A woman has shared the quirky decor her gothic mum has around her home – including coffins – but says people often call her “evil”.
Kalila Matthews has grown up with the attitude to embrace her own style and passions – no matter what anybody else thinks.
The mantra came from her mum, who is an avid lover of gothic culture, decor and clothing; even going by the name “Goth Mum”.
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For the 23-year-old, this has meant being brought up surrounded by black and dark items, including framed bugs and animals, as well as upcycled coffins.
But not everyone agrees with the lifestyle choice, with her mum, 41, and her family often being called “evil”.
“My family finds beauty in things others consider dark,” Kalila, an AV technician and camera operator, told What’s The Jam.
“Being goth or alternative and liking the colour black doesn’t mean you’re evil – it’s just a different perspective on life.
“With the coffins, many people think we plan on using them to bury ourselves in for when we pass.
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“But mum is giving them a new life and turning them into something brand new.
“We’ve had a teenager bark at us before and one time, a child said some horrible stuff to us.
“Although, there are many people who compliment my mum on her makeup and style, with them telling us how much they love her outfits.
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“Sometimes, children point at us and say: ‘Those people look so cool’ to their parents.”
Kalila, from Brisbane, Australia, says while her mum has always been gothic, it’s only been within the last six years that she has begun to freely express herself.
She said: “When I was growing up, we didn’t have much gothic decor in the house, but as I got older, mum grew into her style.
“I’ve never thought it was odd, as everyone has their own aesthetic.
“Walking through her house sometimes feels like being in a museum.
“It’s been a slow process of collecting items over many years and saving money for weeks to be able to afford a gothic treat.
“Her passion to create a space where she can express her creativity has inspired me to be comfortable within my own interests.
“She’s always told me to be true to myself.”
In a bid to share her mum’s lifestyle, Kalila posted a video on TikTok showing aspects of her home – racking up 1.3 million views and 120,000 likes.
She asks her mum: “What’s the creepiest thing you own?”
While dressed in all-black, they walk into a room and unveil multiple coffins – costing $100 (AUD) (£51) each – with fake skeletons inside and on top.
Kalila explains that they will later be turned into a bookshelf, storage for Halloween props and a coffee table.
Users have flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many people jealous of her mum.
“I want to be that mum to my kids and it’s hard to be cool like this,” one person said.
Someone else added: “Those look so comfy to just chill out in tho fr fr.”
“No because I thought you meant he got them for them to go in when they [die],” Meg commented.
Another user added: “I had one but I had to throw it away cause it make my house haunted.”
“Coolest mum in the planet,” someone else said.
Miki added: “Ahhh I want to paint it black and sleep in it,” to which Kalila replied: “The best night sleep.”
With Halloween coming up, the family are now preparing themselves to welcome over 400 trick or treaters at their door.
They spend a full day setting up their home, with props and animatronics encompassing their front lawn.
From 5-9pm, they will be non-stop handing out sweets – and giving kids, as well as adults, the fright of their lives.
Kalila added: “I love that she isn’t afraid to dress up and look nice, even if she’s just going to town.
“Because of her, I’ve pushed myself to dress up more and not feel ashamed or care about what other people think.
“I’ll never be ashamed of my mum, as she’s my inspiration.”
