How To Decorate Your Dorm Room
College is an exciting time. For many, this period in your life signifies your first step towards independence – moving into dorms, away from your family, into your own space.
Exciting as it may be, moving out and starting college can also be scary or confusing. That’s why we think it’s so important to create a safe space in your dorm room – one where you can recharge and feel a sense of home.
While decorating a small, shared space may seem overwhelming, it’s a chance to unleash your creativity and transform it into a cozy, functional sanctuary that reflects your unique style. Dive into a world of imaginative décor ideas and ingenious space-saving tips designed to turn your dorm into a charming retreat.
If you want to check whether a rug or other interior décor fits your dorm room, start previewing it directly in your space!
Go to https://dressmycrib.com/rugs
- Upload a picture of your room.
- Indicate your desired rug location.
- Browse through the rugs displayed within your room.
- Choose one that catches your eye and try different placements!
What’s In A Standard Dorm Room?
While the average dorm room can vary depending on your institution or location, the average dorm room size is 150 to 250 square feet. Some other common features found across dorm rooms are:
- Furniture: Basic dorm rooms usually come furnished with:
- Twin-sized beds (sometimes XL twin for added length).
- Desks and chairs for studying.
- Dressers for clothing.
- Built-in or standalone closets.
- Overhead lights, though they might be basic and not very bright.
- Shelving or hutch over the desk area.
- Walls: Walls are usually painted in neutral colors (like off-white). In older buildings, walls might be cinder block. Decorations might be limited to what can be hung without causing damage (i.e., no nails). Many students use removable hooks, washi tape, or poster putty to hang posters, photos, and other decor.
- Flooring: Flooring can be either carpeted or tiled. Some students add area rugs for added warmth and style.
- Windows: Most dorm rooms have at least one window, equipped with basic blinds or curtains provided by the college. Students often add their own curtains for better light control and decor. Curtains can also soften space and make it feel more like home.
- Bathroom: Not all dorm rooms have private bathrooms. In traditional dormitory setups, there might be communal bathrooms on each floor. Some newer dorms or suite-style accommodations might feature shared bathrooms between a smaller number of rooms.
- Amenities: Depending on the dormitory, rooms might have:
- Air conditioning or heating units.
- Ethernet jacks and/or Wi-Fi access.
- Cable TV hookup.
- Lofted Beds: Some dorms feature beds that are lofted to make space for a desk or seating area underneath. Others might offer bunk beds, especially in rooms designed for more than two students.
Photo by dormify
Photo by dormify
How To Decorate Your Dorm Room
Don’t be disheartened if you find your new room boring – college dorm rooms are a blank slate for you to personalize your space according to your own style.
Read on for our tips to decorate your dorm room!
Photo by Faith Patenaude
Save Space by Playing with Possible Layouts
Creating a safe space starts with your physical environment – your room. As students begin preparing for the busy back to school period, we think it’s the perfect time to start thinking of your space. Let’s start cozying up your dorm room to set up the perfect little nest you need after college classes!
Photo by dormify
Think Practically
Since dorm rooms are often shared, start brainstorming the general layout of your room to make sure your furniture is where you want it. Think not only of aesthetics, but also of the practical use of your space.
For example, how will you coordinate the workspace? Do you and your roommate want to study side-by-side, or do you prefer to split everything evenly?
Imagine your ideal space and play around with various layouts to discover what works best for you. This interactive approach not only helps you visualize your dream room but also maximizes your available space.
By experimenting with different arrangements and design ideas, you can optimize functionality and avoid impulse buys. This thoughtful planning ensures that every element of your room contributes to a cohesive and personalized sanctuary, perfectly tailored to your style and needs.
Choose your Color Palette!
The most important tip to getting your dorm room looking professionally designed is to pick a colour palette and stick to it!
Being consistent with the colours throughout your room, even down to household items where possible, will really help make your space look intentional and cohesive! Here’s an excellent example of how to create a beautifully designed space:
• A Neutral palette: Provides a tranquil canvas, especially in the cozy confines of small dorm rooms. Soft shades of beige and cream come together to craft a warm, inviting ambiance that feels both soothing and sophisticated. These gentle hues infuse the room with a sense of calm, making the space feel more open and airier. By choosing a neutral colour scheme, you create a versatile backdrop that allows your personal style to shine through while maintaining a serene, cohesive environment.
Photo by dormify
• A Minimalist monochrome aesthetic: Effortlessly elevates your dorm room from mundane to chic. By embracing a palette of black, white, and subtle shades of Gray, you can create a sophisticated and modern space that exudes elegance with minimal effort. This clean, streamlined approach allows you to play with contrasts and textures, making your room feel both spacious and stylish. The simplicity of the monochrome theme brings a sense of calm and order, transforming your dorm into a refined retreat where every detail feels intentional, and every corner exudes a sense of understated luxury.
Photo by MLJModern
Storage and Organization
To keep your room cozy and enjoyable, you’ll have to make the most of the small space available to you. A key element for this is storage and organizing – get creative!
Maximize Your Space Efficiently Under-Bed Storage Solutions
Elevate and Store: Transform the often-overlooked area beneath your bed into a treasure trove of storage by utilizing bed risers. By lifting your bed higher, you unlock a hidden compartment perfect for stashing seasonal clothing, textbooks, or extra linens.
Choose stylish bins or sleek drawers to keep everything organized and accessible. This clever use of vertical space not only declutters your room but also ensures that your essentials are neatly stored away, making the most of every inch of your dorm room.
Photo by @abby.gearhart
Space-Saving Furniture
In the compact world of dorm living, every square inch matters. That's why opting for space-saving furniture that serves multiple purposes is key to creating a functional and stylish environment.
Seek out multi-functional pieces like storage ottomans or benches with hidden compartments. These dual-purpose furniture items offer the perfect blend of practicality and style, providing discreet storage for your belongings while enhancing the overall aesthetic of your room. By choosing furniture that works double duty, you can keep your space tidy and organized.
In addition, if you want your everyday dorm room essentials to always be accessible, get a rolling storage cart that you can take with you wherever you go. It’s super handy, space-saving, and convenient.
Vertical Wonders:
• Pegboards: Install a pegboard above your desk to organize stationery, keys, and other essentials.
Photo by @daniwhitedesign
• Hanging Shelves: Maximize your room’s potential by installing hanging shelves that showcase your favourite books, plants, and décor items while freeing up valuable floor space. Opt for rustic wood and metal pipe shelving units to infuse an industrial-chic vibe into your space. These shelving units not only add a stylish edge but also offer a practical solution for organizing and displaying your cherished items. Their sleek, easy-to-install design keeps your dorm room clutter-free, turning your walls into a gallery of personal touches and treasures. Perfect for showcasing everything from beloved books to unique memorabilia, these shelves elevate both the aesthetics and functionality of your living area.
Photo by @deecampling
Closet Optimization:
• Double Hanging Rods: Attach a second rod in your closet to double your hanging space for clothes.
• Over-the-Door & Staircase Organizers: Transform your dorm room into a model of efficiency by incorporating over-the-door and staircase organizers. These ingenious storage solutions are perfect for stashing shoes, accessories, and toiletries, keeping them within easy reach while maintaining a clutter-free space.
To add an extra layer of style and privacy, consider hanging a curtain to discreetly conceal the organizers. This simple yet effective approach not only keeps your essentials organized and out of sight but also adds a touch of elegance to your dorm room, ensuring everything feels tidy, intentional, and effortlessly chic.
Don’t worry – even if you’re not allowed to use nails or screws on the walls, you can opt for adhesive tools instead. Make use of cute storage caddies, stackable and foldable crates, shelves that clip onto your bed or floating adhesive shelves.
Photo by Adored by Alex
Add Rugs
Rugs are not only extremely practical, but they also tie the whole room together. Think of rugs like a wallpaper for your floor. If your dorm room has cement floors or thin, industrial grade carpet, adding a rug can change the whole atmosphere and add a sense of warmth.
Photo by SN_Shop1702
Add an area rug under your bed or desk, layer smaller rugs on top of an area rug and enjoy the softness underfoot while adding color and life to your room.
Rugs come in all shapes, sizes, patterns, textures and pile heights. A popular choice in dorm rooms is a soft, fluffy rug to give you a soft landing space when you step out of bed.
Take advantage of modern tools like Augmented Reality rug visualizers to virtually place any rug in your dorm room and see what looks best.
Functional And Aesthetic Lighting
Dorm rooms tend to be dim, which is less than ideal if you’re looking to do some late-night studying or cramming for an exam. Add lights that serve a practical purpose while also acting as a décor piece. Whether it’s a bedside light, floor lamp, fairy lights or a table lamp for your workspace, the possibilities are endless.
Once you find a lamp you like, choose the type of light you want to emanate from it. Do you want a warm light with hints of yellow, or a bright white light? You can even go for a color-changing LED light. You’ll be surprised how much lighting can change up the atmosphere of your room!
Photo by Wendy
Plants, Plants And More Plants
We all developed a passion for plants during the COVID lockdown, right? Adding greenery to your room will help bring a sense of freshness and color. Plus, plants can be great for your health, as some have air purifying qualities.
If you’re a busy student, choose plants that fit your lifestyle. Some plants are extremely low maintenance, requiring little sunlight and only needing to be watered once every few days (or even months!), like the popular aloe vera or snake plants.
Photo by @tulipsbytina
• Effortless Greenery: Opt for low-maintenance plants such as aloe vera or snake plants, which thrive with minimal care and bring a refreshing touch of nature to your room. These hardy plants not only purify the air but also add a vibrant, natural element to your space without demanding extensive attention or upkeep.
• Creative Planters: Elevate your plant display by using creative and unconventional containers. Transform mason jars, repurposed mugs, or even vintage teacups into charming planters that inject personality and character into your greenery. These unique planters not only serve as stylish accents but also offer a personal touch that makes your indoor garden truly one-of-a-kind.
• Hanging planters: Perfect for adding greenery without sacrificing floor or desk space, which is often limited in dorm rooms. They can be hung from the ceiling or high on the walls, ideally near a light source. Incorporate easy-to-care-for plants like English ivy or ferns, which can grow beautifully in hanging baskets.
Photo by @ooliviajane
Use Your Bed As Décor
Your bed is likely to take up a sizable portion of your room, so use it to your advantage. Get bed covers and pillowcases with fun colors and patterns, layer cozy pillows, bed throws and quilts to create texture and add your favorite stuffed animal to remind you of home!
Bedding & Textures
• Mix Textures: Elevate your bedding by blending an array of textures and patterns, creating a cozy, layered retreat. Picture the interplay of soft velvets, crisp cottons, and chunky knits, coming together to form a bed that's not just a place to sleep, but a luxurious haven of comfort. This thoughtful mix adds depth and personality, transforming your space into a warm, inviting sanctuary that beckons you to unwind and relax.
Photo by @milkteadani
• Pillows /Throw: Throw pillows bring a burst of colour and personality to any dorm room. Opt for a variety of sizes and shapes to craft a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Experiment with mixing and matching patterns and textures to create a look that's uniquely yours. Don’t shy away from bold choices, but ensure they harmonize with your bedding and other decor. And remember, throw pillows aren’t just for your bed—they can also add flair to a chair or couch, instantly elevating the entire space.
Photo by Dayu
Decorate Your Walls
DIY wall art: Enhances your dorm room without spending much. You can create pieces that feature shades of your chosen focal color to maintain your room’s colour scheme. Consider simple projects like water colour paintings on canvas, framed fabric pieces, or even a collage of blue-toned photographs.
Another idea is to hang a series of small, framed prints that follow a specific theme, such as ocean scenes or abstract art, which can add a professional touch to your DIY efforts and enhance the aesthetic of your dorm room.
• A photo wall: A wonderful way to personalize your dorm room and keep cherished memories close. Use light blue washi tape or photo frames to create a cohesive look. Arrange your photos in creative patterns or shapes on a specific wall section. You can include pictures from home, friends, favourite trips, or inspirational quotes.
Photo by @tiffany_studies
No need for nails here. If you want to hang up art, opt for self-adhesive, damage-free hooks such as these command hooks.
• Tapestries: A large tapestry can introduce colour and pattern, making a big impact with minimal effort. A personalized tapestry featuring your favourite quotes can magically transform a plain dorm wall. Choose inspirational sayings or fun designs that represent your personality. Hang it over your bed or desk for a daily dose of motivation.
Photo by @zoe.snyder
The monochrome elements will tie the display back to the overall room theme, making it a focal point that’s both personal and stylish.
Wall Art and Posters
• Removable Decals: Elevates your dorm room’s style with personalized decals, a creative and damage-free way to make your space uniquely yours. Choose from an array of removable decals in soothing light blue hues, featuring geometric shapes, inspiring quotes, or whimsical designs like ocean waves and drifting clouds. These versatile decals can be applied not only to walls but also to furniture and even your laptop, allowing you to personalize every corner of your living space.
With these artistic touches, you can effortlessly transform the aesthetic of your room, adding depth and character without the worry of permanent changes. Best of all, when it’s time to move out or refresh your décor, these decals peel off easily, leaving no trace behind ensuring your style evolves as freely as you do.
Use washi tape to create a frame, wall putty to hang up posters, or fairy lights, wire and mini clothespins to create a trendy “clothesline” photo wall with pictures of your favorite memories.
Photo by Kaitlyn C.
Conclusions
Decorating your dorm room is all about making it a reflection of your personality while keeping it functional and cozy. With these creative tips and tricks, your dorm will be a comfortable retreat and a stylish space that inspires you. Don’t forget to use DressMyCrib’s rug-visualizer to find the perfect rug and complete your décor effortlessly.
Ready to transform your dorm? Share your design journey with us in the comments or tag us on social media with #DressMyCrib. Happy decorating!
FAQ
How Should I Choose A Dorm Room Rug?
It can be difficult to choose the right rug for your dorm. Use our free Augmented Reality "See Rug in Your Room" feature to see rugs in your own space so you can be sure of your decision.
What Stores Or Platforms Sell Dorm Rugs?
Nowadays, it's easy to find many different area rugs at all price ranges for your dorm room. You can use DressMyCrib's rug-visualizer to help you choose and then shop for them online from retailers like Amazon, Wayfair, Target, Ikea, and Walmart. With just a phone, you can preview any rug anywhere in your room - completely free!
Best Rugs That Complement Your Dorm Room
