| There are a lot of people who'd like to decorate their | | | | these days, so stock up - candlelight is much better |
| house or flat in a Gothic style but don't know where | | | | than naturing light. |
| to start. Not everyone wants to go the whole way | | | | - Red velvet - real velvet is pretty expensive, but |
| and paint the entire place black, but would like to just | | | | there are cheap alternatives you can buy to drape |
| decorate one room - like their bedroom. | | | | over the lounge to give it a luxurious feel without |
| It's not too hard to give your house a Gothic | | | | breaking the bank. |
| makeover by following a few simple rules. | | | | - Skulls - avoid real human skulls! As much as you'd |
| Making it black | | | | like one, it's just not worth the trouble. Try your local |
| Painting the entire room black is probably the ultimate | | | | novelty store for some great skulls. |
| step, but unless you own the house, I really wouldn't | | | | - Skeleton Ashtray - if you smoke, a skeleton |
| suggest this as your landlord will have a fit. | | | | ashtray makes a great accessory. Again, try a |
| However, if you own any of your own furniture, you | | | | novelty store, or even an alternative smoke shop. |
| can paint it with a black gloss paint. Pine and | | | | - Bookends - keep your eyes open for some resin |
| chipboard furniture is cheap and easily painted - just | | | | bookends in the shape of skeletons or skulls - they're |
| make sure you put a drip-sheet down so you don't | | | | not that hard to find. |
| ruin the carpet. Just put a few coats of paint on the | | | | - Posters - once upon a time, you'd put up a Cure |
| furniture and it'll be ready for holding your gothic | | | | poster with Robert Smith looking down on you, but |
| decorations. | | | | these days you'd go for something like a Twilight |
| Add a few splashes of red paint too if you're feeling | | | | poster. For a classier look, see if you can find some |
| inclined - a few blood-like drips go a long way. | | | | retro Vampire or Vincent Price movie posters! |
| Decorations | | | | Going all out to create the ultimate Gothic look |
| There are some simple but effective decorations | | | | - A real Coffin - this is pretty expensive, but you'll be |
| that can help style the house: | | | | the only one of your friends to have one. |
| - Cobwebs - not real cobwebs, but you can get | | | | - Lamps - if you can afford it, there are an number |
| stretchy cheesecloth material, make a few holes in it | | | | of amazing designer lamps from more upmarket |
| and pin it up in the corners to make a giant | | | | alternative stores. |
| spiderweb. Or you can use fake stretchable cobweb | | | | - Coffin Pool Table - Casket Furniture make a coffin |
| material from fancy dress shops. Another cheap | | | | shaped pool table. Don't be afraid to search at |
| option is to use old fishnet stockings with plenty of | | | | secondhand places - you can find some excellent |
| ladders in them. | | | | decorations very cheap. Or if you have a few dollars |
| - Candelabras - these can range from a few dollars | | | | to spend, check out any of the online Halloween |
| to hundreds of dollars. If you're on a budget, you can | | | | stores for hundreds of great decorations. |
| often pick them up very cheaply at Opportunity | | | | The secret is to use your imagination - stick to the |
| Shops or the local second-hand markets. Don't worry | | | | basic colors - black, red or even purple, do some |
| if they've still got wax on them - you won't be | | | | shopping at the local markets and don't be afraid to |
| cleaning it off in a hurry! | | | | try different things - after all, part of it making your |
| - Candles - what good is a candelabra without | | | | space individual. |
| candles. It's very easy to find red and black candles | | | | |