Halloween may be scary but its style is distinctly gothic-chic. Conjure a spook-tacular style using fashionable black and hints of silver. You'll have a room that's a definite treat and will be the envy of visiting spirits!
By Gabrielle Fagan
Halloween's a celebration of the darker side of life - where witches and ghosties abound and homes are eerily lit by the glow of orange pumpkins.
But while black clothes, drapes and trick or treat accessories are only for one scary night a year, you could be brave and take inspiration from this 'spooktacular' style and really embrace the power of black for a more lasting, striking effect.
Black, according to interiors specialists, is back on the decor menu as we seek spaces that not only look luxurious but dramatic.
Some designers are even flirting with the gothic style and featuring that ultimate haunting image, a skull, on new ranges of upholstered black furniture and wallcoverings.
"For a long time black's been associated with angst ridden teenagers and funeral parlours," says Alan Hughes director of the Inchbald School of Interior Design, "but recently it's started to find favour again as a classy, decadent choice.
"People generally are losing their fear of strong, dark colours because over the last few years they've become accustomed to the trend for more powerful shades and vibrant pattern in the home. So black's return is the natural next step.
And, he points out, that black can be used in many ways - by taking an elegant Art Deco approach, following the hugely popular monochrome fashion or adopting a more funky, chic look.
Black, monochrome and rich almost black-brown is a significant trend this winter agrees Fionnuala Johnston, Design Coordinator at B&Q.
"Our bestsellers at the moment are bold black-based statement wallpapers with accent colours so the effect's not too dominating," she says. "Team those with a rich mix of sumptuous, luxury fabrics in different textures, or a combination of rich cream set against the dramatic black for stunning room."
For added glamour, she suggests using luxurious black velvet for throws, bedspreads or cushions, creating shine and glitter with sleek chrome lighting or black nickel lamp bases, and adding accessories such as a glossy black rug and a mixture of black and metallic effect cushions.
So make this Halloween an excuse to create rooms with bewitching style by following our guide to clever design 'tricks' and choosing from our selection of interior 'treats'.
:: Be bold with black
House Beautiful's style editor, Charlotte Boyd gives her advise on using black in a scheme.
To create a high quality black wall, she says that experts will avoid applying black emulsion paint and instead use a base colour like a deep red or green. Then they'll layer black tinted lacquer on top so that the effect looks rich and glossy rather than dull and dense.
Charlotte suggests using wallpaper rather than paint on walls, as this will add an interesting element of pattern, whereas an expanse of painted wall will result in a block of flat colour.
"For a pretty floral design consider Sanderson's new A Painter's Garden collection. Grandiflora is a big floral ideal for creating a feature wall, and comes in ebony with gold, £37 a roll. Alternatively, Rosalie, a more traditional floral in ebony with thyme, is £34 a roll," she says.
B&Q's damask Zhivago wallpaper in black, £16.98 a roll would work well on wall borders or as a feature wall.
Alternatively, Charlotte suggests, painting walls in off-white or pale stone and add elements of black with curtain and upholstery fabrics.
"Brinton's Earth Plaid carpet from the Pure Living Collection is a neutral black and checked design, which would suit a chic dining area or stylish home office," she says.
"Make Roman blinds or big soft cushions, and don't be afraid to mix a few contrasting patterns together."
Black flooring can look smart but, she warns, will show every speck of dirt, and it's wiser choose a patterned design to disguise fluff.
"Harlequin's Isnik collection has Moorish-inspired patterns, ideal for a smart contemporary room," she adds.
:: Rooms with spirit
Decor witches who love something a little different will appreciate the witty twist taken by iconic Sixties fashion designer, Barbara Hulanicki. She's featured a repeating skull design for a wallpaper in her new flock collection.
"I love the almost shock element that you don't instantly see the skull design unless you really look at the paper. I wanted to give flock a distinct modern twist - the old Victorian flocked wallpaper has a fond memory for me from my Biba days when wallpaper was a very important product in our household department. This new range encapsulates humour, style and versatility," she says
Skulls in Midnight paper, £60 per roll is from Graham & Brown. Paula Taylor, colour specialist says the Skulls paper and the other dark papers in the collection are attracting huge attention.
"Like the ubiquitous little black dress, black is still very much on-trend for interiors. It's a great tool for adding texture and depth to a room, especially if used to juxtapose matte against high gloss.
"It can also look striking if used with metallics and vibrant colours, such as hot pink, or orange, to give a space a sophisticated finish."
Just as dramatic as Barbara's papers is the Skullduggery fabric used on chairs and lampshades by Georgina Brett Chinnery at interiors specialists, Bombarock. "We're finding people love it as a refreshing alternative to florals, especially as just one piece makes a real statement in a room. It's also popular with men who want style without fuss," she says.
A tub chair, from Bombarock, featuring the cotton fabric imprinted with white skulls on a black background is £495, a bespoke French chair with the fabric, starts from £625, and a Standard lamp shade from £425.
:: Black is back
Test your desire for a little black magic by experimenting with black painted or lacquered furniture. Alan Hughes advises: "Ebony framed furniture with a soft natural cream, sable or mid-brown upholstery has a much lighter presence. Think the Art Deco style of cruise liners."
Charlotte Boyd suggests looking at Laura Ashley's Henshaw furniture collection which has a slightly distressed, antique finish that gives a softer feel.
"Team with red patterned fabrics and rich scarlet upholstery for a fresh take on an Eastern theme."
Black works particularly well in bedrooms where it can give a sanctuary a rich, slightly mysterious vampy feel, and Next's bedding range includes a highly desirable, Diamante black bed linen set from £50, cushions £15, and throw £100. A black Helena table lamp, £35, could be the ideal finishing touch.
"A black glass chandelier adds a dramatic focal point in a hallways. For instance the Black five-light chandelier from the Inspire collection at Argos, is a bargain at £54.99. Another good buy, would be an oval Kildare mirror from OKA, hung above a fireplace as a finishing touch," says Charlotte
:: Spooky style
It's fun to enter into the spirit of Halloween night by indulging in fun accessories, and most of the supermarkets and high street stores have good selections to please those little witches and ghosts.
Try Matalan's clever light up pumpkin faces, £15, Asda's champagne flutes whose bases resemble skeleton hands, and its gothic style chandelier, or a Pumpkin lantern garland, £3, www.very.co.uk.
But if you're a grown up fan of the black, gothic theme John Lewis has an excellent range that's simply too good to use just for one night. I particularly like its Halloween tealight tree complete with spiders web, £15, and Andrew Martin's elegant black candlesticks, £39 for two.
You could make a feature with Argos' black and white chandelier candle set, £14.99, and team it with a black silhouette mantel clock, £12 from Matalan, and an Eliza Gilt mirror, £99 from John Lewis to create your own sanctuary with haunting appeal.
Add some fashionable metallic, again too attractive for one use only, with a silver pumpkin vase, £5.99, or a trio of small silver pumpkins, from £4.99, all from HomeSense. It also has a large spiders web candlestick, £9.99.
:: Little black book
Argos: www.argos.com
Asda: www.asda.com
B&Q: www.diy.com
Bombarock: 07958 611 910/www.bombarock.co.uk
The Contemporary Home: www.tch.net
Graham & Brown: 0800 328 8452/www.grahamandbrown.com
HomeSense: www.homesense.com
John Lewis: 08456 049 049/www.johnlewis.com
Matalan: www.matalan.com
Next: www.next.co.uk
Very: www.very.co.uk
Upcoming:
Oct 29: INTERIORS Books: Books can transform a room, but the last thing you want is them cluttering the space especially if an influx of Xmas visitors is looming. We check out the best ways to display and store books.
November 5: INTERIORS Purple: Purples reign supreme in interiors this season, and reflecting a variety of rich warm shades from plum through to rich berry colours will ensure rooms look grand all winter.
