The Tortured Poet’s Apartment: How Taylor Swift’s New Album Inspires Dark Academia Interiors

In a remarkable Fortnight, Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, has shattered global records, leaving an everlasting mark on Swift’s large fanbase and further cementing her astounding legacy. With each era, Taylor Swift has given fans a reason to congregate–sharing emotions ranging from heartache to feelings of happiness and relief as they reflect on their personal experiences within her poetic lyricism. 

For those who have found an affinity for the 31-track album and are eager to elevate their listening experience suitable for a tortured poet, this Redfin article is for you. We’ll unveil an array of interior design and decoration tips that harmonize everyday essentials with the dark academia aesthetic of The Tortured Poets Department.

Understand the color palette 

Each of Taylor Swift’s unique eras is distinguished by a signature color. Her eleventh studio album is no different, as The Tortured Poets Department debuted with a white album cover. Lo and behold, when Swift dropped The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology (a second album), she did so with a black album cover. Her five vinyl variants include clear, white, black, and shades of greige.

These colors make up the album’s aesthetic and are reflected in her album art and the Fortnight music video which features Post Malone. As you design your space, keep these colors in mind while integrating fabrics, furniture pieces, and other design elements. Avoid going with one color over another; seamlessly blending and layering these colors together will contribute to a dark academia interior.

Display upcycled poetry and vinyls

Upcycled poetry books and vinyls can add décor intrigue to any room in your house. Poetry books from infamous “tortured poets,” such as Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, and Edgar Allen Poe, can serve as reading material accessible atop a coffee table or displayed among bookshelves with other literature. 

As the self-appointed chairman of the department, a vinyl shelf or stand with Taylor Swift’s discography is a must. Alongside her, vinyls from artists such as Stevie Nicks and Charlie Puth would be exceptional companions.

Light your favorite scented candles

When Taylor Swift declared the manuscript to no longer be hers and put it into the hands of the fans, it felt natural for fans to discover pieces of themselves within the sung words. Setting the mood to explore these lyrics from your perspective can be elevated when filling the room with your favorite scents.

Pillar candle holders or those with Baroque ornament details are excellent choices to bring in  the dark academia flare. Set the mood with scents of floral or freshness, such as lilac, to evoke relaxation as you gather with your friends, Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus.

Vintage furniture adorned with essentials

Like any feline friend, Taylor’s cats Meredith Gray, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button, likely enjoy a comfortable piece of furniture to snuggle into. Explore vintage wood pieces with darker stains, such as mahogany. These pieces can be anything from bed frames to a writing desk or seating arrangements.

Though it is no secret that the glitter gel pens didn’t appear on The Tortured Poets Department, fans got a flood of quill and fountain pen songs. These pens offer a timeless touch atop a desk where you can write your thoughts into a journal or on loose paper with ink smudges and dried droplets of spilled tea as mementos.

Prints, paintings, and busts that elicit emotions

Early Hollywood actress Clara Bow was commemorated on Swift’s album. Additionally, Taylor Swift paid homage to her knowledge of Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle on the track So High School.

These past figureheads can be found in paintings and photographs and bode well with the dark academia style if framed in a Victorian brass or distressed black frame. With several talented artists, if you’re seeking something other than a portrait, explore scenic paintings with a muted, natural color palette that doesn’t overwhelm your space.

Flat surfaces draped in dried florals

Fans will discover a 24-page book-bound jacket within The Tortured Poets Department vinyl that offers images of Taylor Swift and song lyrics. In several of the photos, Swift is photographed with flowers that add to the aesthetic of her album.

Draping flat surfaces such as console or dining tables, fireplace mantles, or bathroom countertops with dried florals adds a decorative layer when paired with a flickering candle. This look is also a pleasant way to style your space with natural elements that “can symbolize the many fleeting moments of life and remind us of the wisdom and meaning behind them all.”

Lace curtains for a glance at the midnight sky

Once you’ve made your way through the first part of The Tortured Poets Department, you reach part two, The Anthology. Here, fans discover a more somber vibe than the blended pace in the initial sixteen songs. These songs allow listeners to gaze into the moonlight, contemplate life’s sorrows, and live a “movie moment.”

Designing your home with lace curtains makes this experience more enjoyable as they are lighter in weight and offer more light exposure than solid curtains, which are designed to block out light. 

Album inspired merchandise

While perhaps not on the side of dark academia, an interior design inspired by a heroine such as Taylor Swift and as an intern of The Tortured Poets Department, having album-inspired merchandise is imperative. 

Across Swift’s vast discography, you’ll find an array of merchandise that will pair with your newly styled  Tortured Poets Department-inspired home from vinyl holders to patches–but remember, handle your merchandise carefully; you wouldn’t want to break your favorite toys.

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