Brainiac Decorating: How to Master Dark Academia
Because there's no such thing as looking too smart
The best thing about dark academia is its homage to reading and deep thinking. Why not pursue your lifelong learning in an imaginative and enriching environment? (Photo: Habitually Chic)
After a week of wandering through rabbit holes warning of the demise of reading and how the future of civilization literally hangs in the balance, I’ve set myself up for a swoon in the velvet chaise. What would the world be like without books and learning and critical thought? I’m not the only one worried about this, evidenced by trends like “book shelf wealth” and “dark academia” to show proof. Maybe if intelligence looks good to people, they will pursue it in earnest.
Whether bedroom or front room, the aesthetic is comfortable and lived-in, with worldly objects that remind us of past and present, familiar and exotic, always intelligent, never boring.
But … oh my GAWD did I find out just how much I did not know by researching dark academia! Some of my top discoveries:
Dark Academia is the Frankenstein spawn of Gothic, Steampunk, and Library Aesthetic
Donna Tartt’s 1992 book The Secret Society started it all. The plot involves a group of privileged boys at an elite school in New England who are in a Classics club and accidentally murder someone. And then intentionally murder someone else.
The “dark” in dark academia is figurative, relating to something that is hidden or tortured. It doesn’t seem to connote evil; rather it’s more of a brooding romantic sensibility that the more you know about the human condition, the more your glasses turn a gloomier shade of rose.
It is by no means a new trend, with roots from 1992 and shoots from around 2015, when the trend grew from literary style to fashion and interior design. Mainstream brands like Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren embraced the heavily nostalgic and tweedy ideal. Even the New York Times weighed in recently with a “starter pack” of must-reads to get you in the moody intellectual mood.
There is room for objects of wonder from around the world in dark academia. Our quest for knowledge should always exceed the boundaries of the familiar. (Photo: Houzz | Tommy Chambers Interiors)
Bringing Dark Academia Home from School
So does this aesthetic really work for you and your own home? The answer depends on your overall taste and the way your home is already set up. If you are a student, then congratulations: your study or desk area probably already has some of the key elements.
It doesn’t have to be gloomy in the dark academia world: Note how the dark walls counterbalance an uncovered window that lets in study light. I love the choice of art prints and illustrations. (Photo: Cool Chic Style Fashion)
Beyond study and reading, dark academia helps create restful and calm environments. Whether bedroom or front room, the aesthetic is comfortable and lived-in, with worldly objects that remind us of past and present, familiar and exotic, always intelligent, never boring.
Restful bedrooms with pretty fringed curtains aren’t just for the dark academia domain but they do fit in well with the idea that active brains need plenty of rest. (Photo: Cottage Magic)
Notice how I’ve avoided posting any photos found on Pinterest? That’s because I want to make sure that you are seeing are real interiors made with human brains and hands. It’s a bummer that any time I see a wall covered in books, I think “AI generated.” Most of us can’t conjure up a roomful of bookshelves, anyway; for us, the dark academia style must remain in meaningful details.
Books are integral to dark academia style. Maybe now is the time for you to pull out your favorite college books or search through that box of books left to you by a parent or grandparent. Don’t fake it, either; choose books you actually might read. (Photo: unknown)
The Elements of D.A. Style
Besides books, and plenty of them, what else can you do to create an inviting intellectual environment?
Use color, shade, and textiles to give a room mood. Think of old libraries with their battered tables, wall sconces, and wood bookshelves. A lot of old books were bound in navy, red, and green covers, with gilded print. Consider these colors in your accent décor.
Instead of white plantation shutters or maybe to drape over them, consider window drapes and pretty curtain tiebacks like the ones on the photo above. Another great look is wood louver shutters like these.
(Photo: Americana Devenco Shutters)
Great art is a huge part of this aesthetic and the options are vast. Lithographs and hunting scenes—well sure, they appeal to some. The dark academia I would love to see, though, is well-framed art from different cultures and worlds. Also, wallpaper is a bold, but terrific way to surround your studious area.
(Photo: The Nord Room)
The objection many people have to dark academia is that it is based on a world where elitist and mostly white people lounged around in ancient collegiate buildings, joining exclusive clubs and wearing expensive clothing. It’s based mostly on myth and wishful thinking.
The best way to honor higher learning and the myriad new worlds opened to us by reading is to create a beautiful environment of color, culture, and comfort that inspires you. Studying images of dark academia and learning to build your own style is the smartest thing you can do.
Seriously, this article comes at the perfect time! I was just telling my guy how I’m so over all the doom-and-gloom about reading, and this is such a briliant take. Loving the idea of making intelligence look cool again, like it’s a whole aestethic. You absolutely nailed it, I totally agree with every word!