Having an accent room is a great way to make a statement in your home, and gothic living rooms are becoming more and more popular.
There are lots of ways you can give your living room some gothic flare, and no, not everything has to be black. A modern gothic living room can be more whimsical than gloomy.
You can also go classic with more of a Victorian gothic living room if you prefer a traditional gothic look.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite gothic living room ideas, so get ready to get inspired!
Color Palettes for Gothic Living Room
First, it’s important to know the color palette you can work with to create a gothic living room.
Below are some of the colors you usually find in gothic decor:
- Black
- Dark red
- Dark blue
- Dark purple
- Dark green
- Gray
- White
You can start playing with these colors, and see what combinations you like.
For your base/main color, we suggest picking either black, gray, or white. Then you can start to incorporate some of the other colors like dark red and green.
You can also incorporate some prints, such as stripes or paisley.
Decor Elements for Gothic Living Room
When it comes to gothic decor elements there are few you can incorporate whether you prefer Victorian gothic or modern gothic. The first (and probably most popular) is anything skull themed.
If you don’t typically decorate with skulls outside of Halloween, don’t worry, there’s a way to use them that won’t make your living room feel like a haunted house. Skulls have become extremely popular in both decor and fashion, which means there are lots of options in terms of aesthetics.
You can find smaller decor elements to incorporate them. Look for coasters, planters, or candle holders that have skulls or skeletons on them.
33+ Cool Decor & Style Ideas for Gothic Living Room
Here is a selection of some of the coolest styles we found on Instagram! If you would like to see more design images from the same featured home, just head over to the Instagram bio linked under each image.
Check also the rest of the article for more gothic decor tips and different style ideas you can incorporate.
More Gothic Decor Tips
Candles are another way to add a gothic decor element to your living room.
Having lots and lots of candles displayed is a classic gothic decor element. And the best part is you probably already have lots! So go through your closets and drawers and bring out all the candles you’ve got.
If you decide to do more of a Victorian gothic design, check out a thrift store for some Victorian style candelabras or candle holders.
If you’re worried about having that many candles lit, you can get electric candles, so there’s no need to be worried about forgetting to blow one out.
Black leather or velvet furniture is ideal for any type of gothic living room. Look for couches, chairs, or ottomans in either leather or velvet for the perfect addition to your gothic living room. You can also look for a black faux fur throw, or some black velvet pillows if you’re all set for furniture.
Antique mirrors and frames are another great way to add some gothic flare to your living room.
You can swap out your existing artwork into some of the frames for a simple way to incorporate some gothic decor elements. Take it one step further and paint them black or gold. Head to some antique stores or estate sales to find antique frames and mirrors.
Gothic Living Room Styles
Now let’s dive into some of the more specific types of gothic living room decor ideas.
Victorian gothic design is what usually comes to mind when you think of gothic decor.
Skulls and skeletons are extremely popular with Victorian gothic decor, and you can build on that. Look for books and artwork that feature anything having to do with anatomy. You can also look for things featuring dried flowers, ravens, or bats as other elements to incorporate.
If you’re going for Victorian gothic, you may also want to think about looking for some wallpaper that works as well. Think about black and white stripes, or a red and black paisley print. Check out Pinterest or watch your favorite Victorian period piece for more inspiration!
If you prefer something a little more subtle, you may want to consider a modern gothic living room.
If that’s the case, you’ll mainly want to focus on black and white, with pops of green as your color palette. Rather than wallpaper, we recommend trying matte black or green paint. If it’s a smaller space you can just do one accent wall.
You can incorporate many of the elements from Victorian gothic decor, and just think about displaying in a more minimalist style. If you aren’t sure what type of accessories to look for, think about things that are more whimsical and different, rather than dark and gloomy.
A gothic living room is the perfect way to make a statement in your home, and have lots of fun putting it together!
If you’re worried it will be too dark and gloomy, just start with some smaller pieces and build up from there.
Start looking at your favorite thrift stores for pieces, and keep an eye out during the Fall and Halloween for the perfect things to complete your gothic living room!