The most accurate, yet least helpful answer is that it really depends on who you ask. Within the community there is a surprising amount of debate over 'What is Goth', and no majority-pleasing consensus is ever reached.
I think this is partly due to the fact that our niche group is actually wide and varied - I recently had a conversation with a lady who couldn't believe that a pink skull could be considered Goth; a quick search for pastel Goth and you will find a soft, pretty style, with elements of what is traditionally thought of as Goth.
So, what IS Goth?!
During my time working within the Alternative community, I've come to the belief that Goth is actually more of a set of values than fishnets, bats and a penchant for black. There is an overarching interest in the melancholy and the macabre, but in the same way as the Memento Mori of old; a reminder that life is short and precious, and that death is an inevitable yet important part of the cycle of life.
There is a large overlap between the Goth community and the creative community and it is my opinion that it is freedom of self-expression that is actually the backbone of what is Goth. Which explains perfectly the refusal of it's members to be pigeon-holed into the 'Goth box'.
Goth vs Gothic
The distinction between Goth and Gothic is an important one to make.
As discussed above, Goth is a relatively modern movement, born of the music scene in London in the 1980s. Considered an off-shoot from the punk movement, it is characterised by fishnets, studs, leather and larger than life hairstyles achieved by a lot of backcombing and even more hairspray. As an evolution of the punk movement, Goths hold a lot of the same values as punks such as freedom of personal expression, anti-capitalist beliefs and showing solidarity with other minority groups such as the LGBTQ+ community.
Image credit: AN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GOTH SUBCULTURES – Underground
The term Gothic, however, is much older and relates to a style of architecture and interior design (think arched windows, ornamentation and grandeur). This movement has a much longer history and had it's own revival in the Victorian era.
The original Goths were actually a Germanic tribe, a section of which called the Visigoths conquered Rome in 410 AD. It is from these people that the term Gothic was taken, meaning 'barbaric' and penned by Italian writers of the later Renaissance period who did not like the architectural style (how that could be, I don't know).
Gothic architecture arose in 12th century France through the construction of many Gothic cathedrals, most notably the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
Scanning - Dmitry Makeev, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Gothic architecture is characterised by pointed arches, tracery (the intricate patterning on stonework and wood panelling), stained glass, exterior support pillars called buttresses as shown above and the beautiful rose windows from medieval times. It was the addition of pointed arches instead of the rounded arches from the Romanesque period and buttresses which allowed for the cathedrals to be much higher and reach to the heavens.
Image showing the tracery details on the ceiling of Gloucester cathedral, UK. Image credit: Joely Ball
The Gothic Revival
Gothic architecture saw a revival in the Victorian era when people grew tired of the industrial revolution which was taking place. With a similar thought pattern to the Arts & Crafts movement which came later, people longed to return to a simpler time and the beauty and skill of handcrafted items. They looked at the Medieval period and saw the values of chivalry and community which they believed were being eroded by industrialisation and the Gothic Revival movement was born.
Despite the contemporary view of Gothic which is dominated by black, the Gothic Revival period used lots of colour - it was a romanticised view of the medieval Gothic and so they used the colours associated with knights; red, blue, green and yellow. They also used a lot of gold for ornamentation and detailing.
The Gallery at Strawberry Hill House by Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A prime example of the Gothic Revival is Strawberry Hill House shown above. Built by Horace Walpole in the 18th century, it actually predates the Gothic Revival movement of the 19th century. However it features all the hallmarks of the revival, including copious amounts of tracery, pointed arches and gold ornamentation. If I could live anywhere in the world, I think it would probably be this place - just look at the library!
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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During this time period, the architect for a building was responsible for designing everything within it too, including tiles and furniture. One of, if not the most well-known architects of the Gothic Revival was Augustus Pugin, who designed many famous buildings including the interior of the Palace of Westminster in London, UK. He was also one of the main proponents for "a return to the faith and the social structures of the Middle Ages" (taken from his 1836 book Contrasts). Indeed, this entire book provided contrasts between buildings contemporary in his time compared with their 15th century equivalents. These were all heavily biased with a rose-coloured lens, but were impactful.
Pugin wrote one of my favourite quotes describing Gothic Revival design:
"a man who spends any length of time in a modern Gothic room, and escapes without being wounded by some of its minutiae, may consider himself extremely fortunate".
I think this is a fabulous way to describe all the pointed arches, spires and elaborately carved furniture!
Modern Gothic Homes (Gothic Revival, again)
In the modern day, we have sadly lost the ability to fill our homes with individually designed and hand-carved furniture - I'm sure things started to go wrong when we stopped adding gargoyles to buildings. That has not dulled the desire for Gothic-inspired spaces however.
Modern Gothic homes vary widely, ranging from contemporary shapes and styles in a dark colour palette to homes heavily inspired by the Victorian era.
A Victorian-inspired Gothic living room
I believe the desire to move away from ultra-modern, minimalist spaces to something with more character is due to similar reasons as the previous Gothic movements discussed above - people are rejecting the modern capitalist ideals of having the latest trending items and instead are choosing to design living spaces which truly reflect themselves. More value is once again being placed on quality craftsmanship (no thank you, chipboard furniture) and unique pieces of home decor are more accessible than ever with the rise of online marketplaces and the ability to find small businesses operating worldwide.
This movement towards individualism leads us back to our original question of what constitutes Gothic home decor, and again there is no straightforward answer. For many it is black walls, curiosity cabinets and gallery walls filled with macabre artwork. It is perfectly possible to have a home decorated with white walls and still be Gothic however.
What is Gothic home décor?
A dark Gothic bedroom by Joely Ball Home
In essence, the meaning of Gothic is what it has always been. It is the rejection of blindly following modern society and instead valuing the free expression of self.
There are common elements such as an appreciation of the beauty of death as a part of life, displayed through skulls, bones or even ghosts which acts as a reminder to make the most of life as it is short. A dark colour palette is often used to create a cosy, cocooning space which is complemented through the use of multiple light sources such as candles, chandeliers, ornate lamps or even neon lights. The layering of inviting textures and pattern is also important; think wood, lace, fur, damasks and rich velvets.
As is the case with everything Gothic however, this is very much open to personal interpretation which leads to some truly wonderful, unique homes.
So now you know...
Explore our Gothic Home Decor Collection and discover luxurious cushions, statement pieces, and carefully crafted items that honour the Gothic tradition of quality craftsmanship and individual expression.