I recently returned to Edinburgh, Scotland, after 12 years away. I hadn\u2019t been to this magical city since I was a college junior studying abroad there in 2012. Spending time visiting my old stomping grounds reinforced what a special, history-filled, place Edinburgh is, to say the least. (I\u2019m already daydreaming about my next trip back!).<\/p>\n
While the concept of dark academia wasn\u2019t something that people talked about a decade ago, I firmly believe that Edinburgh is absolutely the capital of this aesthetic. The mixture of the university setting, historic buildings, tweed jackets, grand castle, and dimly-lit streets, just to name a few things, had me yearning to drop everything and relocate to Scotland. There, I\u2019d surely put together the most charming flat full of moody Victorian pieces, rich, sumptuous fabrics, and plenty of leather-bound books. <\/p>\n
Featured image from our interview with Jennifer Vaughn Miller<\/a> by Belath\u00e9e Photography<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n While such a move (most likely) isn\u2019t in the cards for me, the good news is that any of us can replicate the library aesthetic in our own houses or apartments. Ahead, I\u2019m going to show you how to do just that. Don\u2019t blame me if you implement these decorating tips and become more of a homebody than ever\u2014they sure are cozy!<\/p>\n Establishing a moody vibe is essential to nailing the dark academia aesthetic. One of the hotels I stayed in during my trip, 100 Princes Street<\/a>, executed this perfectly. Their upstairs dining area is filled with pops of plaid, boasts multiple fireplaces, and includes worn-in leather chairs that look like they could have been plucked directly from a professor\u2019s office. The nautical paintings in the room also play nicely to the library aesthetic and add a sense of timelessness to the room. Such a space truly is the perfect spot to sit back and sip a cup of tea or thumb through a book<\/a>. The saturated tones make the room feel ultra cozy, like you\u2019re being enveloped in a big hug.<\/p>\n\n You\u2019ll never find a dark academia style space that has plain white walls, nor will you find one with walls that are painted but bare. So bring on the deeply hued paint (maybe a deep blue or green, as pictured below!) or try some wallpaper. Finally, display all of the art! Now is the time to go all in with a gallery wall. Break things up by also hanging some mini mirrors or candle sconces, which will contribute to your desired look while adding visual interest. To save some money, you can weave in some digital downloads from Etsy that are easy to print out at home and often cost just a few dollars. Simply search \u201cdark academia\u201d on the site and you\u2019ll be greeted with tons of options.<\/p>\n The dark academia aesthetic is all about a layered, lived-in look, but it\u2019s important to note that these characteristics do not equal cluttered in a bad way! Yes, it\u2019s more than okay to line an entire wall with books or display a collection of your favorite trinkets (or my personal favorite, bust sculptures) on a shelf. After all, it\u2019s safe to say that dark academia isn\u2019t really for minimalists. <\/p>\n That said, you will want to be sure to keep unsightly items like cords, piles of junk mail, and the like out of sight. This helps to preserve some of the magic that comes with dark academia\u2014you should feel like you\u2019re retreating to another time or place, and keeping reminders of everyday life strewed about won\u2019t allow you to fully evoke that feeling.<\/p>\nHow to Style the Library Aesthetic Look at Home<\/h2>\n
![\"moody](\"https:\/\/camillestyles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/moody-dark-academia-865x577.jpg\")
Get Moody<\/h2>\n
Forgo the Plain White Walls<\/h2>\n
Make Your Space Layered, Not Cluttered<\/h2>\n
Celebrate the Past<\/h2>\n