Interiors Trend: Dark Academia

Leather-bound books and classical artworks, antique wooden furniture and leather armchairs, four poster beds and ornate lighting. Welcome to the world of Dark Academia…

Interiors Inspiration: Dried Flowers

What is Dark Academia?

Dark Academia is the aesthetic that revolves around classical literature, higher education, and the pursuit of knowledge. Stemming from upper-class nineteenth century European visual culture, the trend is associated with the liberal arts and eccentricities – celebrating the unusual and romanticising the educated experience.

 

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Many followers of the Dark Academia look to characters from literature for inspiration, such as those from The Secret History and Kill Your Darlings, who live decadently destructive lifestyles laden with drugs, violence and heavy secrets.

 

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In visual terms, think high-brow college fashion, antiques, Gothic architecture, classical art and secret nooks and crannies. Academic visuals like heavy wooden desks, lamps and armchairs all fit into the aesthetic, but you can also expect to find grander flourishes like chandeliers, paintings and ornate bookcases. For the colour palette, it’s all about autumnal shades of brown, gold, green, red, black and grey.

London’s Chateau Denmark perfectly channels the sophisticated aesthetic of Dark Academia, as seen by its use of ornate fireplaces, gold bath tubs, marble flooring and tufted foot stools. Make sure to book a stay if you want some interiors inspiration.

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Our Dark Academia Picks