Gothic Style: Get The Look

The Gothic style first came to the fore in the Middle Ages and while it did fall out of favour for a couple of centuries, it enjoyed something of a revival come the 19th century thanks to the Victorians who were looking for something a little special for their home interiors. It was principally found in public buildings and churches but come the mid-19th century, it was being seen to influence homes around the UK.

It was characterised by decorative ribbing (known as tracery), ecclesiastical details like stained glass and pointed arches, with colours like gold, red and blue currying favour in particular. Symbols and motifs like the tree of life and coats of arms were seen increasingly, while animals, leaves and gargoyles were also of interest.

These days, it couldn’t be easier to get the look and one of the quickest and easiest ways is to have old fireplaces installed in a Gothic style. These are typically made of carved wood or limestone and if you want to recreate this kind of style make sure that your fireplace is large and imposing. Pointed arches work well for your surrounds, so keep an eye out for them.

You could also change your wallpaper if you’re keen to adopt a truly Gothic look at home. Go for something with a heavy pattern in red or gold (or both!), with flowers, fleur-de-lys and coats of arms. Upcycling and recycling is also big news these days so head to your local auction to see if you can pick up church furniture like lecterns and pews to really help give your home a bit of a lift this year.