If you’re looking for some new ideas to create a stunning dorm room that’ll be the envy of all your friends, then you’ve come to the right place. This post is packed with 37 fun dorm room ideas to create a space that’s functional and beautiful. Plus, I’ll show you where to get the best stuff to make your dorm look like the gorgeous ones below.
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How can I make a dorm room look good?
Coordinate colors with your roommate
Add personal touches like photos and art
Re-arrange your furniture to make the most of your space
Use curtains & bed skirts to hide storage
How can I decorate my dorm on a budget?
If you’re on a budget, there are tons of ideas to decorate your room that will give you a lot of bang for your buck. Here are some ideas:
Add twinkle lights
Cover a wall with vines
Using tapestries on the ceiling or wall
Create a wall collage with photos or art
In this post I’ll show you all of these dorm room ideas and more. Let’s take a look at 37 ideas to create a cute, stylish and organized dorm room.
Creating a photo wall is a great way to decorate a blank wall in your dorm. It will add a ton of personality to your space and its also cheap and easy to do.
You can either align your photos in straight lines or place them randomly for a more organic feel. Either would look stylish. A photo collage works well on the wall above your bed.
Pick out some art to express your personality like the Corey Paige Design artwork in this dorm room. Find accessories like pillows and bedding to match your art to give your dorm a pulled together feel. Check out my favorite picks for bright fun artwork that would look great in your dorm room below.
If you’re looking for some cheap dorm room ideas then adding vines is an easy and inexpensive way to add a ton of impact to your room. It gives your room that natural, boho feel.
When draping your vines remember they don’t have to be perfect. You’ll get a more natural look if you hang them organically.
Another way to add a ton of personality and a focal point to your dorm room for cheap is to add an aesthetic photo collage. It would look amazing right above your bed. What I love about this idea is there are tons of options in every style possible.
Adding twinkle lights is an easy way to add both style and ambience to your room. You can choose one wall and completely cover it with lights or drape your lights around your walls for a fun and pretty look.
Most dorm beds don’t come with a headboard and if they do it’s usually not amazing. So, why not instantly take your room up a notch by adding a headboard. This instantly adds class to your room and makes your room feel more like a real bedroom.
Below check out some of my favorite twin headboards including one that sticks to the wall and others that you can easily lean against the wall.
Instantly liven up your room by adding some plants. Any blank shelf, the top of your furniture, your windowsill or even on the floor is the perfect spot for plants. If you don’t have a green thumb or your room does not get light, fake plants will look cute too.
In your dorm room you’ll need to use every opportunity for storage that you can get so you’ll definitely need under bed storage. But you don’t want everyone to see it.
So, a great idea is to a add bed skirt that hides all the clutter underneath. You may need an extra-long bed skirt if your dorm bed is high like many of them are.
Looking for dorm room ideas to create a beautiful focal point but on the cheap? You can create a pretty floral wall. You can either use faux flowers or dried flowers and place them in rows on your wall.
Dorm room neon name signs are really popular right now. One would look amazing over your bed. You can customize them with your name, nick name or a fun saying. Plus, they come in tons of fun colors.
Below check my favorite options for getting a custom neon sign for your dorm.
Here’s another easy decorating option that will add a ton of your personality to your dorm room. Create a wall collage made up of favorite photos, artwork, printables, and anything else that you love.
Adding a bold pattern to the fabrics in your dorm room is an easy way to make a statement. You can try this with curtains, bedding or even an area rug.
If your school doesn’t allow you to add a curtain rod in the wall you could try a tension curtain rod to hang your curtains with no holes in the wall!
If you love the beach, why not add these vibes to your dorm room? To do this you can start with a beach tapestry as your focal point. Then add in beach accessories through bedding, pillows, and décor.
When you create symmetry in your dorm room it instantly creates a designer feel. You’ve got to get your roommate on board and pick out your bedding and accessories together to pull this look off.
In the dorm pictured above they not only have matching bedding but also lamps, ottomans and headboards.
Consider adding a statement chair like a hanging boho chair to the corner of the room. This will create a fun spot to hangout and read or visit with friends. Plus, it also creates a beautiful focal point for your room.
If you want to add this to your dorm room, check out how to pull it off below.
For many dorm rooms hanging a chair might not be an option. There are chair stands that you can purchase that fit all hammock chairs. Check out my favorite below.
Adding a tapestry to the wall by your bed gives you the best bang for your buck. It’s cheaper than a large piece of art but will instantly give you that accent wall you’re going for. There are tons of options depending on your style.
Often times dorm rooms have odd architecture including awkward walls. These features can actually look unique in a good way if you accentuate them with décor like rope lights or stick-on butterflies.
If you want to steal the style of this stylish room then check out my top picks below.
If you love the boho vibes, then incorporate those into your room with natural colors and textures and soft free flowing fabrics and pillows. In the dorm room pictured above see how simple light colors create a calming, peaceful vibe for the room.
If you want some boho dorm room ideas check out some of my favorite pieces below to pull off the style.
Lighting is a great way to make a statement in your dorm room. Jenny Reimold created this DIY chandelier for her daughter’s dorm to do just that. She started with a seagrass pendant and then she used hook and loop tape to attach a remote-controlled puck light to the hardware inside.
Then she tied white rubber coated electrical wire to the pendant and hung it from a screw hook on the ceiling. Do you love this idea? Then check out what you need to pull it off below.
If you love all things nature, then a botanical theme might be right for you. To pull of this look find bedding and accessories with plants, flowers and butterflies. Then add some real plants too to complete the natural look.
If you want to add those botanical vibes to your dorm room too then you might like this comforter from Amazon that you can find below.
Take the time to think about your organization and how to maximize it in your room. There are tons of great products out there that can help you do that.
Here they’ve included clear stackable bins with lids, a night stand with fabric storage cubes, a shower caddy, a bedside caddy and even a suction cup shelf. Check out below the best dorm room ideas to take your organization up a notch.
If you love that natural boho feel, then consider dedicating one wall in your dorm room for hanging plants. They make tons of beautiful hanging plant macramé holders that would look amazing hung in your dorm room.
If you want to try this in your dorm room, then check out where to get macramé plant holder.
With space limited in your dorm it helps when you can make a piece of furniture do double duty or even more! Here the desk can be used as a vanity, a nightstand and as extra storage.
Everyone wants to create that cozy feel in their dorm room, right? One easy way to do this is to layer cozy blankets on your bed. Feel free to throw these blankets on your bed for the ultimate cozy, casual look.
Dorm closets are usually very minimal, but you can make the most of every inch by adding matching wicker baskets, fabric bins, a shoe rack and pretty velvet hangers.
String lights hung all around your room is a fun way to add both light and ambience to your room. When hanging your lights you don’t have to be perfect. Create a lived-in cozy feel by hanging your string lights organically throughout the room.
If you love the idea of adding string lights to your room, check out where to get them below.
If you’re lucky enough to have a little extra room in your dorm, why not create a seating area? Here they maximized a small space by using a small armless couch and two ottomans that double as storage and a coffee table.
Creating a vine wall is an easy way to create a natural aesthetic for your dorm room. This will instantly create that cozy feel in your room. Adding lights to your vine wall will add even more ambience to your space.
If you like the idea of adding a wall of ivy and lights to your dorm room, then check out where you can get it below.
You’ll be spending a lot of time working on college papers and studying at your desk so take the time to make it a place that you want to be. It’s all about the details. Pick out desk organization pieces that you love.
Layer in your favorite pictures, and décor and don’t forget plants! For her daughter, Jenny Reimold even switched out the boring chair that came in the dorm with a chair that fit with the style of the room.
If you want to create a pretty desk space in your dorm check out my favorite finds below to do that.
If you love color, then don’t be afraid to go bright and bold in your dorm room. Chose a couple of your favorite colors and add them to your accessories, bedding and artwork. Bright colors look chic paired with black and white.
Let’s be honest, dorm rooms usually don’t have beautiful carpeting. The dorm room carpet is made to withstand college kids. So, adding an area rug is an easy way to instantly transform your space.
Adding a bold pattern with your area rug is a fun and easy way to add drama to your dorm room or choose a neutral color with some texture to soften the feel in your room. Here is a leopard area rug similar to the one pictured.
I’ve shown you a tapestry on the wall, but have you considered putting one on the ceiling too? Putting a tapestry on the ceiling will instantly give your dorm room that cozy feel that you’re going for. Choose one that goes with your room’s color scheme to create a cohesive look in your room.
If you don’t know your roommate, give them a call ahead of time to coordinate your bedding colors to really add that wow factor to your dorm room. Here they have a gorgeous lilac that is echoed through the bedding, throw pillows and even the stunning art.
In this bedroom the bold colorful art makes the room. The colors from the painting are reflected in the bedding, pillows and the desk skirt. Check out Etsy and find a piece of art you love to inspire your dorm room design.
Large woven wall hangings are inexpensive and can create a beautiful focal point in your dorm room. Consider hanging one of these above your dorm bed for a cozy boho feel in your room.
If you want to steal this style for your dorm room, then check out my favorite woven wall hanging that you can get on Amazon.
You may be wondering what are the items that every freshman needs in their dorm room. Here are a few of the essentials:
Storage containers for closet and under the bed
Shower caddy
Cozy comforter
Sheets (often in twin extra-long size)
Pillows and pillowcases
Towels
Laundry hamper
Mini fridge & microwave (optional but nice to have)
Coffee maker
Removable hooks for jackets, purses and sweatshirts
Wall décor
Extra seating
Lamps
TV
I hope checking out these 37 dorm room ideas has inspired you to try one of these ideas in your space. You’ll be spending a ton of time in your dorm room. The most important thing is to make sure that your room shows off your style, personality and is a place you love to be!
Feel free to save your favorite ideas to your Pinterest boards. To do that just click on the picture and then the red P in the corner and choose your board. If you loved this post, please share it!
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