5 Ways to Create the Dark Academia Classroom of Your Dreams (Without Spending a Fortune)

There’s something about the quiet glow of lamplight on a rainy day, a student scribbling furiously in the margins of a book, the creak of a wooden chair, and the smell of old pages. If you’ve ever wanted your classroom to feel like a moody, magical library pulled straight from a novel, you’re not alone.

But I know the reality—classroom budgets are tight, and none of us has time to redecorate our entire space with antique globes and leather-bound tomes. That’s okay. The dark academia aesthetic is about more than just the look; it’s about reverence for ideas, curiosity, atmosphere, and timeless stories.

So here are five ways to bring that feeling into your classroom—no fancy makeover required.

1. Let Your Text Choices Do the Heavy Lifting

Before you buy anything at all, take a look at what you’re already teaching. Some of the most powerful dark academia elements come directly from your reading list. Gothic classics like Frankenstein and Jane Eyre, the decadence and dread of The Picture of Dorian Gray, or even modern selections like If We Were Villains or The Secret History can shift the tone of the room just by being there.

And poetry? It was made for this. One of my favorite ways to lean into the dark beauty of literature is through the podcast Poetry Unbound. If you haven’t listened to Danez Smith’s “I’m going back to Minnesota where sadness makes sense,” start there. The episode is haunting and grounded, personal and philosophical—and it gives students permission to dwell in complicated emotions.

If you're looking to bring that into the classroom in a meaningful way, I created a Poetry Unbound mini unit that walks students through close reading, annotation, and creative response with a handful of poems that match this exact mood. You can check that out here.

Contemporary Poetry and Podcasts Mini Unit | Teach Poetry with Ease and Joy

2. Use Mood Lighting (Even Digitally)

Okay, we can’t all turn off the fluorescents and bring in floor lamps (though if you can, go for it!). But you can control the tone of the room in small ways.

Try adding soft lighting visuals to your slide decks—old paper textures, candlelight GIFs, rainy day backgrounds. Swap in serif fonts, dim your screen brightness, and play some lo-fi classical music or stormy background sounds during writing time. Even subtle shifts like this can cue students that they’re stepping into something different, something deeper.

3. Decorate with Intention (Not Expense)

The dark academia aesthetic thrives on found objects and intentional clutter. That means you don’t have to buy anything new. Raid your bookshelves at home. Bring in an old typewriter if you’ve got one, or stack used books with interesting covers. Tape up quotes in your favorite moody font. Frame vintage-looking art prints or student work with literary themes.

One of my favorite low-cost tricks: print a page from a classic novel and tape it to the wall with aged masking tape or washi. Instant ambiance.

4. Make It a Shared Experience

Your students can help create the atmosphere with you.
Invite them into the aesthetic:

• Try a “Dark Academia Day” where students wear their best moody sweaters and boots.

• Launch a “Dead Poets Society” reading challenge—let students memorize and perform their favorite poems dramatically.

• Use an old-fashioned notebook for journaling or offer writing prompts on parchment-style paper.

• Add a “Word of the Day” board with SAT-level words that feel pulled from the halls of Oxford.

They’ll get into it more than you expect. There’s something magnetic about taking literature seriously and making it feel like a secret club.

5. Use Stylish Posters That Actually Teach Something

If you’re going to put something on the walls, let it match your aesthetic and support your instruction. My Dark Academia Literary Elements Poster Set was designed for exactly that. Each poster defines a literary element your students actually need to know, using clean fonts, classic layout, and a quiet intensity that won’t clash with your vibe.

They're available in both color and black-and-white (because yes, I know the copier struggles). They look beautiful printed two-per-page, or as anchor visuals behind your teaching.

And if you want to try one out before committing to the full set, I’ve got a free sample poster showcasing symbolism you can grab here. It’s designed to be printed and used on its own—and it fits seamlessly into even the most minimalist classroom.

Final Thoughts

Creating a dark academia classroom isn’t about spending money—it’s about building a space where curiosity feels sacred. Where your students know that books matter, that their thoughts matter, that language matters.

So whether you start with a single quote taped to your door or go full tweed-and-quill, you’re already on your way.

Let me know how you’re bringing the aesthetic to life in your classroom—I’d love to see what you create.