How to Style With A Moody Palette

We’ve heard that there’s a word for it—

—whimsigoth is what TikTok describes as a combination of whimsical and gothic, originally coined by architectural designer, Evan Collins. “Moody, sort of dark, but still weirdly playful,” he described the trend. Our favorite part of this design trend is the fact that it takes romanticism to a more sophisticated level, adding in elements reminiscent of Dutch master painters and a whole lot of Tim Burton. Though inherently dark, there’s a distinct feministic tone, flipping the notion that feminine equals girlie. Full of bold color choices, this is a trend we see sticking around for a while. Here, a few tips on how to achieve it in your own home, if even just temporarily on a holiday tablescape.

Tip No. 01 | Go Dark

Tip No. 02 | Layer Textures

Tip No. 03 | Natural Accents

Tip No. 01 | Go Dark

The defining element of the whimsigoth trend is a dark, jewel tone color palette—think crimson and warm amber, emerald green and amethyst, worn gold and ruby. And of course, lots of black. Lean into extra-saturated shades but to keep it sophisticated, have a base of ebony or onyx or an inky grey. Or, to put it simply, imagine walking into a Victorian-era apothecary and channel that. One is not to forget the whimsy side of this trend though. Accomplish this through elegant, playful patterns and airy, Tim Burton-esque florals.

Tip No. 02 | Rich Textures 

Rich velvets and black lace, time-worn leather and vintage wood, saturated silks and heavy weaves—these are the material makings of the whimsigoth trend. Nearly every tactile element is dipped in nostalgia, creating an edgy vibe that’s reminiscent of 1990s Stevie Nicks.

Tip No. 03 | Natural Accents

There is a distinct element of nature in the whimsigoth design trend, whether it be moody florals and branches or flickering candlelight. Trailing plants or draped garland elicit lush romanticism and is there anything more fancicful than a display of candles? Choose dark-hued ones, like black or a combination of creams and burgundy, and bundle them in a delicate, Old-World candelabra, or have a spread of tealights encompassing the room.