Our fellow lovers of the mysterious, the antiquated, and the gothic: welcome.
If you’ve ever felt a warm murmur in your bones when wandering through the labyrinthine halls of an old library or love the smell of aged paper and aged woods, you’ve probably felt the inspiration from the academic background of what’s called the “dark academia” aesthetic.
You might want to bring that period dramatic set from historic universities right into your home, fit with the vintage chandeliers, dark walnut woods, gothic architecture, and Victorian essence. Heck, if you already have a Pinterest board filled with deep, muted tones of charcoal, you’ve probably been dreaming of this vibe far before you happened across this humble little blog post.
Here are *lucky number* 13 dark academia color palettes so you can dominate your interior with the visual allure of Cambridge with the atmosphere of exquisite architecture, somber colors, and romantic, artistic dreams.
7 dark academia color palettes for a moody home aesthetic
1. Glisten me fall
2. The spirit in you
3. The following
4. Bleeding moon
5. Time is of the essence
6. Hallowed road
7. The haunt
The design style for dark academia looks: what to know about the dark academia style + aesthetic
What does dark academia style mean?
Think of a combination of Harry Potter, Pretty Little Liars, and Dead Poets Society. It’s dark, it’s deep, and it’s introspective, a dedicated space for creatives to let loose without showing the outside what they’re thinking.
What are the elements of dark academia aesthetics?
Much like cottagecore, dark academia showcases vintage nostalgia, but more in the Harry Potter-esque vibe rather than cottagecore’s Little Women. It includes things like:
- Bookshelves curated with vintage books
- Dark velvet pillows
- Deep wood-toned furniture with intricate wood carvings
- Vintage picture frames
- Sketches, realism of upscale sports or scenes, like horses, polo, or daguerrotypes
- Paint and color tones like black, burgundy, raspberry, deep blue, or forest green
- Terrariums, globes, and other glass elements for up-close and intimate studying
Here’s a little bit more of what you’ll notice with dark academia interiors
Arts and literature influence and romanticization.
Books, bookshelves, hand-drawn art, tapestries— all around dark academia appreciates architects and artists because it’s designed for a growing, collegiate version of them in the future.
Dark and moody, cove-like interiors.
While cottagecore’s nostalgic environment has a bright and airy essence to it, dark academia almost feels like you’re dwelling in a cave, needing to be away from the world so you can focus on what matters most: your art.
Upscale university feel.
I always think of Aria’s character on Pretty Little Liars— her upscale outfits fit with plaid, reds, and pops of spunky colors in her hair. While it’s partly made to look like a university professor’s office, it’s also meant for university students who would rather sit in lectures all night than go out to parties.
An autumnal feeling.
If the interiors had a season, it would 100% be autumn, not only because of its reddish and orange color schemes but because of its beckoning towards the impending cold and darkness while being immersed in warm autumn hues.
Glorification of liberal arts, science, and nature-based education, like skulls and (faux) taxidermy. 
But the university feel doesn’t just end there. In fact, dark academia isn’t just about any college major. It doesn’t necessarily glorify things like physical therapy or physics— it more leans toward liberal majors, like English, History, and the arts, which reflects in certain decor styles and influences.
I would never encourage taxidermy in an interior, as I don’t think sacrificing animals is an appropriate way of decorating a space– so I know some cool faux taxidermy artists who could bring this feeling to life beautifully, as that darker nature tone brings out the luxury goth elements of this visually stunning decor style.
Hope you got some inspiration from some of our color palettes. What parts of your home would you bring the dreamy, dreary, moody, mystical dark academia vibe into?
