Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look

21 October

Have you heard of dark academia?


It's like a combination of darker, gothic elements combined with a preppy ivy league and Victorian style. It's not a new thing, dark academia is popular in the fashion world, and it has gained popularity in the decor world too. Think Harry Potter vibes.


I love the look and lucky for me, black is having a moment at my house!


Some of my blogging friends and I are recreating the esthetic in our own homes for this edition of Thrift the Look!


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look

The Thrift the Look challenges are the brainchild of Sarah from Sadie Seasongoods. For these challenges, we choose a theme, and then we each choose an inspirational photo and share how we recreate the look with thrifted items and a little DIY. You'll be able to check out the other ladies' decor at the end.


And if you are interested, you can see past Thrift the Look Challenges here:


Thrift the Look - Garden Inspired Decor

Thrift the Look - Cabin Decor

Thrift the Look - Eclectic Decor

Thrift the Look - Boho Decor


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I found this photograph while searching for my inspiration and immediately thought of our piano! There is no credit on this pin, so I'm not sure whose photo this is.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look

Source: Pinterest


Here is the piano that I'm working with (and my before picture). I do not play piano but Tobin is teaching himself 😊 so we found this on Facebook Marketplace for him about a year ago for $400 and they delivered it too!


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


Here is a breakdown of the inspiration photo to help me while I was out thrifting (and shopping my own house) for the decor I needed. I did not end up using any faux taxidermy, maybe I'll add some later when I find just the right piece.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I came up with the following:


  1. Candelabra - I thrifted a glass hurricane lamp instead
  2. Floral pictures - I made photocopies from an old art book and DIY'd two of them, I thrifted two, and I shopped my own house for one
  3. Books - I thrifted these
  4. Cloche - I shopped my own house and found a gold lantern instead
  5. Faux taxidermy

To recreate the look, I first cleared off and cleaned the piano so I had a blank slate with which to start.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I decided to make a floating picture ledge so that I can easily rearrange things (as I'm wont to do!)


I just used some scrap 1" x 4" boards I had in the garage.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I did thrift for a large floral picture but had a little trouble finding one with the look and large enough. I decided to look through my own stash of art that is still sitting in the garage and found this antique poster!


I gave the white frame (which never really looked that good with this picture anyway) a makeover with gold spray paint. I used two different shades of gold to get the aged appearance. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it looks now, I've always loved this poster and just couldn't bring myself to get rid of it when we had our downsizing sales before we moved in together.


I also added the gold piano light back in its original spot over the music sheet ledge.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


For the next largest floral print, I made photocopies from an old art book. These are the ones I copied that I had to choose from. I chose the large one on the left.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I shopped around the unpacked boxes in the garage and found these three antique frames. I chose to use the large black one.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


You can see how the inside edge is gold... I chose to accentuate that and the flowers on it with Rub 'n Buff.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


To make this photocopy look even more like a real painting, I used Mod Podge to adhere the copy to a piece of foam core board, and then I put a semi-thick layer over the top and made brush strokes in it to add texture.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


You can see the brush strokes in these close-ups.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I added my new "painting" and a stack of some books I thrifted.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I found this set of small florals for just $1.49 each, they have the original Montgomery Ward tags on the back still!


I used Rub 'n Buff to tone down the gold of the frames. The one on the left is how I found them and the one on the right has Rub 'n Buff added.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I added them next to the large picture.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


Then I added the hurricane lamp I found.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


And some more thrifted books and the gold lantern that I already had.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


And do you see that bust with the little girl holding her ears on the pink stool? 😂 That seemed so appropriate since Tobin is learning how to play!


This is how I found her at the thrift store. She desperately needed a refresh!


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I added the bust and Tobin's metronome. I normally think the metronome is kind of ugly but I think it works in this situation, it's sort of a maroon/red color and brings the maroon from the small floral pictures over to the other side of the arrangement.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


And finally, I added a small DIY floral on the music ledge. I had a very old and beat-up small canvas in my craft stash so I painted it black and decoupaged one of the small photocopies to it.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


And here is my version of dark academia.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


To be honest, I wasn't really sure I could pull this off since my walls here are white but I think I achieved the same look at feel... 


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


...especially at night with the lantern, piano light, and hurricane lamp on!


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


Here are some close-up shots.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


I also added a small antique gold clock that was my grandma's.


Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look

Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look

Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look

Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


You can see all the other great examples of Dark Academia for this hop here:


Laura - One House, 2 Barns - Heather - Home to Heather - Sarah - Sadie Season Goods - Me - Lora - Lora Bloomquist.com
Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look


If you're interested in the dark academia aesthetic but you want yours a little lighter in feel, this is a great article I found: Light Academia Room Ideas.


And here are some cool things I found that you can buy to help get the look and feel!


Hand Flower Vase (similar to the lamp but much cheaper)


I hope you enjoyed this thrift-the-look challenge. If you did, I'd love it if you'd share by pinning!


PIN ME!
Dark Academia Decor - Thrift the Look

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  1. I love what you did with the antique black frame! Somehow, I can see in the future that you will be making your own Lampbearer Table Lamp. Good job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! I was actually looking at that thing wondering how I could DIY my own!

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  2. Tania is came out so good! First of all what a beautiful antique piano you have. I love how you added brush strokes to make the paintings look more real. Nice touch. Thanks for sharing again with us on Home Imagined. Have a great week.-Meagan

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