The Gothic style initially evolved as a religious architectural style. It made a belated entry into the secular world. Nevertheless, when the Gothic architectural style made entry into the public and domestic spheres, it persisted with its tradition of pure splendor –arches, battlements, exposed wooden beams and vaults, gargoyle heads, leaded or stained glass quatrefoil windows with decorative tracery, etc.
No wonder, interior decorating in Gothic style has been more or less an expensive proposition! Courtesy the improvements in interior decorating in Gothic style, expenses are no longer exorbitant and you can capture the grandeur, the mystical charm of the bygone era with simple accessories, color, furniture and other minute details.
Walls and ageing effect
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Wall-paints are central to interior decorating in Gothic style. Considering the medieval fascination with rich, dramatic hues like black, burgundy, gold, ochre, orange, ruby, etc., you are free to opt for dark shades and tones, but then you must also have matching accessories and furnishings.
Wait! The color-issue does not end there and you need to know that deep colors and tones are fit for living rooms and parlors. Painting a bedroom or a study all over in a dark shade is never advisable. Actually, colors have more serious effects on your health and temperament than mere visual effect.
Thus, red makes you angry, orange and yellow makes you feel sick/ gives you headaches, black creates a gloomy feeling and so on. You need not refrain from using the deeper hues, but it will be wise if you make limited use of them – say to highlight certain areas as a wall or the beams and columns and the like. Muted tones you can use; but the best colors for your bedroom done in gothic style are certainly blue and grey.
Aging or distressed effect on walls is also a key factor in doing up a room interior, when decorating it in the Gothic fashion. And achieving this effect is not all that difficult! Right choice of colors and a little bit of trickery can help you create even faux stonewall. Some masking tape and a few strokes and patches of colors like beige, grey and tan can be made to mimic the ‘veins and moss’ effect of stonewalls.
Remember, the trick to doing justice while replicating medieval stonewalls is to stay away from perfection and neatness! What is desired is a blotchy, natural effect!
Floors
As for floors, the medieval, century old feel comes out best in stone or wooden floors. If your house has flagstone or wooden floors, then fine; otherwise, you can replicate the magic with tiles. Carpeted floors and use of area rugs can also recreate the old world charm for you.
Doors and windows
Metal (especially iron) and woodwork will be fine for doors and windows. Again, you can faux paint the wooden or metal door or window to generate the distress-effect. Heavy curtains hung from wood pelmets or designer iron rods recapture the gothic aura for you as do stained glass windows.
Use of stained glass in windows (done up with liquid leading or adhesive leading kits or decorated with stone ribbing) adds color to both your rooms and life while lending privacy.
You can even simulate wall, window and door panels with the help of colors or wallpapers for the typical Gothic look. Mask arches with tape and paint one side in a darker shade and the other in a lighter tone, and you will get your fake Gothic arch paneling.
Accessories and furniture
Accessories and furniture are the best way you can invoke the true spirit of the middle ages while interior decorating in Gothic style. Right from brocade throw pillows to candles, candleholders, ceiling medallions, crown canopies, decorative paintings, gargoyle heads, heraldic designs, lampshades, scenic murals, sculptures, sconces, wall hangings and all that are typical of the Gothic era.
As regards furniture, Victorian Gothic reproduction furniture featuring carved trefoils and spiral turnings, etc. can be used, but you can also opt for massive, rustic-look furniture adorned with Gothic motifs.
Remember, rich upholstery and tapestries typically smack of the bygone era. However, you really need not make sky-high investments in order to incorporate the medieval magic while you are doing the interiors, interior decorating in Gothic style.
You can evoke the Gothic spirit; capture the essence of medieval decor at bare minimum costs. Equip yourself with some SHAPES and PATTERNS, STENCILS and TEMPLATES, highlighting the Gothic accents. With some handy imagination and patience, you can really transform your ordinary modern home into a mystical haven.
by Manuel Kupka
