It's a Literary Girl Summer—Here's How to Bring the Poetic Look to Your Home

Inspired by Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' this lovesick aesthetic plays on emotion. Here's how design pros interpret the style.

With Taylor Swift's sold out Eras Tour, full-length movie, and her new album featuring 31 songs, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD), Swifties have had much to celebrate over the last year.

Unlike some of her earlier pop records, the overall mood on TTPD is deeply raw, melancholic—and romantic. Filled with muted colors, imagery of heartbreak, and references to famed female writers, from Emily Dickinson to Sylvia Plath, we're calling aesthetic style Literary Girl Summer, and it's perfect for the long, hot days ahead.

This style takes the poetry in Swift's lyrics and creates an immersive experience as if walking through your space is like drifting through the melodies.

However, taking inspiration from something intangible—like a song—and turning it into a real life room can feel daunting. But design pros determined it's really about channeling the sentiment and creating a visual representation of their meanings and the emotions they stir in you. Here's how they recommend doing that.

Related: The Recipe You Should Make Based on Your Favorite Taylor Swift Album

How to Translate The Tortured Poets Department (or Any Album) Into Interior Design

Sometimes, design inspiration is very literal (think Barbiecore and all pink everything). Other times, it's more about trying to recreate a feeling, like in the case of Literary Girl Summer. While it might be more challenging to create a space that plays on a feeling rather than something concrete, it also allows for more personalization and creativity in your design.

"Tune into how lyrics make you feel if they do move you, as well as any key words, and then see if shapes, colors, or even textures come to mind," says Sarah Elizabeth of Sarah Elizabeth Design. "I've had clients tell me artwork spoke to them or reminded them of a song or piece of poetry." You don't have to go with a literal interpretation.

Related: If You Love the Academia Aesthetic, Your Bedroom Needs Book Page Wallpaper

Heather Golde, Principal of Heather Golde Home, agrees. "Music and poetry are very subjective and personal," she says.

When she wants to channel a specific inspiration, she often sets aside time late at night, even going as far as using an eye mask to block out external stimulation.

"I do best in visualizing space, color, and design when I can shut down my other senses," she says. "In the case of The Tortured Poets Department, I closed my eyes and let myself fully appreciate this new album."

Follow these designers' lead by allowing yourself to focus on the music can. See what the songs bring up for you, and write down whatever comes to mind. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers.

Practical Ways to Participate In Literary Girl Summer

As with any pieces of literature or art, it's about creating a mood. Set the tone in your home with a delicate, muted colors.

For a literary, TTPD look, think about how the songs on the album are soft and almost dreamlike at times. To recreate this feeling, Golde recommends a sepia color palate. Go with classic and warm with tones of gray, like beige, cappuccino, cinnamon, olive green, black and cream.

"This album is warm and soft but light and clean," she says. "If this album was a season and location, it would fall at the beach."

Along with color, don't forget that the finishes and materials you use heavily impact on the way that your room feels: These details go a long way in creating a sense of warmth that envelopes the space and complements the tones in your palette.

Related: What Experts Mean When They Talk About Adding Warmth to a Room

"This album is all about texture," Golde says. "It's Venetian and Roman plaster walls, sheer curtains and reclaimed or vintage oak furniture."

She recommends combining these elements with textured fabrics, layering them throughout your space—don't be afraid to mix and match.

Take inspiration from the literary aesthetic with your furnishings, too—in a way that's either literal or emblematic of the trend. Embrace soft shapes like rounded headboards and circular poofs. You can also interpret it in terms of a piece's function.

"Moody songs can bring to mind introspection, which could mean a quiet place to write in your room using a vintage desk paired with a modern armchair," explains Elizabeth.

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Elizabeth suggests incorporating unique objects to create a dramatic and romantic atmosphere, like candelabra and taper candles. Incorporate vintage and Victorian-inspired items that add warmth—they bring personal, intricate details you won't find in many of today's decor. And, of course, you need a typewriter (just don't leave it at anyone's apartment).

But perhaps the most valuable takeaway of this trend comes from the spirit of the TTPD and Swift's vulnerable storytelling abilities.

"Taylor's new album is honest and raw, less edited than her other work, while shining a spotlight on her brilliant writing talent," Elizabeth says. "In design, I would translate it to buying what you gravitate toward, what you love, and what makes you feel free."

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