I recently returned to Edinburgh, Scotland for the first time in 12 years. I hadn’t visited this magical city since 2012, when I studied abroad during my third year of college. Spending time visiting old stomping grounds made me realize just how special and historic Edinburgh is, to say the least. (I’m already dreaming about my next return trip!).
The concept of dark academia wasn’t something people were talking about 10 years ago, but I believe Edinburgh is the epicenter of this aesthetic. The mix of university settings, historic buildings, tweed jackets, grand castles, and dimly lit streets, just to name a few, made me want to leave everything behind and move to Scotland. You’re sure to build the most charming apartment there, filled with moody Victorian pieces, rich, luxurious fabrics, and plenty of leather-bound books.
Featured image from interview with Jennifer Vaughn Miller bellacy photo.
How to beautifully decorate your library at home
Although such a move is (probably) unthinkable to me, the good news is that any of us can recreate the library aesthetic in our own homes or apartments. I’ll show you how. Don’t blame me if you follow these decorating tips and end up being more of a homebody than ever. I’m sure it will be comfortable.
be in a bad mood
Establishing a moody atmosphere is essential to anchoring a dark academic aesthetic. One of the hotels I stayed at during my trip. 100 Princess Streetexecuted this perfectly. The second-floor dining area is filled with plaid, multiple fireplaces, and well-worn leather chairs that look like they were pulled straight from a professor’s office. The ocean paintings in the room also work well with the library’s aesthetic and add a timeless feel to the room. A space like this is truly the perfect place to sit, have a cup of tea, or read a book. Saturated tones make the room very cozy and make you feel as if you are being enveloped in a big hug.
Please avoid pure white walls.
You’ll never find a dark academia-style space with stark white walls, and you’ll never find a space with painted but bare walls. So use a deep shade of paint (maybe a deep blue or green, like in the photo below!) or try wallpaper. Finally, all works are on display! Now is the time to go all out with your gallery walls. You can also hang mini mirrors or candle sconces to break things up and achieve the look you want while adding visual interest. To save money, incorporate digital downloads from Etsy that are easy to print at home and often cost just a few dollars. Just search for “dark academia” on the site and you’ll see plenty of options.
Layer your space without cluttering it
While the dark academia aesthetic is all about a layered, lived-in look, it’s important to note that these characteristics are not the same as clutter in a bad way. Yes, it’s okay to line an entire wall with books or line a shelf with a collection of your favorite trinkets (or my personal favorite bust). After all, it’s safe to say that dark academia isn’t really for minimalists.
That said, you should keep unsightly things out of sight, like piles of code and junk mail. This helps retain some of the magic that comes with the dark world of academia. You need to feel like you’re retreating to another time or place, but you won’t be able to fully evoke that feeling if you leave the memories of your daily life scattered here and there.
celebrate the past
In this regard, when it comes to accessories, think old, not new. Shopping at vintage and antique stores is a great way to achieve a dark academia aesthetic, and you’re sure to find affordable pieces that bring this vision to life. Look for leather-bound books, sculptures and figurines, decorative carved mirrors, plush armchairs (remember, you can salvage anything with large bones), portraits and landscape paintings, and more. Now is not the time to embrace modern pieces like acrylic side tables or bouclé sofas.
Purchase Library Aesthetics
If you start shopping with the aesthetics of your library first, you might be surprised at what catches your eye. Create a Pinterest board filled with dark academia spaces that inspire you and refer to it as you go from one store to another to help you stay focused.
Source: Camille Styles – camillestyles.com
