Fall is officially here, so we decided to transform our home library into a haunted, dark academia-inspired space for the season.
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a fan of spooky decor, or just need an excuse to rearrange your bookshelves, this eerie yet cozy library design will have you brewing tea and curling up with a classic novel.
Here’s how we designed our haunted library—and yes, you can totally steal these ideas for your own home. Bonus: No need for real ghosts, just plenty of thrifting, flickering LED candles, and clever decor.
Thrift Your Library Books
I know, those perfectly color-coordinated books with blank spines you see all over social media can be tempting. But why buy faux staging books when you can hit up your local thrift store for actual, real books?
We scoured our favorite spots and found some beautiful hardcover classics that add that vintage character to the library. (And hey, some of them are great reads for the other 11 months of the year too!) Keep an eye out for old leather-bound books especially, because they add that lived-in, eerie charm that perfectly suits the theme.
Utilize Candlelight (But Don’t Burn the House Down)
Dim lighting is everything in a supposedly haunted space. We added flickering LED tea lights to the shelves to create just the right amount of spooky ambiance without risking a fire hazard. It’s probably best that you keep a real flame away from a shelf full of old and dry books!
Did you know they make LED candles with timers? Schedule them to turn on at dusk and let them work their magic. I mean, if we’re talking haunted vibes, having lights turn on automatically is basically paranormal activity, right?
The Right Decor Makes the Theme
Here’s where the magic really happens. We found an adorable little skeleton reading a book (because even in the afterlife, knowledge is power, right?). It sits perfectly in this coffin-shaped tray, paired near a tombstone decor piece honoring none other than Edgar Allan Poe. If you’re not familiar, Poe was a famous writer known for his dark and eerie stories and poems, like “The Raven” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
Including his tombstone in our haunted library felt like the perfect nod to literature and the spooky theme we were going for. These kinds of thoughtful details really set the tone for the entire room.
We found these adorable cobweb-shaped coasters for the coffee table, which added a fun and practical touch. The jars we usually keep out year-round somewhat resembled potion bottles, and looked perfect placed on the shelf next to a cauldron. We filled our lanterns with tea lights for the ambience, and our old analog clock fit perfectly.
As for the actual design of our library, the space is color-drenched in “Cheating Heart” by Benjamin Moore, a deep, dramatic charcoal that practically screams “dark academia,” and it’s paired with dark wooden accents throughout the space for extra warmth.
Our orange leather armchairs are here year-round, but make the perfect lounger for fall. As you can see, our French bulldog Luna agrees! She loves lounging here, soaking in the quiet and calm vibe of the room. You may also see that we swapped out our usual hanging portraits for Halloween-themed canvas prints.
Whether you’re a fan of Halloween or just love a moody, gothic space, this haunted library design is the perfect fall project. Plus, it’s a fun way to switch up your decor without spending a fortune. Thrifting, repurposing, and a little creativity can go a long way! It’s all about the thoughtful details. Nothing screams fall like curling up with a good book in your cozy, haunted library full of charm, (and hopefully no real ghosts!)
If you’re loving some of the pieces we used, click here to shop the products we used to recreate the look in your own home!
