9 Design Tips For Your Gothic Revival Inspired Home
The Gothic Revival era seems to be caught somewhere between a deep romance and the nightmares of the Brothers Grimm. It is such a unique architectural era that has its own special pull toward it. It’s almost like a fairytale stuck in medieval times.
Although Gothic Revival Architecture has been around since, well, the medieval times, it has been overshadowed by Renaissance and classical architecture. However, now it's making a bit of a comeback.
Photo Source:
Circa Old Houses
9 Tips To Add Some Gothic Revival Flair To Your Home
If you would like to add some gothic romanticism to your home, try some of these design tips.
Victorian-inspired styling
Your first step to creating a Gothic Architecture house is by pulling in victorian-inspired styling. After all, it was during the Victorian Era that Gothic Architecture truly reached the peak of its popularity.
In short, it is all about the drama. High arches and dramatically draped fabrics.
When incorporating a Gothic Revival design into your home, consider looking at Victorian homes for some style inspiration. Specifically, make note of ornate and rich tapestries as well as bold design ideas. Think wrought iron chandeliers and bold colors.
If you don’t want to use such striking elements, consider adding drama through your smaller decor items, such as ornate vases, mirrors, and frames.
Patterned wallpaper
There is no question about it. When designing your Gothic Revival interior, patterned wallpaper is a must - even if you only use it to create a statement wall somewhere in your home.
Modern-day wallpaper is handy, as you can apply and remove it with little to no damage to your walls. Moreover, the rich Victorian designs add depth and diversity to your home. Victorian or Gothic wallpaper should be dramatic, rich, and ornate.
Consider using patterns engraved into a velvet texture when looking for Gothic Revival Era wallpaper.
Depending on your home’s color palette, consider making use of a mixture of black, gold, or deep burgundy. This will bring your room to life immediately!
Photo Source:
Circa Old Houses
Bold colors
What is Gothic Architecture, if not bold? When putting your color palette together for your home, use bold colors. Gothic homes are all about making statements.
By balancing out your color palette with bold and subtle colors, you can recreate the elegance of Gothic Architecture. Pair these colors with different textures, like velvet and jacquard, to create a beautiful, but haunting look.
If you’re a bit stuck on which colors specifically to use, look at emerald green, ruby red, dark ocean blue, and deep burgundy. These are amazingly rich and elegant colors that bring character and life to any home.
Lancet windows
Lancet windows are one of the many ways to add drama to your home. These windows are high, narrow, Gothic arches that feature a pointed top. They are similar to a lot of the stained glass windows you may find in old cathedrals or castles.
The arches of Lancet Windows are an absolute staple of Gothic Architecture. In fact, this shape can be reused for mirrors, artwork, or interior walls. Lancet windows are usually accompanied by dramatic moldings.
A Lancet Window adorns this Gothic Victorian Home - via
Old House Dreams
Dramatic arches
Just like Lancet Windows, arches are an absolute must when adding a Gothic architectural twist to your home. And the good news is, there are so many arches to choose from so you can ensure they fit your home design perfectly.
These arches add drama to your entrances and wall breaks.
When designing the arches for your home, imagine yourself walking through castles and old churches. It will give you a good reference as to how the Gothic era made use of arches and pillars.
Moreover, you will find that Gothic Revival architecture is a big fan of pointed arches. If your home allows for it, this may be the best arch for you. But don't feel you need to be restricted with where or how to use an arch, they're not just for hallways and entrances! Check out how this home owner incorporated Gothic Arches into their wall niches .
Gothic Arch Wall Niche by Archways & Ceilings
Decorative moldings
If you walk into any Victorian or Gothic Revival home, you may notice that it has heavy crown moldings everywhere. When doing your Gothic Revival home redecorating, consider doing this. Not only does it give a soft, deliberate declaration of the Gothic era, but it is also a beautiful finish for your home.
It may be best to contact a contractor for this aspect of redecoration. Just as beautiful as these moldings are, they are also complicated to install perfectly.
Boss architecture
It may sound strange at first, however, boss architecture is a knob or protrusion of stone or wood. This normally signifies vaulted ceilings and ornately carved decorations.
In the medical and Victorian eras, this form of architecture was normally signified through angelic statues and gargoyles. However, for your Gothic remodeling, you may find you don’t want to have extreme architecture.
So, think about installing vaulted ceilings as a happy medium. These may be the perfect way to incorporate boss architecture into your home without being overbearing. If you do decide to incorporate vaulted ceilings into your Gothic-inspired home, a Groin Vault from Archways & Ceilings is an excellent option. Groin vaults peaked in popularity in medieval times, but they have seen quite the resurgence as of late. You’ll find groin vaulted ceilings in some of the most popular cathedrals and churches around the world, from the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan, Italy, to Charlemagne’s Palatine Chapel in Aachen, Germany.
Wood Finished Groin Vault by Archways & Ceilings
Gothic décor
When remodeling your home, you may not want to do any heavy renovating. The good news is, you can add a Gothic element to your home through the décor.
Gothic décor is dramatic, dark, and elegant. You can bring this in by adding curved furniture, finished off with velvet materials. Use heavy fabrics that feature elaborate patterns.
Moreover, you can liven up your Gothic décor with bold and dramatic colors that tie in with your home palette.
Lighting
Gothic Revival homes are all about shadows and rays of light. When the Gothic Revival home style was popular, LED lights were not around. Homes were covered in candles casting dramatic light and shadow on the wall.
You can recreate this in your home by adding tungsten lights that hang in a large, wrought iron chandelier.
Final Thoughts on Gothic Revival Homes
The Gothic Revival era is a playhouse for elegance and drama. When remodeling your home in the Gothic Revival style, add as many arches and bold dramatic decorations as you want.
However, unless you want a haunted look, make sure to balance your home’s décor and color. The Gothic Revival era is characterized through drama, however, it is grounded in elegance. These tips should help you incorporate the Gothic Revival style into your home in the ways you choose.
If you need assistance on how to incorporate any Gothic Revival design elements into your home, don't hesitate to contact a pro at Archways & Ceilings for advice on how to bring your design dreams a reality.