How to Get the Dark Academia Look in Your Home

Select Dark and Dramatic Paint Colors

Now is not the time to shy away from bold, dramatic hues. When choosing paint colors for a dark academia-themed room, think, well, dark. This stately blue, Benjamin Moore’s Old Navy, adds depth in a calm, assured way—especially when used in large doses, like wall-to-wall bookcases in an office or library space.

You don’t need a bonus room worthy of a headmaster’s office to incorporate the trend into your home, though. “The look can translate into virtually any room, but is best executed in an area that is not an open floor plan,” Solis says. “A library, living room, or bathroom are all great spaces to achieve this look.”

No Library? No Problem

Even if your home doesn't have an office or library space. that doesn't mean you have to skip the look altogether. "Just because you're not drowning in leather-bound books doesn't mean you can't channel Nevermore Academy or Hogwarts in your own home," interior designer Bethany Adams shares with us.

Instead, consider making a big impression in a modest and often overlooked space, like an entryway or a hallway. That's what Adams did here. "A small space like an entryway is crying out for a dark color to give that same sense of intimacy that a moody library would," she says. "Guests will naturally seek to pass through to the lighter, larger spaces beyond where the magic can truly begin."

Lighten the Mood With Unexpected Artwork

It can be tempting to give dark wood a makeover, but to fully embrace the dark academia look, put down the paintbrush.

“Wooden libraries and offices often get painted over, but there's something so handsome, stately, and timeless about a mahogany library,” Claire Staszak, owner of Centered by Design, says. To lighten the mood without white-washing the walls, she added a cheeky wink to the space through unconventional artwork.
 
“We kept this space from feeling too serious with a large horse portrait, which is a quirky play on a more traditional portrait you might have seen at one time,” Staszak says. “Sometimes, flipping a traditional idea on its head can give a room its own personality and make it more memorable.”

Invest In Showstopping Window Coverings

So rarely do we recommend blocking natural light, but it’s essential for the dark academia look. In this living area, Solis employed floor-to-ceiling window treatments to filter sunshine, which creates a warm wash of red over the space. Any room with lower ceilings can easily lean into the cozy, warm vibes needed for dark academia, whether a powder bathroom decked out with dark-toned tile or a bedroom painted in a monochromatic paint (navy or espresso-colored, perhaps) covering all four walls and the ceiling.

Pull Inspiration From Literature and Libraries

Interior designer Anna Booth has plenty of ideas of where to look for dark academia inspiration—and you don't have to go far.

“To evoke the mood, let the color story pull from things or memories that remind you of literature, libraries, and things that have stood the test of time, such as nature, the patina of a leather satchel or antique wood,” she says, who designed this dark and academic space to both read and rest.

Add Low Lighting

Stacks on stacks of books? Check. Classic patterns? Check. Dark, rich tones? Also check. The finishing touch to this Sarah Solis-designed dark academia desk is the lighting.

“Lighting plays a very key component in allowing you to lean into this vibe,” Solis says. Her advice? “Dimmable and Incandescent are preferred. It’s all about that low, warm lighting.”

Small Pops of Color Go a Long Way

Wall-to-wall built-ins in a room washed in neutrals nails the dark academia vibe. For a modern twist to the trend, add small pops of color, as this Jessica Lagrange Interiors-designed space did. Think colorful art books, a zebra-print stool, or a sunshine yellow painting. The small moments of bright hues make the space befitting of a CEO that doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

Install a Library Ladder

Channel your best Beauty and the Beast impression by adding a rolling library ladder to a dark academia-designed space. Not only is a ladder practical for reaching books on the tippy-top shelves, but it adds a sophisticated aesthetic appeal. You'll feel like you're picking out a book, one far older than you, from Harvard's library instead of your home one.

Layer Lush Textures

The trick to creating a dark academic-designed bedroom that doesn’t feel like you’re about to get in trouble with the headmaster? Textiles and textures. Take notes from this bedroom designed by Jessica Lagrange Interiors. She paired a textured wall treatment with buttery soft bedding, gauzy window treatments, and furniture that begs to be touched. It softens the look, making it bedroom appropriate.