Book-lined, moody and studious.

Dark Academia

Dark Academia is the look of an old library or a scholar's study: dark walls, shelves of books, wood, leather, a desk lamp and a sense that someone is reading late. It is moody but cosy. It suits rooms you use in the evening, studies, bedrooms and snugs.

See my room in Dark Academia See it on real rooms

Free to try, no card needed.

A living room in the Dark Academia style

What makes it Dark Academia

The five things to get right. Everything else is taste.

Dark Academia color palettes

Palette Deep green, oxblood, navy, brown and black, with aged brass and cream paper.
Materials Dark wood, leather, brass, worn velvet, oil paintings, old books.
Furniture A leather armchair, a writing desk, tall bookcases, a chest of drawers with character.
Textiles Plaid and tartan, velvet curtains, a Persian rug, wool throws.
Lighting Low and warm; a banker's lamp, picture lights, candles, nothing overhead if you can help it.

Ordinary rooms, in Dark Academia

Drag the handle. Every after keeps the before's walls, windows, doors and camera, which is what Room AI does to your photo too.

An ordinary family kitchen with honey-oak cabinets and a black fridge — Kitchen Try this on mine

The same kitchen in the Dark Academia style — Kitchen Try this on mine

An ordinary living room with a gray sofa, a TV on a stand and net curtains — Living room Try this on mine

The same living room in the Dark Academia style — Living room Try this on mine

An ordinary bedroom with a pine wardrobe, a dark headboard and a gray duvet — Bedroom Try this on mine

The same bedroom in the Dark Academia style — Bedroom Try this on mine

Dark Academia ideas, room by room

Pictures to save and borrow from. Pick a room to see all of its Dark Academia ideas.

A dark academia guest bedroom combines a low bed with white bedding, a tufted brown leather sofa, and a vintage wood desk. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a ladder, framed artwork, brass lamps, and a patterned rug create a moody, scholarly atmosphere under warm, dim lighting.

A dark academia guest bedroom with olive green walls, a burgundy accent wall behind a wood spindle bed, and a vintage patterned rug on wide plank floors. The room includes a leather bench, a plaid armchair by the window, a wooden desk, framed maps and art, wall sconces, and a glowing fireplace for a warm, scholarly atmosphere.

A dark academia guest bedroom with built-in green bookshelves surrounding a bed, burgundy velvet bedding, leather armchairs, and a carved wooden desk with a black marble top. The room includes brass lamps, vintage decor, a globe, and deep dark walls and ceiling.

A dark academia guest bedroom with a wooden bed centered under a large window, flanked by tall bookshelves, velvet curtains, and antique lamps. The room includes leather seating, a Persian-style rug, a trunk at the foot of the bed, and walls covered in dark botanical wallpaper with framed art and a globe.

A moody guest bedroom with sloped dark walls, small windows, and built-in bookshelves packed with old books. The room features a bed with layered neutral bedding, burgundy plaid pillows, a green throw, a brown leather armchair, framed art, and brass decor for a scholarly Dark Academia feel.

A narrow guest bedroom painted in deep green, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves along one wall and a black metal bed frame on the opposite side. The room includes framed artwork, a green banker’s lamp, brass wall sconces, a patterned rug, and warm wood furniture, creating a moody Dark Academia atmosphere.

A cozy guest bedroom with a dark wood bed frame, cream rumpled bedding, and jewel-toned velvet pillows against floral wallpaper. A small wooden nightstand holds a lit candle, books, and dried flowers, while brown painted walls and a patterned throw create a warm, scholarly dark academia atmosphere.

A dark academia guest bedroom with a carved four-poster wooden bed, plaid curtains, and wood-paneled walls. The room includes a burgundy leather wingback chair, a vintage desk with a brass lamp, built-in bookshelves, and a red patterned rug on dark wood flooring.

A dark academia master bedroom with a burgundy leather sleigh bed, cream bedding, and a textured throw. The room features deep red patterned wallpaper, dark wood built-in bookshelves filled with books and decor, a tall window with heavy drapes, brass wall sconces, a green banker’s lamp, and a patterned rug on a wood floor.

A dark academia master bedroom with a carved four-poster wooden bed centered against paneled walls, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on the left and a desk by the window on the right. The room features a deep burgundy ceiling, dark wood flooring, candle-style wall lights, a ladder, framed maps, and an ornate Persian-style rug.

A dramatic dark academia master bedroom with charcoal walls, a dark ceiling, and warm wood flooring. The room features a bed layered with white bedding and mustard velvet pillows, framed vintage paintings above the headboard, a burgundy leather armchair, bookshelves, a brass floor lamp, a fireplace, and a leaning ladder.

A dark academia master bedroom with a wooden bed frame, layered cream bedding, checkered accent pillows, and a burgundy throw blanket. Built-in wooden bookshelves line the wall, filled with old books, globes, framed art, and vintage objects, creating a warm, scholarly atmosphere.

A Dark Academia master bedroom with sloped ceilings painted deep green, built-in bookshelves filled with old books and framed botanical art, and a wooden bed dressed in muted linens. The room includes brass wall sconces, a leather sofa, a writing desk, and vintage decor, creating a warm scholarly atmosphere.

A dark academia master bedroom with deep navy walls, a wooden bed dressed in cream bedding and mustard velvet pillows, and a leather bench at the foot. A tall bookcase filled with old books anchors the room, while brass wall lighting, framed art, candles, a globe, and dried flowers add an intellectual, vintage atmosphere.

A dark academia master bedroom with deep green walls, tall windowed doors dressed in brown drapes, and warm lamp and candle lighting. The room includes a dark wood bed, antique-style maps and framed art, stacked books, a globe, a glass cabinet of curiosities, and patterned rugs that create a scholarly, richly layered atmosphere.

A dark academia master bedroom with a wooden bed dressed in soft white bedding and a plaid throw, flanked by bookshelves and a small wooden nightstand with a green glass lamp. Dark walls, floral wallpaper, heavy curtains, framed art, and a red patterned rug create a cozy, scholarly atmosphere.

Try first

Cheapest first. Each is something you could do this weekend, or say to Room AI now.

1 Paint the walls a deep tone, dark green is the classic, and the room will feel finished before you add a thing.
2 Fill one wall with books, spines out, and let them be the color scheme.
3 Hang a dark framed landscape or portrait; charity shops are full of them.
4 Use several low lamps instead of the ceiling light.