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Dead Inside, Decorated Outside: Embracing Dark Humour in Your Home Decor

Updated: Aug 10

A black, gothic wall plaque with an ornate silver baroque style border. The plaque has silver text in a gothic font in the middle that reads 'dead inside, decorated outside'

Not everyone wants their home to be a cutesy farmhouse or beige abyss; some of us prefer more of a ‘live, laugh, toaster bath’ aesthetic. If you thrive on sarcasm, self-deprecation, and deadpan design, welcome home…


Dark humour (also known as black comedy) is a style of humour that centres around subjects considered taboo, morbid or distressing. However, instead of making light of suffering, dark humour often exists as a window into the human condition; it points out the hypocrisy and cruelty of society and life itself, using irony, wit and satire to create laughter in the face of darkness.


At House of Persephone, we do dark humour in a lighter shade - think Wednesday Addams and her one liners - to provide decor that’s darkly humorous, but really harmless. By turning dark humour into home decor, not only can you express your personality, but your guests can get a laugh from it too.


A black, rectangular gothic wall plaque with white text in a gothic font that reads 'my taste in decor is as bleak as my soul'

There are many reasons why dark humour resonates with us in the way it does. From coping mechanisms, to raw honesty, and reclaiming power, it allows us to communicate difficult subjects in a way that feels more manageable. 


By incorporating dark humour into your decor, you can turn your home into a space that’s truly and unapologetically yours. It reminds you (and lets your guests know) that you aren’t afraid to be honest, unconventional, or just a bit strange. Hints of dark humour in your gothic gallery add depth and layers to your decor - and a well placed plaque is a great icebreaker. 


What constitutes ‘dark humour’ ultimately comes down to your own taste, but at House of Persephone it’s pretty tame. The phrases that adorn our decor - such as ‘thriving on despair’ or ‘wake me for the apocalypse’ - are a sprinkle of darker humour that most anyone will find funny and inoffensive. In the spirit of our bestselling ‘a little morbidity goes a long way’ plaque, that truly is the ethos here.


A black, rectangular gothic wall plaque, with white text in a gothic font that reads 'a little morbidity goes a long way'

When it comes to displaying your dark humour decor, we like to get attention fast. Making sure it’s visible in your entryway is not only a great way for you to return home, but also to let your guests know the vibe of what they’re walking into. 


The main home of wall decor for many of us though, is our beautifully curated, gothic maximalist galleries. These are typically found in the living room, but you may have extended your collection further into your home. Most of what you’ll find at House of Persephone will fit seamlessly into your gallery walls, offering some comic relief in between your beautiful oddities. Depending on how creative you are, you can make use of our customisable signs to create phrases for any room - hello ‘live, laugh, toaster bath’ on the bathroom wall.


Maybe you’re not here for you. Maybe you’ve stumbled upon this blog in an attempt to understand a friend or family member who likes to live on the darker side of life. Whether you're after deadpan decor for yourself, or as a gift for someone more strange and unusual, there is an abundance of suitable ideas ready and waiting for you….



Remember, your home should reflect who you are - and if who you are is 80% sarcasm and 20% despair, then you’re in the right place.

 
 
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