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Going to college? These are the best dorm decor ideas of 2022 that will make your dorm room look Pinterest and Insta-worthy!
Moving into your first college dorm can be super exciting. But, it can also be overwhelming when you start to think about how you will decorate it, where all of your stuff is going to go, and if you and your roommate will agree on styles and ideas.
It an be really hard to come up with ideas on how to decorate your dorm room, but these dorm decor ideas are sure to help you with making your dream dorm vision come to life!
From totally rearranging your dorm furniture to just adding the smallest of details to bring warmth and some of your own personality into your dorm room, there are literally endless ways to make your first home-away-from-home amazing.
Having a dorm that you want to hang out in will also be a dorm that your friends will want to hang out in, so let’s get to decorating so that you can enjoy all of those long movie nights and study sessions!
This post was all about dorm decor ideas.
1. Stick with a Color Scheme
This is the number one, fool-proof way to really up your dorm game. Having a cohesive color palette in your room will make everything look put together and elevated.
You don’t have to stick to just one color scheme. You can decorate your dorm using many color combinations, like neutrals and white, black and gold, peach and sage, and so many others.
Having a color palette in mind will help you keep focused on decor and furniture that will look good together, and it will also help with narrowing down what exactly to buy for college, especially when there are a ton of options.
Some extremely easy ways to achieve this is through throw blankets, pillows, and themed wall decor, just to name a few. Whether you want to go all out or just add hints of your color scheme, this is an easy way to make your dorm look amazing.
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2. Loft Your Bed
Dorm rooms can be small. Like really small. So, you definitely want to maximize your space wherever you can get it. Adding space vertically, like under your bed, can really make a difference when you want your dorm room to look luxurious and comfy.
Raising, or “lofting” your bed is a great way to add some space for storage, a coffee station, or a lounge area can really make your dorm room a go-to hangout for you and your friends. Plus, the awesome thing about most dorm beds is you can loft them to a lot of different heights to suit your needs.
You don’t have to add a long bed skirt to your lofted bed, but if you want to, it will make your dorm look luxurious and super comfy!
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3. Add Some Greenery
Having plants in any space adds so much warmth and dimension to the room. Whether you have real or fake plants, greenery will really elevate the look and style of your dorm, especially when the greenery is distributed throughout.
Place plants on your desk, windowsill, shelves, or dresser to add some spice to your dorm decor. If you have a black thumb, then there are a ton of affordable fake plant options for you to choose from. But if you love real plants, then visit your local nursery or garden center to stock up!
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4. Coordinate With Your Roomate
Talking to your roommate about coordinating your dorm decor is an awesome way to make your dorm room look AMAZING. It just gives such a cohesive, elevated look no matter what decor or colors you use.
It’s so fun to match room styles with your roommate, and it’ even more fun to get to decorate with the person you are going to be living with for the next year on move-in day. It can be such a bonding experience to coordinate with your roommate because you get to collaborate on everything.
Plus, when you have friends over, everyone will be super impressed with your room. If you want some truly Pinterest-worthy pictures on move-in day and throughout the year, then this idea is for you!
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5. Play With Texture
Texture is a really easy way to make your dorm room decor look like it was put together by an interior design major. Having different textures gives dimension and depth to your space, and can draw the eye to certain things you want to highlight.
You can achieve the best texture look by using throw blankets, wall decor, throw pillows, bedding, rugs, and table decor, just to name a few.
The best things about using texture in your dorm decor is you can have as much or as little as you want and it will still look amazing in your room!
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6. Make Your Accessories Into Wall Decor
If you are a hat, jewelry, or accessories girl, then this dorm decor idea is for you. All it takes is some hooks and a little bit of creativity!
A bunch of wide brimmed hats arranged on a wall is such a cool way to add a little extra storage space as well as decorate your dorm room with things you already own. If you’re going for a boho vibe in your room, then hanging your hats on your wall above your bed is perfect for you.
If you want to not only showcase your jewelry, bags, or scarves as decor, but also want to give yourself a little more storage space in your already small dorm room, then use this idea to help.
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7. Keep it Simple
Have you ever heard about the KISS acronym? Well, most of the time, this phrase is used in college classes or other places, but you can also “keep it simple stupid” with your dorm room decor.
Simplicity if the perfect dorm decor idea if you are wanting to stay on a budget or have a clean looking aesthetic. The way a simple bed spread with minimal wall decor looks is so trendy right now, especially for dorm room settings.
If you have a more playful or less mature interior design style, then going for simple is a fool-proof way to make your dorm look great. Plus, keeping your room simple means that you have a clean slate to add anything else that you like later!
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8. Add String Lights
This one is pretty obvious, but trust me, it works!
Those dorm room lights can be so harsh and cool-toned, and can really put strain on your eyes and your aesthetic. An amazing way to warm up your room and set the mood is to hang fairy or Christmas lights on your wall above your bed, under your lofted bed, or around your dorm room window, just to name a few.
Plus, if you want some light at night but don’t want to turn on those overhead dorm lights, then string lights are the way to go for movie nights, having a small amount of light when you sleep, or accentuating your wall decor.
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9. Use Under The Bed Storage
This dorm decor idea is perfect of you are moving into a really small dorm room. Under the bed storage is so good for organizing all of your clothes, charging cables, shoes, and accessories.
You can do so much with under the bed storage, especially if you can loft your bed really high. Cube organizers are a great choice if you’re on a budget, dressers or shelving is amazing for having that luxurious aesthetic, and storage bags are awesome for beds that are lower to the ground.
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10. Create a Lounge Area
This dorm decor idea is one of the best ones for when you have friends over for movie nights, study sessions, and hang-out days. Having a lounge area is seriously life-changing.
Lofting your bed high enough to fit a small sofa or futon underneath creates such a cool space for you to relax too, and trust me, you’ll need somewhere to relax after all that schoolwork!
To spruce up your lounge area even more, add some throw pillows, blankets, and an ottoman. This idea is a sure-fire way to have the comfiest hang out and relaxation area in your dorm building!
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11. Create a Photo Wall
This one os for all my memory-loving girls out there! You can never go wrong with the look of a photo wall in a dorm room. College is such an important time in your life, so you definitely want to document all of the your new experiences and friends.
All you really need for this idea are photos and tape, which is super budget friendly, easy to put together, and quick to finish. All of your friends and family will love to see photos of your memories that you’ve made and hear the stories behind them.
You can even create a photo wall with themed photos. There are tons of photos online, like city skylines, peach and teal themed photos, and monochromatic style pictures. Regardless of your style, this dorm decor idea is perfect for you!