How to Decorate Dark Academia Style: A Dark and Moody Style
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DARK ACADEMIA! The name itself really characterizes the look. And I like that. It makes it simple.
The dark academia design style is a style that romanticizes education in the form of literary classics, letter writing, and the art movement. It views learning as something exciting provocative and mysterious.
It is expressed through its rich and moody color palette, gothic architecture, and nostalgic décor combined with a preppy twist.
Dark interiors have taken the design world by storm lately but I think a lot of us are a little hesitant to bring dark into our spaces. I think we all were so inundated with the white walls and the light color-upholstered furniture for so many years, ever since the advent of modern farmhouses and scandy.
We’re often told that light rooms are ideal and dark rooms are oppressive, they make your room look small, and make you sad.
But that is not all true and I want to teach you how you can bring dark into your space, specifically today we’re going to talk about dark academia.
If you have no idea what dark academia is, keep reading on because I’ll be giving some general tips as well on how to decorate with dark.
RELATED: Popular Interior Design Styles
How to Design DARK ACADEMIA Design Style; Key Features
Dark academia is a decorating style inspired by academic environments, intellectual pursuits, and classic literature. It is characterized by its cozy moody atmosphere and its dark color palette.
Dark academia seeks to create rooms that embrace a love for learning and knowledge while simultaneously channeling a moody, nostalgic gothic aesthetic with definite Hogwarts undertones.
These include features like old libraries or candlelit study rooms.
Dark Academia Color Palette
The first crucial element to perfect when creating a dark academia style room is, unsurprisingly, a dark color palette. After all, it isn’t called light academia.
RELATED: check out this post on light academia.
The foundation of this style is the dark sumptuous color palette of Benjamin Moore’s Black – of course in a satin finish, then there is Soot a rich deep charcoal, Gentleman’s Gray which is a blackened teal slash blue gray, Hidden Falls a muted forest green, and Wenge which is a deeply saturated earthy brown with an undertone of violet.
Other paint colors you can look to bring into a dark academia space are Deep Plums & Burgundies, Dark Greens, Dark Blues, Dark Greys & Charcoals, Rich Browns, and Black of course. These colors set the foundation for the moody vibe that defines dark academia.
As a General Tip;
If you are going dark, I strongly suggest carrying your dark paint onto the ceiling. If you’ve already painted and you are looking around and your room is still feeling like it’s lacking something or it’s a little boring, consider adding molding and trim work.
Wallpaper
Of course, besides paint, there’s always the option of wallpaper which is an excellent alternative.
Wallpapers are a great way of adding interest and pattern into your space. You can choose a dark floral, a damask, or some kind of dark botanical motif.
We’ll talk more about specific patterns that work well in dark academia rooms in a bit. If you can’t change your walls there are other ways you can bring dark into your room for example; your curtains, individual furniture pieces, cushions, and bedding.
These are all great options for adding dark tones to your room.
RELATED: How To Create The Perfect Bohemian Bedroom
Artwork
To bring your interior together you should of course have some artwork on display.
When it comes to wall décor choose timeless artwork like classical portraits, landscapes, and still life paintings to add depth and character to your walls. Chunky ornate gold frames are always a great touch in dark academia-themed rooms.
Of course, you don’t need to have original paintings as you can use prints as well.
If you want to emphasize the intellectual side of the dark academia style you could consider hanging blueprints of old buildings, vintage maps, and technical illustrations basically pictures that make you look smart.
And of course, mirrors are never a bad idea, again make sure they are in big ornate chunky gold frames.
Tip:
If your walls are feeling a little bit naked you could dress them up in a vintage style tapestry. Not only will it add a touch of history and culture to your space, but it’ll also bring in some additional warmth and texture.
→ To save you time and money you can purchase dark academia gallery wall prints in a park which makes it 10 times easier to decorate.
My top choices for creating a dark academia inspired interior are antique portraits, botanical prints, and celestial artwork.
I think that they’ll give an intellectual and old-world feel to your space.
RELATED: How To Create The Perfect Bohemian Bedroom
Paneling and molding
If you are looking for a more demure approach to wall décor, Victorian wall paneling might be the right fit.
I think that this is quite good for homes that are very modern because it automatically creates a nostalgic atmosphere.
Crown molding, picture rails, and decorative panels are all a huge park of dark academia and everything just tends to fall a little flat if you skip these details.
This is a pretty simple DIY project that can be done using wooden molding strips.
dark academia Textures and Materials
When looking at the materiality of the space in terms of soft texture, I think that it would be on brand to emulate fabrics found in preppy clothing such as corduroy, plaid or tartan, velvet, and tweed.
So look to using those textiles when picking furniture for your home.
Another important aspect of getting that academia vibe is to use textures and materials that feel incredibly rich and luxurious. This adds depth and tactile interest to the space.
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Consider incorporating materials like velvet which works great on sofas, chairs, and cushions, it really adds a luxurious atmosphere and feel.
Leather furniture especially vintage pieces can add an old-world charm to the space. Antique wooden furniture with intricate carvings or details fit really well with the traditional and intellectual vibe.
By combining these different textures and materials you can start to kind of create a multi-layered tapestry that is not only visually interesting but also interesting for your senses as well.
Books
To truly capture the essence of dark academia, incorporating books is essential. Otherwise, how can it be dark academia if you don’t have anything that’s related to learning?
Vintage, leather-bound books are particularly effective for this aesthetic. Here are several ways to showcase books in your space:
1. Classic Display on Bookshelves: Arrange your leather-bound books traditionally on bookshelves to create a scholarly atmosphere.
2. Creative Stacks: Embrace a more unstructured look by stacking books on sideboards, tables, or even the floor. This approach adds a sense of casual elegance and intellectual charm.
3. Decorative Arrangements: Use books as decorative elements. They can serve as bases for lamps, vases, or other ornaments, contributing to the maximalist, layered aesthetic typical of dark academia.
4. Scattered Displays: Place books throughout your space in an intentional yet relaxed manner. This can make the room feel lived-in and intellectually stimulating.
By integrating these elements, you can enhance the overall dark academia aesthetic
RELATED: Check out this post on light academia.
Bookshelves
Bookshelves represent the whole academia part of the dark academia style. They serve not only as storage for your cherished literary treasures but in general bookcases are a powerful design element that can help to round out a space when it feels like it’s missing something.
Bookcases also really help to add to that layered maximalist feel of dark academia décor.
Dark Academia Patterns
So we just touched patterns a moment ago but I wanted to go a little bit in depth for you here.
Some patterns that align with the dark academia aesthetic include; the mask which works well on wallpaper or even throw pillows, and Houndstooth we all know this pattern right? Plaid (aka tartan) is another dark academia pattern.
Paisley is another excellent choice. It’s got a nice floral organic feel to it for example; a dark-on-dark paisley would be great for a dark academia room.
And of course, you can bring in a beautiful intricate Persian rug to add some interest to your room.
If you can pull a color from your rug and use that on the wall it will help tie things together nicely, and that’s a tip that works well when you’re decorating with any style and not just dark academia.
Furniture
Now that we have established a color scheme and dressed the room with textiles, we can start to piece together the interior by adding furniture.
More than anything the dark academia aesthetic calls for woods. In particular dark woods such as mahogany walnut ebony dark teak or stained oak.
RELATED: How To Create The Perfect Bohemian Bedroom
The more elaborately carved furniture the truer your space will be in style.
Look for pieces in vintage shops, online, and in markets that have been made at another time in history. For example, Gothic entry storage benches, bookcases with glass casing, Victorian stationary organizers, worn coffee tables, chesterfield leather armchairs, and of course this wouldn’t be complete without a desk or writing bureau.
Look for pieces that ooze character.
Dark academia definitely is a kind of dark-on-dark look, so bring in darker wood pieces as opposed to lighter woods so that they don’t contrast too much with the dark wall color.
A statement piece of furniture can really anchor the dark academia look in your space.
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Remember that while antique and vintage pieces are key, if you don’t want to go the whole nine yards you can always mix in a few more modern pieces to kind of balance out the look a bit.
And of course, if you have existing furniture that you really like but doesn’t really maybe match the color scheme, you can paint it darker and it will save you a lot of money too.
Lighting Options for dark academia
Dark academia is all about creating a cozy atmosphere, I think that’s part of the reason it is so popular right now as a decorating style.
Lighting plays a crucial role in achieving a warm and inviting ambiance. To create the perfect dark academia style, focus on warm lighting options. Choose warm-toned light bulbs rather than cool ones, as warm light creates a cozy and intimate feel that aligns well with the aesthetic.
Candles are a hallmark of the dark academia. Use real candles and candle holders or for safety opt for the fake kind that flickers. Also, you can use lamps with shades as the shades diffuse the light nicely, or add sconces.
Place candles on tables, mantels, window sills, or wall sconces for a flickering and cozy effect.
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For decorative lighting, chamber stick candle holders are hands down the top item. I think of them when thinking about a dark academia room, perfect for reading under candlelight or adding to the dark academia ambiance.
Regarding task lighting, which is the lighting that will be used for the majority of the time within the space, ornate chandeliers or aged wall sconces will not only add to the drama but also be practical for every use.
→ Tip;
To create moody lighting, it’s key that you choose dimmable bulbs, that way you can achieve a shadowy cozy interior with ease.
Plants
For the horticulturalists, I want to mention some plants and flowers to dress your space.
On the interior, flowers in amber vases or old apothecary bottles help to time the golden beige sepia tones of dark academia, roses, baby’s breath, and dried thistles are just some examples of how to piece this bouquet together.
Dark Academia Décor Pieces & Accessories
Finally, accessories are what will get you across the finish line.
If you want to build on the mystique of the space and bring those mysterious vibes even more involve gemstones and crystals in the mix. (The Harry pottification of the style if you will😉.)
RELATED: Check out this post on light academia.
More general items to bring this scheme together would be
- Vintage sewing machines
- Globes
- Decorative bookends
- Greek busts or plinths
- Vintage tea sets in a dark color preferably
- Telescopes
- Military spheres
- brass photo frames
- glass clothes with trinkets inside
- antique clocks
- gilded mirrors
- vintage writing desks
- Typewriters
However, I should probably say that if you’re personally into this lifestyle and aesthetic, choose to highlight your hobbies as home décor pieces. Let me explain, sometimes with this aesthetic I see people throwing all kinds of interesting items associated with dark academia into their interior.
But isn’t this lifestyle about exploring cultural and educational passions that you love yourself?
Chances are if you love this aesthetic you probably already have a hobby that you love. So rather than pick a random assortment of objects that look dark academia-ish, select and highlight your favorite pieces instead.
Maybe if you love writing in which case buy a vintage typewriter. Of course reading can be highlighted with a decadent bookcase, or if painting is your voice, you could create a small art studio space to express your love for it.
Sprinkle these accessories throughout your space to achieve that perfect dark academia vibe. Because an alley of curios will allow you to add your own touch while creating intrigue.