Creating your own Harry Potter-themed room is a lot of fun, but sometimes you get stumped looking for the perfect decorative items to infuse the magic into your space in an authentic and elevated way.
The goal is to nail the Hogwarts aesthetic without being too on the nose. There are only so many images of Harry and the Castle you can have in one room, after all!
Here is the list of my favorite Harry Potter accessories, and I used most of them to decorate my own Hogwarts-themed room. The ideas came from the movies, book descriptions, and visiting the Wizarding World in Orlando.
I have lists that have additional ideas for both Gryffindor and Slytherin-themed spaces.
Shopping note: Most of these accessories are everyday objects that often can be found in vintage and thrift stores. Some you may own already!
1. Trunks
Steamer trunks are an essential item in the wizarding world. Kids take their trunks on their first trip to Hogwarts, where they are used for storage and as coffee tables. The famous cart, full of trunks, going through the wall to Platform 9 3/4. The boggart, a magical spirit able to transform into something you fear most who lives in a trunk.
Decorative and storage trunks can be purchased both used and new, and the prices differ widely. The Hogwarts crest trunks at Potter Barn Teen are at the top of the range, but there are also less expensive trunks sold at retailers such as Wayfair.
If you can, look for a vintage trunk at an antique store or estate sale. I got my two trunks cheaply, cleaned them up, and spray painted black for an authentic wizarding look.
2. Paintings in Gold Frames
The old masters’ paintings in heavy gold frames are what Hogwarts is known for, and unlike castle architecture, replicating this feature is not going to cause you a personal financial crisis.
Look for vintage prints in gilded frames that you can repurpose for your paintings. Then get an old master painting image from the National Gallery of Art or another collection of publicly available images. Print them either on paper or canvas and fit them into the frame. Now you have your own Harry Potter inspired art on a budget!
3. Oriental Rug
Most common rooms and dwellings in the wizarding world had dark wood floors covered by rugs with oriental motifs. Both Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms had it, as well as the interiors of 12 Grimmauld Place.
Getting an oriental rug is easy these days, as they are available from retailers like Wayfair. Here are some great options for rugs fit for a Gryffindor room or a Slytherin room. Make sure the rugs are large enough that they cover most of your own room for an authentic look.
4. Enchanted Chair
A comfy nice chair is a must for every wizard or witch, and having one in black leather will fit most occasions. For die heart Gryffindors and red and gold vintage chair is preferable. Whether you are decorating a bedroom or a common area, you have to have seating.
5. Old Books
Old books help to create an atmosphere of age and experience that is reflective of the Harry Potter world. By using old books, it creates a level of realism and authenticity to the room design that really transports people into the magical world of an old school like Hogwarts.
Old books also evoke a sense of nostalgia for the beloved stories that make up the series. They were used extensively to decorate both Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms. From a design perspective, old books create visual interest and help to fill up extra space in the room.
6. Magnifying Glass
The classes at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry required a lot of looking into detail. In the movies, you see magnifying glasses of differing sizes on various surfaces and attached to the ceiling of the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom. They are on Dumbldore’s desk and on desks in common rooms. Clearly, the wizards and witches love magnifying.
You can either get a vintage magnifying glass or opt for its contemporary version. There is also magnifying glass decor that is very reminiscent of Hogwarts sold at contemporary interior decorator stores like Wayfair.
7. Candelabras
From simple brass candle holders to beautiful candelabras adorning the Slytherin common room, candles were a big part of Hogwarts. To imitate the look, avoid the shiny polished brass and go for muted colors. I spray-painted my thrifted candelabra semi-gloss black and fits my Harry Potter themed room perfectly.
Here are some beautiful candelabra options that will fit the look: classic 5-candle candelabra, or candelabra with a vintage look.
8. Hogwarts Style Lamp – Brass with Metal or Glass Shade
The way Hogwarts is depicted in the movies, it’s not electrified. And when wizards and witches are not lighting their way with the Lumos charm, they use oil lamps.
The oil lamps most common at Hogwarts are made of brass and have glass hurricanes, often paired with either glass ball or metal shade. These are iconic lamps and scoring one for your own Harry Potter themed room is a must.
Here is an example of a similar lamp with a glass shade:
9. Antiqued mirror
Mirrors were present throughout Hogwarts Castle, the most important of them, the Mirror of the Erised. Gryffindor dorms had simple mirrors in dark wood frames by the students’ beds. The wall behind the pensive in Dumledore’s office was fully mirrored.
In the Slytherin common room, there were mirrors hung above the buffet and a desk, on both sides of the fireplace. These mirrors had large dark spots, where the silver in the back of the mirror has worn out with the age.
To create a mirror with a Hogwarts-worthy aged look, I antiqued a thrifted mirror. The idea is to remove the paint in the back of the mirror, damage the reflective paint in some places, and paint the back in a dark color for an authentic aged look.
10. Large vessel or vase
Using a large vase or vessel to decorate a Harry Potter themed room helps to bring the magical world of Harry Potter to life.The vessel can help capture the enchanted atmosphere that is often found throughout the series. By filling the vase with elements of nature, such as rocks or moss, it can give the room a natural, yet mysterious feel that Harry Potter is known for. The vessel can also be used to store items from the books like wands, brooms, or books adding to the magical atmosphere. Any Harry Potter themed room would not be complete without a large vessel to act as a centerpiece.
11. Brass Statues
Brass animal figurines are a great way to bring a magical feel to a Harry Potter themed room. These types of decor items were used in multiple Hogwarts spaces, from Dumbledore’s office to the Slytherin common room.
Brass figurines offer a classic, vintage look that adds to the charm and magic of the room. They can be placed on surfaces such as mantels, bookshelves, and coffee tables, and can easily be arranged together for a unique look. Additionally, brass animal figurines can be used to represent each of the four Hogwarts houses, giving the room a special touch.
12. Horns
Decorative horns were used in the Slytherin common room, placed on top of buffets and desks. Dumbledore had a magnifying glass with a horn handle on his desk. Xenophilius Lovegood had what he thought was a horn of the elusive Erumpent in his house. Horn is a beautiful natural decoration, and it goes well with the Slytherin theme.
Horns can be used to decorate a Harry Potter themed room to create an atmosphere of mystery and power, particularly for the Slytherin house. It can also be used to represent some of the characteristics associated with the house like cunning and ambition. Horns can set the tone for a theme and make the space feel more authentic. Additionally, it can help to emphasize the dark, mysterious atmosphere of the Slytherin house.
13. Quill and ink
Quill and ink add an extra layer of authenticity to a Harry Potter themed room and can make the room look more like it came straight out of the books and movies. Quill and ink can be used to decorate by writing ‘spells’, quotes, and character names on the walls, and they can be used to create magical artwork, drawings, and decorations.
Quill and ink also add a vintage touch to the room, which can make it look even more whimsical and magical.
14. Armillary Sphere
The armillary sphere is reminiscent of the Astronomy tower of Hogwarts. In addition, there were multiple spheres in Dumbledore’s office, so if you would like to create a Hogwarts-inspired study, an armillary sphere is a must.
Essential for the study of the movement of the planets, these globes were relied upon by scholars from China to India to Europe. They predicted the movement of the stars and helped astronomers better understand the world around us.
15. Glass Orb
Glass orbs are a key part of the Divination magical class at Hogwarts. They are used for a variety of different divination techniques, such as scrying and crystal-gazing. Decorating a Harry Potter themed room with glass orbs would lend an air of authenticity to the room, invoking the feel of the magical world of Harry Potter.
Furthermore, the beautiful and shimmering reflections of surrounding objects on the surfaces of the orbs create an interesting visual effect.
16. Silver Goblets and Serving Pieces
At Hogwarts, students drink their pumpkin juice out of silver goblets, and these are generously placed around common rooms. You can find very inexpensive silver-plated goblets and other serving pieces at thrift stores, and they only get better as they develop a patina.
Silver items are great for a Slytherin-themed room as silver is one of the house colors offering an authentic Slytherin look. Silver goblets are also a reference to classic fantasy books which makes silver goblets and pitchers a perfect decoration for a Harry Potter themed room. Silver pieces feel like a bit of a luxury, and as a result, add a touch of grandeur to the magical atmosphere which is perfect for a magical atmosphere.
17. Animal figurines
Animal figurines are a great way to decorate a Harry Potter themed room because they bring elements of the books and films to life. In the Harry Potter stories, animals play a huge role – from the friendly pet owl, Hedwig, to the talking pet rat, Scabbers, and the many magical creatures that inhabit the wizarding world. By including animal figurines in the room, it brings a sense of magical realism to the room and adds a unique touch that won’t be found anywhere else.
18. Skull decor
Skulls are an essential decor element for both Slytherin House and the Death Eaters, many of whom came from Slytherin. You can include skulls in the room in multiple capacities, from being part of decorative elements to stand-alone skulls to using art with skulls.
Using skull decor to decorate a Harry Potter themed room is an effective way to evoke the dark atmosphere of the Chamber of Secrets, the Slytherin common room, and the ominous presence of the Death Eaters. Skulls are a great symbol of death and the power of darkness, and the skulls themselves can help to create an air of the old and the other-worldly.
19. Glass jars
Glass jars are an essential decoration for a Harry Potter-themed room because they are a common feature in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom in the Harry Potter books and films. They can be used to create an imaginative and magical atmosphere in the room by containing mysterious and enchanting items such as potion ingredients, inchanted objects, or even parts of magical creatures.
Depending on how the jars are decorated and filled they can help to create a unique and individual atmosphere within the themed room. Finally, glass jars are a great way to bring a touch of Harry Potter magic into the room, while also providing practical storage solutions.
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