stone inscriptions flat on the ground, with or without a header. Phrases in the early 1700's included "here lyeth", "ye" instead of the word "the", and dated as "AEt. 30" or in the "30th of his/her age".

Create half stones that look like they fell down with pieces missing. For the more adventurous, you could also create a raised tomb, complete with boxed in sides and a top that slides off or the unusual table-top style with 4 legs. There are also pillars, statues, markers; the possibilities are endless...

You can purchase foam insulation sheets at most hardware store. Cut out tombstone shapes from the foam, as described above using your original designs. Cut out shapes or designs to glue onto your stone for 3d effects, or scrape designs into your stone before painting. Lettering can be done with stencils, or hand-print if you dare. Prime the stone. You can use a gray shade of choice, but there are also stone, marble, and granite spray paints available that make them look more realistic. Use craft paints to age your stone with dark lines, age spots, or detail features. Finish with a semi-gloss sealer to give it some shine, and protect it from the weather if using outdoors. Add decorative elements such as moss, small twigs, dried leaves, etc.