Designing Your Home in the Dark Academia Aesthetic

Do you love the vibe of walking into a vintage library, a 100-year-old office, or a historic schoolhouse? Then the dark academia design style might be the perfect choice for your home. This dark, moody, and ultra-cozy design style combines rich textures and deep jewel tones with quality furnishings and historical design elements to create a space that’s inviting, relaxing, and absolutely perfect for new and historic homes alike. 

What is the Dark Academia Design Aesthetic? 

The dark academia design style draws its look from classic literature and scholarly atmospheres. It’s the hallowed halls of the ivy leagues or the iconic aesthetic of Hogwarts. Dark colors, vintage elements, and academic details combine in a maximalist way to create a space that’s comfortable, inviting, and a constant treat for the eye.  

Key Elements to the Dark Academia Design Style 

When it comes to dark design, a moody color palette is a jumping-off point, but it’s far from the only design element in the space. If you’ve always been drawn to movies and spaces that utilize this style well, create the look in your own space by incorporating each of the key elements to the dark academia design style. 

Color Palettes 

Dark and moody is the vibe for this interior design style, with an emphasis on rich jewel tones. Crimson, hunter green, navy blue, saturated teal, and warm khaki are just a couple of the hues frequently seen in dark academia designs. You get to determine how you want to use these hues. Use them for furnishings, walls, even ceilings if you’re feeling a little bit daring. 

Rich Textures  

Enhance visual interest in the design by combining an array of different textures. Velvet fabrics are a favorite within dark academia designs, often featured as upholstery on furnishings, the material of curtains, and the fabric of choice for accent pillows, or the pile of a plush accent rug.  

Natural leathers with a worn-in aesthetic are also a classic choice. When you’re choosing the fabrics for the space, don’t hesitate to mix and match different textures with window coverings, rugs, upholstery, and other soft elements. 

Traditional Furnishings 

These spaces call on the timeless beauty of traditional furnishings, often with ornate details, such as engraved flourishes along the wood elements or intricately detailed hardware. You can purchase true antiques to fill the space or look for new pieces that are of high quality, strong materials.  

Don’t try to get it all in one place or it will look too coordinated. You want to feature a mixture of different upholstery options, woods, and even metals in the space to achieve the look that the elements were collected over a period of time. This is a great way to incorporate heirloom family pieces into your decor, along with new pieces that reflect your personal style. 

Natural Elements 

Dark academia spaces frequently utilize natural elements as visual interest and décor. There’s often a heavy focus on potted plants and hanging plants, especially incorporated into bookcases, and sitting areas. Antlers, fur rugs, and natural wood, stone, and rock accents are a great way to bring a bit of that moody, woodsy feel into your finished space. Bring that nature into the foundation of the space with hardwood flooring or consider adding wood beams to the ceiling. 

Vintage Decor with a Touch of Academia 

When it comes to styling this space, it’s all about visual interest and incorporating little curiosities throughout the room. Often, these accessories are academia related. Consider featuring maps, globes, historical artwork, vintage books, and plenty of family heirlooms and relics throughout the space. This is definitely not a minimalist aesthetic, so feel free to have some fun with it.  

Adjustable Lighting 

That dark and moody look often means low lighting, but that isn’t always practical. First, look for light fixtures with dark finishes and a shade around the bulb for more of a filtered effect. Second, try looking for lighting that is adjustable in intensity so you can channel the dark academia mood when you want and brighten things up for important tasks when it’s required. Providing layers of lighting, including overhead lighting, wall sconces, and lamps will help complete the look. 

Create a Cozy Atmosphere 

One of the best parts about this design style is that these spaces are just calling for you to curl up in a comfortable seat with a steaming cup of tea or coffee and perhaps your favorite books. Creating an atmosphere that’s cozy and promotes relaxation is all about incorporating little soft indulgences into the design. Drape the back of a chair with an ultra-soft blanket. Make sure there are plenty of plush accent pillows, and perhaps even center the room around a fireplace. 

Where to Use the Dark Academia Design Aesthetic 

Because it is rooted in academia, this dark look is often associated with home offices, libraries, and studies, but this style certainly isn’t limited to those spaces. The same elements can be used in bathrooms, kitchens, dining spaces, living areas, and even a home theater.  

Dark Bathroom Designs 

Bathrooms are a great place to take advantage of the warm, cozy, and relaxing vibe of this design style. Dark and textural wall tiles, wood vanities showcasing a natural wood grain, and aged brass bathroom hardware are all you need to get started. You can even opt for freestanding tubs with colorful exterior finishes. 

Moody Kitchens 

Colorful cabinets are a great way to bring a moody aesthetic into your kitchen design. Navy, hunter green, olive green, black, and dark gray are just a couple of the many finishes you can choose for your kitchen cabinets. From there, layer in dark stone or butcher block countertops, a back splash with plenty of texture, and some dramatic pendant lights. If you have an eat-in kitchen or a countertop area, choose wood chairs and barstools to bring that deep wood grain into the design. 

Dramatic Dining Rooms 

If you love dark, romantic restaurants, bringing that dark academia design style into your formal dining room or eat-in kitchen area may be a great fit for your home. Choose a dark wood or black dining table at the foundation. On the walls, you can go with a deep wall paint, or you can play with pattern, color, and texture by choosing a damask, stripe, or slightly gothic wallpaper for the space. A large chandelier with dimmable bulbs over the dining table will help to set the tone for the space. Include a China hutch or buffet where you can showcase any vintage plates or China sets. 

Luxuriously Dark Living Areas 

When designing a living space in this design aesthetic, the key is soft, comfortable, traditional seating and plenty of it. Button-tufted sofas, leather armchairs, and plush ottomans are all a popular choice. Try combining inviting conversation areas with little reading nooks where you can curl up with a good book. The living area should also contain at least one bookcase filled with books, trinkets, and perhaps a photo frame or two. 

Infuse the Space with Personality 

The key to making any design style your own is to add items that are personal to your hobbies and interests. Now that you understand the fundamental elements of the dark academia design aesthetic, come up with fun ways to introduce trinkets and decorative elements that reflect your own history and the history of your ancestors in your home. This can be done with photography, furniture, lighting, textiles, and family heirlooms. Have a little fun with it and throw in a couple pieces that may be conversation starters with people visiting your home.