How to Give Your Dorm Room the Dark Academia Aesthetic for Less Than $150

Candles are a staple if you're trying to create the dark academia aesthetic, but most dorms won’t allow them — let alone the number of candles it takes to pull off the look. These battery-operated, no-flame candles are great options for college students. Even if you’re not in a dorm, they’re perfect for a college budget, as you won’t have to keep paying to replace them!

This photo pack has a low cost, but a huge impact. You get 54 photos, all of which fit the dark academia theme. You can hang them all up on your walls at once, or hang up a few and swap them out whenever you feel like making a change but don’t want to spend more money on something new.

This gold-framed mirror will make you feel like a noble member of a society from a bygone era ... for less than $20! This style of mirror is classic and sophisticated, bringing a gilded elegance to those boring cinder-block dorm walls.

If you’re worried about your dark academia-styled room getting a little too dark, plants can bring some life into your space to lighten it up! (Yes, even if the plants are fake, like these — not everyone has a green thumb, ya know!) Have you ever seen a movie with a moody writer or historian who doesn’t have plants surrounding them? It’s giving Hogwarts herbology class.

The dark academia aesthetic is often characterized by vintage pieces, and this alarm clock will bring an old-timey charm into your space while also providing the functionality to make sure you’re awake for your dreaded 8 a.m. class.

If you only want to channel dark academia vibes in your bedding, this black comforter is the way to go. The black pom fringe detailing adds texture and visual interest, so this isn’t just a dark-colored comforter. As an added bonus, it comes with a pillow sham — which is one less thing you need to buy!

If you want to spice up your decor game, consider buying a surprise bundle from Etsy, which promises decor items on a budget. This dark academia bundle includes things like postcards, letters, and photos, along with a candle (which you can gift to someone if you live somewhere with a “no open flame” policy), a teacup, and stickers.

If you’re living in a small space, using floating shelves is a great way to add more storage to the room. With these rustic, dark shelves, they can also add to the aesthetic of the room. They come in three different sizes, and if you only want one, you can buy a single instead of a three-pack.