Is dark academia born in your bones… but you just can’t seem to figure out how to translate the look from your head to your space in a way that fits your budget? We think we can help. Here are our three favorite ways to turn your little place into a wizarding world of reading by candlelight… and looking smart doing it.
Don’t repaint. Rethink… and reread.
One of the cheapest ways to create a BIG impact of ambiance in your room is to skip out on repainting. Instead, take apart the pages of books of the same size. (It might feel sacrilegious to book lovers at first… but trust us it is worth it.) Use a clear coat of wall-safe sealant to adhere the pages to the wall. This creates a wallpaper effect and, honestly, will pack the biggest punch out of anything else that you could possibly do to your space. Nothing says book worm quite like a wall filled with pages of wonderment!
Use plenty of candles.
Small candles tend to be the least expensive. Layering different sizes of candles can also really give off the ambiance of a dark academia aesthetic. Place the candles on top of a stack of old books. If you don’t have old books, use Google to learn how to rebind books with fabrics or newspapers. It can really dress up your favorite books and still leave them perfectly readable, serving as both a book AND décor.
Incorporate velvet fabrics.
You don’t have to spend a lot to get the look of velvet. Overseas companies LOVE to recreate looks for less. A velvet duvet or curtains can be affordable when you know where to look. When you “fake” the big items, you can splurge more on little elements that bring your space together. For example. A black, velvet duvet might not cost much – and this can open your wallet to pay for those literary pillow covers you have been eyeing.
Dark academia isn’t just an aesthetic… it is a lifestyle. From spray painting black or gold candelabras, utilizing the look of small candles or just plastering a whole book on your wall, with the help of your imagination, you can take your space and make it look like the library of an old castle – even if it just happens to be in the bottom floor of your mom’s house.
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