Whimsigoth: The witchy interiors trend all over TikTok
A mix of 'whimsical' and 'goth', the whimsigoth look is edgy, grungy and lived-in, incorporating moody hues and opulent finishes – and it's racking up a staggering 61 million posts (and counting) on TikTok.
What is whimsigoth?
Picture a terraced Victorian house in the throes of a chilly and wet autumn. Inside, the furniture is plush; upholstered in archival fabrics and piled high with velvet throws. There's Tiffany lamps, celestial artwork, mahogany bookcases, unruly botanicals and tufted Persian rugs. Welcome to the whimsigoth aesthetic.
If we're to compare it to any other micro trend, think dark academia if it took a tarot-reading class. Trending on TikTok, the style has taken on a life of its own, with the growing interest in maximalist design and mysticism broadening its appeal.
Whimsigoth was originally coined in 2020 by Evan Collins, co-founder of Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute. It was used to describe decor emerging in the late 80s and early 90s that was 'moody, sort of dark, but weirdly playful'. Evan went on to categorise similar research under 'whimsical mystical gothic celestial', eventually shortening this to whimsigoth.
The archetypal whimsigoth house can be seen in Practical Magic, a 1998 film adaptation of Alice Hoffman's novel. A cult classic for New Age witches and astrology TikTokers alike, the set was dreamed up by iconic design studio Roman & Williams, with dark velvet curtains and heritage floral walls in the parlour and oak panelling in the hallway. Most notable is the herbarium: overrun with houseplants and apothecary-style jars of dried herbs and tinctures. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman concoct spells and potions surrounded by shabby, vintage furniture. The crown jewel is a giant Tiffany pendant suspended from the high, vaulted ceilings.
Similarly, Anna Biller's 2016 indie film, The Love Witch, offers a more modern take on the trend. Imitating the 1960s technicolour, Anna designed the scheme of her protagonist's home in colours plucked from a tarot deck: lurid jewel tones of ruby, royal purple and sapphire. With its dark, antique furniture, stained glass details and kitschy Wiccan artwork, the interiors feel like a whimsigoth fantasy.
How to get the whimsigoth look
Beloved by trailblazing women such as Helena Bonham-Carter, Florence Welch and Lisa Bonet, being a whimsigoth is ultimately about artistic bravery and being true to oneself. Despite being theatrical and ostentatious in many ways, you can even look to the high street to infuse this personality-filled trend into your home.
Mix and match nature-inspired patterns
Moody blooms and grungy botanicals are the best way to bring a dark maximalist kick to a whimsigoth scheme. Invest in wallpaper, curtains and soft furnishings in your favourite archive prints – and don't be afraid to clash, or be too matchy-matchy. The layering will add to a sense of whimsical abandon. We reckon House of Hackney are the authority on this one – a quick scroll through their Instagram feed is a good reminder that layering florals never goes out of style.
Vary your furniture
In the era of Facebook Marketplace and Vinterior, it's easier than ever to deck out your home with striking and idiosyncratic pieces of furniture. Paula Taylor, head stylist and trend specialist at Graham & Brown, notes: 'The whimsigoth trend comes from a desire to be individual and channel a dream-like escapism with a dark and magical twist.' Combine secondhand finds with upcycled pieces from your home. A lick of paint, such as Graham & Brown's 'Damson in Distress' on an old stool could add a revelatory jewel-toned pop.
Layer soft furnishings in different textures
Velvet has always been a core component in witchy wardrobes and homes, but the whimsigoth style in particular relies on it to soften the edges that make traditional gothic style overly abrasive for most rooms. The same goes for the fringes, frills and flounce often seen in beloved whimsigoth interiors. Invest in throws, blankets and quilts of varying weights for a cosy, plush vibe on your sofa, then style it with an enormous, nubbly rug. If you have a furry friend like Pearl Lowe's dog Doris (below), they'll probably love the cosiness too.
Use jewel tones in your palette
Amethyst, ruby, emerald and sapphire, as well as being beautiful stones, make a precious statement in the home. Bold colours in rich textures like velvet, satin and mohair will add to the whimsigoth look: whether you prefer bright, technicolour shades like in the The Love Witch, or darker, more traditionally gothic tones. Designer and dark palette advocate Arianna Danielson proves small spaces can handle jewel tones at their moodiest with her deliciously renovated plum bathroom below. If you're still a bit nervous, remember to incorporate metallic finishes to lift the palette, and consider shades of sage and lavender to soften their bejewelled counterparts.
Introduce celestial motifs
Celestial detailing is an easy way to mystify a space, and all without too much work. This can be as intensive or as subtle as you like: for a quick fix, a celestial candlestick or an astrological art print is a joyful way to incorporate the look. For those more committed, Fee Greening's Curios tiles feature delicate sun and moon illustrations that can be used in a bathroom, splashback or on their own as a pair of coasters. Below, it's layered with her similar Climbing Curios wallpaper for a more-is-more vibe.
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If you've ever pined after the home in Practical Magic or wished your mom would've let you dress like Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer growing up, then you're probably a fan of the whimsigothic style. The term, a portmanteau of whimsical and goth coined by Evan Collins, describes the moody aesthetic was initially popular in the late 1980s through the '90s (think Interview with the Vampire and Tim Burton), but it's currently making a comeback in the world of interior trends.
Dark spaces that are injected with humor and a bit of mystery are the essence of whimsigoth, says designer Blair Moore. With a heavy display of jewel tones mixed with soft pastels, the style isn't nearly as dramatic or dreary as fully goth—it has a notable playful element to it that helps balance out the seriousness. You can even find whites and creams interspersed in whimsigoth decor, just enough to add an ethereal element but not enough to feel airy and bright.
For more trending aesthetic inspiration:
"Whimsigoth gives people a way to infuse a little fantasy into their daily lives, with unique textures, eclectic pieces, and just enough mystery to keep things interesting," Inara Tirkkonen, an interior architect and the Art Team Lead at Redecor, tells House Beautiful. With the confirmation of a second Practical Magic movie, the release of spooky TV shows like Agatha All Along, and witchy icon Stevie Nicks trending (when is she not?), it's not at all surprising why this aesthetic is popular again.
Get all the details—and a curated shopping list—below.
The Design Elements that Make Up Whimsigoth Decor
Though there are different subsets of gothic style, you can safely assume that the main color used is black. With whimsigoth, that is not the case. You'll find a rich tapestry of jewel tones like emerald greens, midnight blues, and sumptuous burgundy paired with lighter hues like pale lavenders, misty grays, and creamy ivory, Moore says. The colors aren't so much the focus as the shades, which must be mostly dark with bits of light sprinkled throughout to create depth.
How you play with texture in whimsigoth decor is just as important as the general color scheme. A whimsigoth interior must be cozy yet mysterious, plush yet delicate, grand yet inviting. Velvet, lace, gilded accents, dark wood tones, aged and colored glass, antique brass, filtered light—all of these materials, textures, and layering elements help to envelop you in this enchanting style.
Whimsigoth is a maximalist aesthetic at its core, and it uses a collection of nature-inspired patterns along with saturated colors and layered textures to prove that. "Motifs weave throughout the design, from celestial patterns that evoke the mysteries of the night sky to intricate floral designs that bring a touch of nature’s whimsy indoors," Moore explains.
These three design pillars are used to tell a story, one filled with wonder, history, and fantasy. "Whimsigoth should make you feel a little bit like you’ve stepped into a dream, or maybe even an old storybook," Tirkkonen says. "It’s the kind of space that makes you want to stay a while, wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of tea."
Yes, Whimsigoth Is Different from Goth Style
A true goth aesthetic is more somber and macabre in its decor. Black monochromatic palettes and an eerie vibe with an emphasis on the dramatic and melancholic make up this style.
Whimsigoth, on the other hand, is where you get some variety in color and a bit of playfulness, according to Tirkkonen. It's less brooding and more curious, and there's a definite sense of fantasy that isn't present in goth. Though they're both dark and associated at least in part with witchcraft, whimsigoth isn't so heavy and brings more eclectic elements so "whimsy and darkness coexist in perfect harmony," Moore adds.
How to Style Whimsigoth in an Elevated Way
The whimsigoth aesthetic is not really something you can craft all at once—in that sense it's an example of "slow decorating." High-quality pieces, preferably vintage, are necessary to capture the ideal vibe. Whimsigoth tells a story, after all, and you can't really tell an enchanting story without a few statement and one-of-a-kind pieces. However, combining these antiques with modern touches keeps the space feeling fresh and more balanced.
As with any design aesthetic, you need harmony to create an elevated atmosphere, from lighting to textures to color. Turn off the big light and go with ambient and natural lighting instead to add depth and an inviting glow. Decorating with a lot of candles, ideally in antique candelabras, captures that ethereal and storied touch, especially as it flickers and reflects off all of the metallic accents you have in the room.
By layering lace and velvet as well as metal and wood, you're balancing richness with lightness. Too much velvet, for example, can get heavy; too much wood might come off as rustic.
Below, we've curated a list of pieces that perfectly capture the whimsigoth trend.
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