There’s something truly magical about setting up a classroom for the new school year! A clean and welcoming space fills us with optimism for what’s to come. I love this feeling so much that I volunteer to set up a local classroom every July. Last year I did a Light Academia theme, so this year, I chose a Dark Academia theme for this high school English classroom.
After decorating this classroom, I’m convinced Dark Academia is the perfect theme for English teachers! Here’s why:
Dark Academia romanticizes academic life, the pursuit of knowledge, and a deep appreciation for arts, literature, and history. Its aesthetic draws inspiration from Gothic architecture, old libraries, vintage books, classical music, and art. It often embraces a moody yet inspiring approach to education and self-improvement.
Any classroom that promotes reading and gives off that “Hogwarts library” vibe is a win in my book! Now, let’s jump right into the cost breakdown and check out the before and after pictures!
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Dark Academia High School English Classroom Cost:
- Dark academia classroom decor: $10
- Shower curtain art: $26
- Fireplace backdrop: $26
- Gold velvet curtains: $45
- Black wood bulletin board paper: $23
- Gold Bulletin Board Trim: $16
- Shatter-proof string lights: $15×2= $30
- Drop ceiling hooks: $9
- Thrift Finds (old books, lamps, frames, misc.): $50
- Misc supplies: $25
- Using what the teacher already had: FREE!
- Using stuff I found in my shed: FREE!
Total: $260
High School English Decor
The before picture shows a typical public high school classroom—think of a building from the 60s with furniture that probably hasn’t changed since, ha! My goal with classroom makeovers is to keep things realistic and attainable, even on a small budget. So, while the after might not be as jaw-dropping as some of the transformations you see online, this high school English classroom turned out so calm and welcoming!
This teacher was tired of the blue walls and ready for a big change, so she painted her room the prettiest shade of green before we got there to set up. Yes, it took a lot of hard work and a few days of her summer, but she’s thrilled with how it turned out, so it was worth it to her!
Here’s a video if you prefer to view the classroom before and after in a reel!
At this point, shower curtain art is my signature. I’ve used them in all my classroom makeovers because they are cheap, come in a variety of themes, and are easy to hang with command strip hooks. Simply put the shower curtain rivets through the hooks and voila! This time we added a thin wooden strip to the top by simply hot gluing the fabric to the wood and hanging it with wire. I love the moody owl and think it turned out great!
While shower curtain art will always be my favorite classroom decor hack, I’ve found a new close second– photography backdrops! These too are large, inexpensive, and can add so much interest to a space! I had planned to put this moody fireplace backdrop on the back wall where the bookcase is now, but things had to be moved around so I had to pivot. It’s not the perfect spot to do this backdrop justice, but it does serve two purposes. It adds a conversation piece to this high school English classroom plus covers a window to a photography room behind that wall.
As I was posting progress pictures on Instagram, I had several people message me because they were excited to see what creative thing I would do with these desks. I was sorry to disappoint them, but you have to work with what you have! It’s true that these are my least favorite desks because they make it more challenging to do group work or Socratic seminars, but engaged learning can happen in any English classroom setup! Plus…
The principal came in to peek at the room while we were working on it and noticed that the blue desks just didn’t match any more. Then she offered to have them switched out for black. How sweet is that!?
Posters can be pretty and functional! These posters fit the theme plus provide figurative language examples and reference points.
Oh how I wish I could link this Shakespeare bust for you because I would buy one for myself! But alas, she inherited this one and gave me permission to repaint it. One of my IG friends said she found hers at TJ Max many years ago, so it’s worth doing a quick FB marketplace search.
As for the numbers on the old books, those can be used for first day stations! Once I started using stations on the first day, I never looked back. For me, it helps calm my first day jitters and sets the tone for the entire year. After the numbers are used on the first day, they can easily be stored or displayed then brought back out for other secondary ELA stations throughout the entire year!
One of my main goals of classroom design is to clear the visual clutter around the learning focal point. In this classroom, it’s a smart board at the front of class.
As you can see, I was able to declutter the classroom and move several of the storage cabinets from the learning focal point. The lamps and string lights go far in reducing florescent light use which can hinder learning, mood, and productivity as well.
So there you have it! I hope this high school English classroom tour has given you some inspiration and confidence that no matter the age of your building or your budget size, you can add warm, welcoming touches to any classroom!
How did you cover the old books to make the station numbers? They are so cute!
Thank you! Those are old Reader Digest books that I thrifted! All I did was add gold number stickers to them 🙂