Dark, moody backgrounds (forest greens, charcoals, deep browns), traditional subject matter rendered seriously, and lighting that emphasizes drama over cheerfulness. Think old library portrait gallery, not sunny living room.

Deep greens, charcoal gray, burgundy, rich browns, black, and navy. If the paint color has "library" or "study" in the name, you're on the right track.

No, but you need somewhere that already leans serious. Home offices, reading corners, bedrooms with good reading lamps. Dark academia looks ridiculous in a kitchen with white subway tile.

Simple black or dark wood. Ornate gold if you're committing to the bit. Nothing light, nothing distressed farmhouse, nothing that screams "I bought this at Target."

Yes, but be strategic. Dark walls in small rooms can feel cave-like in a good way if you have enough light sources. One or two dark academia pieces as accents work better than trying to convert your entire studio apartment into a Gothic manor.

No. It's for anyone who wants their space to feel thoughtful and serious. The "academia" part is about the attitude toward knowledge and focus, not whether you're actually enrolled somewhere.

Traditional portraiture with dark backgrounds has looked good for centuries. The term "dark academia" might fade, but hares on green and foxes in shadow aren't going anywhere.