I’ve always dug the darker side of interior design.
As a teen, I totally redid my bedroom in blacks and purples and decorated it with dark fairy posters and candelabras I found at thrift shops.
I even painted a giant raven right on the wall!
So when I discovered whimsy goth decor, I was psyched.
It’s like Tim Burton and Edgar Allan Poe teamed up to design the ultimate oddball boudoir.
If you also like rooms with a creepy-cute vibe, check out these far out ideas for a whimsy goth bedroom.
A few splashes of black paint and some offbeat accents are all it takes to goth up your space in a playful way.
You don’t have to go full-on gothic dungeon to work the look.
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Make a Bold Black Accent Wall
Painting one wall black sets the mood.
Go for a deep shade like charcoal or jet black.
For extra flair, paint on some simple black line drawings like trees or vines.
Use a thick brush and acrylic craft paint to make raw, organic lines.
Paint spindly bare trees, crows, vines, or a haunted house scene.
Make it asymmetrical and imperfect for an organic look.
Another idea is to stencil on a Victorian wallpaper pattern in black.
Use strips of painter’s tape to create funky geometric shapes.
Paint inside the shapes black, but leave the edges rough and hand-painted.
For a mural, paint a lifesize human silhouette directly on the wall and fill it with black trees and branches.
Paint a giant raven with outstretched wings coming off the accent wall.
Splatter black paint Jackson Pollack-style to create an abstract “stained glass” window effect.
Decorate with Quirky Silhouettes
Frame black paper cutouts of spooky silhouettes like ravens, cats or haunted houses, and arrange them gallery-style on one wall.
Make your own paper silhouettes using black construction paper.
Cut out simple shapes of ravens, bats, trees, houses, cats, ghosts, or other gothic images.
Glue them onto white mat board frames for crisp contrast.
Mix in a few colorful accents like bright red hearts or hot pink ravens.
Arrange the framed silhouettes in an asymmetrical cluster on the wall.
Another idea is to print out gothic/horror clipart and frame those in eclectic thrift store frames.
Cut silhouette shapes out of black vinyl and stick them directly on the wall.
Paint some of the silhouettes directly on the wall for an organic look.
Make giant raven or tree silhouettes with black removable vinyl or contact paper.
Add a Ghostly Chandelier
A black chandelier with crooked arms draped in wispy fabric makes a sweetly sinister light fixture.
Look for wrought iron chandeliers and spray paint them black.
Hang long strips of sheer black or purple fabric from each arm.
Use tulle, lace, ribbon, crepe, or chiffon for a wispy look.
Add LED string lights for a cool glow effect.
Another idea is to make a DIY tissue paper chandelier.
Shape black and purple tissue paper into long teardrops.
Attach them to a basic black chandelier frame.
Backlight them with LED string lights for a spectral glow.
Dangle additional strips of tissue paper from the arms.
Suspend a realistic raven or bat from the center for an extra creepy touch.
Paint the metal frame black and give it a distressed finish.
Display Creepy Collectibles
Group your bizarre knickknacks like skulls, gargoyles or mystical curios together on shelves or a cabinet.
Search flea markets and antiques stores for one-of-a-kind oddities.
Arrange candlesticks, skulls, taxidermy, apothecary jars, and curiosities together for impact.
Style a glass-front cabinet or shelving unit to show off your finds.
Paint or stain the cabinet black for a gothic look.
Place collections of crystals, minerals, bones, or insects under glass domes.
Display dark framed butterfly/insect collections or preserved animal skulls.
Group velvet-lined shadowboxes holding tarot cards, dried flowers or Victorian hair jewelry.
Arrange ominous objects like dagger letter openers, gargoyles, poison bottles, or raven sculptures.
Make a display of vintage medical tools, skeletal models, or specimen jars.
Illuminate with candelabras, dark table lamps, or string lights for an eerie glow.
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Make a Gallery Wall
Fill a wall with an eclectic mix of frames holding drawings, macabre prints and photos of you and your weirdo friends.
Arrange an assortment of thrifted frames close together on the wall.
Mix oval frames, ornate gold frames, distressed wood frames, etc.
for variety.
Fill them with gothic art prints, drawings, pressed flowers, or postcards.
Print out digital images of dark landscapes, abandoned buildings, or ghosts.
Display black and white portraits of gothic muses like Elvira, Lily Munster, or Morticia Addams.
Add moody nature photos, like bare trees, ravens, or stormy skies.
Make some frames dimensional by attaching fabric, keys, or creepy 3D elements.
Insert photos of you and your goth gang looking fabulously morose.
Group band photos, ticket stubs and flyers from goth/industrial concerts.
Include printed lyrics, poem excerpts or quotations from Poe, Byron, or Baudelaire.
Mix in colorful pop culture prints as ironic contrast.
Drape With Floaty Fabrics
Light, gauzy canopy fabrics over the bed or windows add a romantic vibe.
Try sheer blacks or purples.
Use sheer polyester chiffon, organza, lace or tulle for an ethereal look.
For the bed, hang from a canopy frame or simply from the ceiling.
At windows, gather onto a rod pocket panel or hang simply using hooks.
Layer different fabrics like lace over chiffon for added depth.
Drape asymmetrically so the fabric billows softly.
Accent with ribbon, macrame or garlands for texture.
Illuminate from behind using string lights or floor lamps to create a magical glow.
Another idea is to suspend sheets of sheer fabric across the ceiling to create ghostly partitions.
Use removable sticky hooks so you can easily change up the look.
Paint or stencil moody designs onto solid black cotton panels for a bohemian vibe.
Display large format black and white photos of haunted forest scenes printed on sheer fabric.
Flaunt Freaky Finials
Top your bedposts, shelves or lamp stands with finials shaped like bats, ravens, spiders or other creepy creatures.
Search for gothic-style finials made of metal, ceramic or carved wood.
Look for bats, ravens, snakes, spiders, skulls, gargoyles and other creepy motifs.
Spray paint cheap finials from a hardware store in glossy black.
Use Rub ‘n Buff paste wax to add details like silver spiderwebs or red eyes.
Attach finials to bedposts using the existing hardware.
Screw finials onto basic Ikea shelves to instantly goth them up.
Top thrifted table lamps with dark finials for an ominous effect.
Display spare finials grouped artfully together on shelves.
Make DIY sculptural finials using air dry clay and acrylic paint.
Shape clay into ravens, skulls, or pointed Gothic spires.
Paint them black and dry with a matte varnish.
Glue them onto dowels cut to size to make finials.
Illuminate With Offbeat Lamps
Go for lamps with unconventional bases like animal skulls/skeletons, twisted branches or human body parts.
Search flea markets and antiques stores for macabre lamp bases.
Look for taxidermy pieces like raven, bat or rat skeletons under glass domes.
Display creepy artifacts like specimen jars, apothecary bottles or medical tools on lamp bases.
Choose human anatomy skeleton models and busts for a shocking lamp base.
Wrap lamp wires and base with black lace or ribbon to soften the look.
Make a DIY drippy candle wax lamp using black and purple wax.
Affix dragon, gargoyle or demon shadows to the wall behind lamps.
Place movable spotlights behind light diffusing fabrics for an eerie glow.
Backlight strange objects like birdcages, antlers or branches for an eccentric lamp.
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Get Gothic Furniture
Hunt antiques stores for finds like a ghostly vanity, arched-top mirror, or ornately carved couch or chairs.
Look for Victorian, Rococo Revival, and Art Deco styles.
Seek out pieces with Gothic details like pointed arches, claw feet, skulls, or gargoyles.
Choose seating with tall, wing-shaped backs, dark wood and ornate carvings.
thrift stores and estate sales are great sources for gothic furniture on the cheap.
Look for vanities with trifold mirrors, marble tops and drawers for makeup and jewelry storage.
Paint cheaper furniture completely black for a gothic look instantly.
Add details like gold spiderwebs or silver branches with Rub ‘n Buff.
Upholster plain chairs in dark crushed velvet or satin for luxurious texture.
Finish tables and shelves in glossy black paint or dark espresso stain.
Make a Spellbinding Mural
Paint a dark, magical forest scene right on the wall.
Add glowing eyes in the trees or a ghostly figure floating through.
Use acrylic craft paints in shades of black, purple, gray and deep greens.
Paint shadowy trees with gnarled branches or bare birch trees.
Add ravens, bats, owls or crows peeking out from the trees.
Paint in a ghostly figure in white or outline only.
Make the trees drip with silver raindrops for an eerie effect.
Paint a haunted house with glowing eyes in the windows.
Add a winding path through the trees or misty grounds.
Paint the moon or a night sky with stars peeking through the trees.
Make it asymmetrical and raw instead of perfect.
Another idea is to paint floating candles, keys or ravens.
Display Your Collections
Group collections of spellbooks, potion bottles, candles, crystals, magic wands, or other occult objects together for impact.
Arrange spellbooks both upright and laying down for visual interest.
Fill glassware and bottles with colored water, sand, herbs, or found objects to resemble potions.
Display crystals on stands, in glass domes, or on velvet.
Make wizard wands using sticks, crystals, feathers and leather.
Display herbs, bones, snakeskins and future oddities in glass jars and shadowboxes.
Illuminate collections with candelabras, string lights, or battery-powered candles for ambiance.
Line shelves with black crushed velvet or lace for an elegant backdrop.
Group collections together thematically, like all bones or all crystals and minerals.
Create an occult library with rows of vintage books and mysterious artifacts.
Fill an antique cabinet or apothecary chest with curious objects.
Add Macabre Taxidermy
Mounted ravens, bats, or other creepy creatures make morbid but conversation-starting accents.
Look for real taxidermy like crows, bats, or rats mounted under glass domes.
Search specialty oddities shops or sites like Etsy.
Group taxidermy in a glass cabinet for dramatic impact.
Perch bats or small birds on lamps or finials for an extra creepy touch.
Place ravens, crows or owls peering out of shadowboxes.
Position rats, bats or spiders dangling from the ceiling.
Look for lifelike faux taxidermy for a humane alternative to real.
Work in a single statement piece so it really pops.
Add an ornate frame around the glass box for a cabinet of curiosities look.
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Include Quirky Planters
Dot your space with planters shaped like skulls, ravens, coffins or creeping vines.
Fill them with succulents or trailing plants.
Look for ceramic planters shaped like human skulls or animal skulls.
Paint terra cotta pots black and glue on ghost decals.
Use squat, round pots for coffin-shaped planters.
Choose trailing plants like ivy, ferns or philodendrons for spilling out.
Group a few planters together on bookshelves, credenzas or plant stands.
Add sand, pebbles or moss toplanters for additional texture.
For DIY planters, paint terracotta pots black and use appliance epoxy to attach plastic skulls or bones from the craft store.
Glue strips of lace around plain planters for Victorian flair.
Plant succulents, cacti and air plants that thrive on neglect.
Make a Dreamy Canopy
Drape delicate black or purple fabrics overhead to create an ethereal canopy over your bed.
Use lightweight, gauzy fabric like polyester chiffon or organza.
For a DIY canopy, hang fabric from a basic square frame made of wood or pvc pipe.
Suspend the frame from the ceiling over the bed with thin chains.
Gather the fabric loosely so it billows softly overhead.
Layer different fabrics like chiffon over tulle for added dimension.
Display Peculiar Paintings
Group moody landscape paintings, abstracts in dark hues, or portraits of gothic muses together on one wall.
Seek out melancholy landscape paintings with bare, skeletal trees and gloomy skies.
Look for abstract art that incorporates blacks, deep purples and blood reds.
Print digital images of moody landscapes on canvas for inexpensive art.
Display oval portraits of vampires, raven-haired beauties, and Tim Burton-esque characters.
Arrange the paintings asymmetrically for interest.
Mix in a few ornate empty frames to add texture.
Incorporate a large central focal point painting as the anchor.
Add drama with spotlights, picture lights or track lighting on the art.
Introduce metallic accents with silver, gold or copper leaf frames.
Layer In Lisa Frank
For an ironic touch, mix in a few pieces of super colorful Lisa Frank art and accessories.
Display Lisa Frank’s rainbow unicorns and kittens for fun contrast.
Stick Lisa Frank stickers on black notebooks or your laptop.
Use a Lisa Frank trapper keeper as a campy desk accessory.
Show off a Lisa Frank folder collection in a shadowbox frame.
Group colorful Lisa Frank tin lunchboxes together on a shelf.
Ironically frame a Lisa Frank unicorn poster in a fancy gold frame.
Make DIY throw pillows using Lisa Frank fabric.
Incorporate Lisa Frank pens, pencils and stationery for a pop of color.
The clash between dark and bright makes for fun decor tension.
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Add Dark Florals
Work in moody floral arrangements of black, deep purple or blood red flowers.
Look for flowers like black roses, black dahlias, burgundy carnations, or deep purple iris.
Display floral arrangements in black vases or pitchers for contrast.
Make mini-arrangements in skull planters or on candleholders.
Scatter single stems in glass dome terrariums with moss or stones.
Hang dried floral wreaths or garlands on the wall for organic texture.
Keep it simple with just one or two stems for maximum impact.
Add Edgy Throw Pillows
Dot your bed or chairs with fringed, spiky, or studded throw pillows.
Look for pillows covered in crushed velvet, faux fur, or soft leather.
Add texture with details like fringe, cable knit, tufting, or nailheads.
Make your own pillows using black, white or red plaid flannel.
Sew or hot glue spikes, studs, or chains onto basic black pillows.
Paint creepy designs onto plain pillows, like spiders or ravens.
Monogram pillows with initials for a personalized gothic look.
Use Grim Bedding
Dress your bed in black and red sheets, comforters, and shams for the ultimate creepy-chic boudoir.
Look for bedding printed with subtle patterns like skulls, damask, or floral.
Choose solid black, blood red, or deep purple sheets for bold color.
Layer on textures like lace, faux fur throws, or crushed velvet shams.
Add drama with sheer black canopies or fabric draped overhead.
Include ornate Gothic touches like upholstered headboards or canopy frames.
Make your own headboard using salvaged architectural details, iron gates, shutters, etc.
Illuminate With Candles
Candles set the moody vibe in a whimsy goth space.
Arrange loads of taper, pillar and votive candles together.
Display tall taper candles in Gothic candelabras.
Arrange clusters of pillar candles in wrought iron holders.
Dot votive candles in glass holders everywhere for accent lighting.
Look for candles in deep jewel tones like burgundy, plum and sapphire.
Search import shops for elaborately carved candles.
Group mismatched candles and holders for an organic look.
