Summer is winding down and soon it’ll be time to go back to school! For some of us, that means returning to college dorm rooms. Usually these are stark white and depressing, that’s where dorm room decor comes in! We’ve found 15 ideas to help you channel your inner interior designer so your dorm room can reflect your personal style.
When decorating your dorm, remember to consider the room’s natural light and how furniture and colors will look in it. When in doubt, lean into light colors to help make small (and potentially dark spaces) feel more spacious. Many people work around pillows and bedding, but don’t underestimate the power of towels, wall art, any furniture you’re bringing, and even decorative storage elements. Also don’t overlook plants, ambient lighting, and curtains to really make your dorm feel like home! Making sure these all coordinate for an effective look can be daunting, but it’s helpful to start with a Pinterest board or a mood board to get your ideas together.
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1. Elegant white
White always looks classy, so it will provide the base for a few of our dorm room decor ideas, but this option really goes all in with layers of whites in multiple textures. The overall effect is clean, bright, and elegant, a great choice to open up a space more.
2. Peachy keen
A soft and feminine monochromatic option to look into is peach. Its pastel version is not overly sweet and still adds some color interest to the room. When selecting decor items in this color it’s a good idea to try to find variety in the depth of color so it doesn’t feel flat or monotonous.
3. Casual eclectic
While not many dorm rooms have features quite as nice as this, dorm room decor can change the feel dramatically. A always rug adds interest to the floor, but the checkered pattern gives it some character. Modern art and furniture with modern lines accompany it well.
4. Pops of periwinkle
The silvery tones of periwinkle are both refreshing and calming, making it a great choice to make your dorm room a sanctuary to recharge. We love how the color is used multiple times throughout the room in different ways, making the look cohesive without being overbearing.
5. Natural elements
A variety of soft greens lends this dorm room decor a peaceful feeling, and paired with ivy and wood and bamboo accents, a natural one as well. The corkboard on the wall draws focus, showing the user’s interests and pieces of memorabilia that play into that natural and carefree vibe.
6. Baby blue
While some blues are icy cold and sharp, this blue is welcoming against the white bedding and walls. We love that the blue is seen first in the wall art at it’s most saturated level to draw the eye, then echoed in the bedding and pillows, and then again in the night stand draw handles.
7. Cozy neutrals
Adding tans and camels into the mix will soften any white, though the textures in the bedding also add to the cozy feel. The teddy bear and photos on the wall make the room feel more personal. Also note the curtains and how the diffuse the light, contributing to that overall feeling of softness.
8. Naturally you
Dorm room decor is best when there’s elements that reflect YOU and your interests. Posters and wall art are a fast and often inexpensive way to add that character to your decor. Plants, plushies, and personal effects also lend the room that lived in feel. Just keep in mind that if you’re going bold on your walls, your bedding either needs to complement it or sit back so it doesn’t compete.
9. Chic and preppy
There’s always such a bright and clean feel to preppy dorm room decor! That’s due in large part to the sheer amount of white accented by bold, coordinated colors. We love the colorful wall art on the walls, notice how the matching frames tie them all together and elevate them compared to how they’d look hung on the wall frameless. When looking for preppy color schemes keep complimentary colors in mind: blue and orange, pink (technically red) and green, and purple and yellow (though gold is also good).
10. Greek life inspired
Greek life is a huge part of the college experience for many and some want to highlight that in their room! Looks like this typically start with a preppy base but then add in elements related to their sorority or fraternity. In this example you can see the letters on the wall and the name on the pillow, but you can go for wall art, figurines (if there’s a symbol your org is known for), or even just photography.
11. Fresh and clean
We love the airy feel of this dorm room decor, and once again, it all starts with white! However the celery green blanket and green poster gives the room a bit more energy. The items on the wall (aside from the green poster) have a fairly low visual weight, which adds interest without cluttering up the room too much.
12. Boho vibes
The star of the show for boho is usually texture! So if you want to lean into a boho look prioritize textured elements textiles in beiges, creams, or more saturated options like sage green, rust, or teal. Patterns also come into play, with most boho textiles carrying a geometric look. Lastly, add plants! Most boho rooms benefit from plants and baskets.
13. Southern glam
While this is similar to the preppy dorm room decor we showed earlier, this option feels even a little more glamorous due to the symmetry and emphasis on glass and gold. Metallic or shiny elements with sharp, clean lines can really amp up the glamor of a space, especially when paired with white.
14. Vibrant reds
Go bold with your dorm room decor and use red as your main color! The red, white, and pink scheme feels modern and exciting but most importantly: it has character. Choosing one dominant color can make your life so much easier when decorating and it doesn’t have to be red! Pick a color you love and run with it.
15. Fun and feminine
Pink and orange come together in our last example to make an impact! This vibrant pairing brings the fun and is easy to achieve if you start with a base of white. When going for a look like this, remember to use the colors throughout the room for even distribution.
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