Dorm decor quick picks
A cozy rug: Safavieh Tulum Collection Accent Rug
A space-saving storage device: Dormify Over-the-Door Vanity Organizer
A fun, multicolored throw pillow: Opalhouse Oversized Bolster Jungalow Throw Pillow
As college kids prepare to head to campus this fall, one thing’s for sure: Their dorm decor options and shopping experience is nothing like it was in the days of yore. Today’s students are completely making over their dorm rooms, adding their own style and personalities to the spaces via temporary and (mostly) affordable dorm room essentials.
“Moving away to college is such a huge transition and … designing a space with all the comforts of home is more likely to provide students with a sense of peace as they navigate life as a new college student,” says interior designer and mom of seven (yes, seven!) Jenny Reimold, who created a boho-chic dorm room for her daughter Grace at the University of Alabama that was so pretty it actually went viral.
“The evolution of dorm design has helped students make the smooth transition from home to dorm living without sacrificing their own unique style,” says Lisa Fleming Picciano, owner of the New Jersey-based interior design firm Lisa Fleming Design. “There are so many dorm-ready decor options these days — from peel-and-stick wallpapers and neon signs to comfy bedding sets and wall-mounted headboards — students have endless ways to make their spaces both functional and totally fun.”
Jon Call, owner of the interior design firm Mr Call Designs, which has designed innumerable dorm rooms across the country in recent years, adds, “More and more, students are craving designed spaces that reflect their personalities. This is many of their first homes outside of their parents’, and they want to embrace it, decorate it and make it their own.”
Being a mom herself, interior designer Amie Freling, owner of the New York-based Meme Hill Studio, can relate when it comes to not breaking the bank on dorm decor. “First and foremost, it’s about being comfortable and making the best use of your small space while bringing the comforts of home to campus,” she tells us. “But when decorating my daughter’s dorm room I also looked at it as a rental, so everything had to be temporary. We added a spring rod and lightweight curtain to her closet to hide all the clutter. We used another inexpensive sheer curtain tucked under the lofted mattress to give a custom bed skirt look for under $20.”
For Mary Hawthorne, owner of the Georgia-based design firm Mary Hawthorne Interiors, it’s about maximizing the small space while also making the room special for her collegiate clients. While air purifiers, extra seating and bins galore are among her must-haves, Hawthorne, who has designed dozens of dorm rooms throughout the South, also focuses on helping her clients create meaningful photo collages to help them on homesick days and wall decor galore “for covering up the dull beige walls found in so many dorms.”
To help your student get the dorm of their dreams, we polled a slew of design experts asking them for their “essentials,” as well as some fun products that are simply too cute to pass up.
College dorm decor ideas
In addition to cozying up cold and worn dorm floor, rugs are also a great way to show some personality with your decor. “A carefully chosen rug can make a space feel cohesive and warm. It also covers flooring and carpet that has been used year after year by other students,” says Reimold. “Typically, a 5-foot-by-7-foot rug fits in most rooms and can also double as an exercise mat for students who prefer working out at home.”
“I love a customized shower curtain. They instantly personalize a space and make it look more special,” Call says. “It’s a great gift for any student moving into their first dorm.” Not feeling this preppy option? Fear not: Zazzle has dozens of custom curtains to choose from, or you can just opt to upload your own photo to this curtain.
A quick and cheap way to add some drama to their bed? With a mosquito net! “Small items to add personality and privacy to a room are always things I love to include in a student’s bedroom,” Call says. “Recently, for a project in Georgia, I added this mosquito net canopy to a bed, which added romance and design to the small space. I love unexpected touches like this that elevate a room.”
Even if your dorm room comes outfitted with wall-to-wall carpeting, investing in a bright area rug to anchor the room is still a good idea. “I think this functional, machine-washable, stain-resistant and water-resistant rug can add a ton of personality to a dull dorm room,” Fleming Picciano says. The rug comes in three colorways and 10 shapes and sizes.
On top of our dorm shopping list? A trusty extension cord. This one is surge-protected and provides five feet of extra length, which is so useful for hard-to-reach outlets blocked by furniture. Plus, it’s got three USB ports for charging smartphones and other electronics.
“This is a popular lamp that I have used over and over again,” Hawthorne says. “It is a perfect height for a lofted bed, and it has fun little shelves for your phone charger and a picture. It can be your bedside lamp or put in a corner with a floor chair.”
Fuel their study sessions with a quick coffee solution that barely takes up any space. “I would have loved to have this cute one-cup Keurig for pulling all-nighters,” Fleming Picciano says. At just 5 inches wide, the coffee maker can be stashed just about anywhere when not in use.
Dorm room wall decorations
Pinboards are a great way to display sentimental notes and photos as well as important reminders about due dates, events and upcoming tasks, which is why this option from Pottery Barn Teen makes a great companion for over your dorm's desk.
Lusting over the artwork in?that viral dorm room? Us too. Luckily, Reimold shared her source and — no surprise here — it was Etsy! “Download a watercolor print from Etsy for under $20 and send it to?Smallwood Home?to be framed for a unique and personal touch to any dorm space,” she says.
Looking for a wall-filling solution? Jody Dyke, owner of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based dorm decor store Your Perfect Dorm, has the answer. “I love this white set of frames to go on the long wall over a twin XL bed,” she says. “I would say the overall goal when decorating a dorm is to make sure your student has a special place to come back to each day that gives them the comfort of their bedroom at home. By having your family, friends and memories close by with this gallery wall, you’ll do just that!”
“Light up your space with these fun lights that also have clips to hang photos on,” Dyke says. “They’re great on a narrow wall as well.”
Anyone who’s ever stepped foot in a dorm room knows that the walls are typically drab … at best! To overcome the blah vibes, Fleming Picciano suggests we “add unique wall art for above the bed." Society6 has tons of tapestry options to choose from including this simple but striking topography map.
For an equally affordable, albeit more feminine, wall hanging, Fleming Picciano recommends this boho macramé artwork. ICYMI: Macramé is very on-trend right now, confirming the old adage that everything old will eventually be new again. Plus, this set is available in three different sizes so you can find the one that best fills your space.
Dormify CEO and co-founder Amanda Zuckerman, who launched the brand with her mom after a frustrating shopping experience for her own dorm room, says she loves how a simple wallpaper like this Beadboard version can transform a boring wall. Available in four colors, this wallpaper will help you nail that modern, classic vibe.
Dorm room storage and organizers
Storage and seating in one? You got it. This box will not only hold your sweatshirts, spare clothes or even spare books but doubles as an extra seat for your room or a handy step to give students a boost into their lofted beds.
For storing snacks, school supplies, styling tools, cleaning products and more, a rolling cart is a great option. This one from Sunnypoint is cute enough to leave out as part of your room's decor or roll away under your bed if you want extra space.
Keep cosmetics, first aid and hygiene products organized and out of the way with this over-the-door organizer, which even comes with a mirror for tackling those last-minute touch-ups before class.
“Storage is the number-one issue that I try to resolve for students today in academic housing,” Call says. “There simply isn’t ever enough. Items like this canvas box with zip closure are perfect to stow under a bed or on a high upper shelf in the closet to organize seasonal items and clutter away from view. In addition … they remind me of a perfect box from Chanel. That doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“You can add personality and texture with these self-adhesive, floating wall shelves for accessories like pictures, books or plants,” Fleming Picciano says. Made of acrylic, the shelves can each hold 8 pounds and can be installed in minutes with zero tools involved. They’re available in a bunch of different colors too.
“I love that this ... lamp is so multipurpose,” Freling says. “It’s affordable and comes in several colors.” We love it too but mainly because it can corral all the things — from sticky notes to pens — and it has a built-in USB port and phone stand.
Let us count the ways we love this storage piece. Comprised of a whopping nine cubbies, the storage cube comes in at only 12 inches deep and costs just $70. “These always help with organization and clutter while adding functionality to spaces that seem overcrowded and impossible to declutter,” says Lowe’s trend strategy manager Caroline Harmon.
“I love these stackable bins from Amazon,” Hawthorne says. “The colors are what do it for me. They are perfect for the color palettes the girls tend to love these days, and they can go under a bed, in a closet or even look cute next to the fridge.”
Dorm room bathroom essentials
Your wastebasket is unlikely to be the prettiest thing in your dorm, but it's a necessity for keeping tidy. This Umbra wastebasket has a swing-top lid that keeps your trash out of sight and comes in 12 colors and finishes so you can find the one that best matches the rest of your decor.
Sending kids off to college with all the towels is a must, and Freling is?obsessed with this set?from StyleWell. “This is my all-time favorite towel set,” she says. “So much that I purchased sets for our home too! At just [$45] for 12 pieces, that’s only [$3.75] each. It’s a no-brainer!”
Dorm room bedding
A throw pillow can be the perfect addition to livening up a neutral or solid-colored dorm bedding. We love the multicolor design and long, cylindrical shape of this Opalhouse pillow, which can give you added support while you lounge or work and help fill gaps in your bed too.
What’s one surefire way to gussy up a dull dorm? With a headboard! Fleming Picciano loves this one from Wayfair, which boasts more than 7,000 positive reviews. “I love this wall-mounted headboard from Wayfair so much,” Fleming Picciano says. “It’s easy to install and gives a chic, modern look for little cost.”
When space is at a minimum, well, you need to create it out of nowhere. Enter: bed risers! “These are perfect to maximize under-bed storage space and put larger items such as duffel bags, luggage, trunks, shoes, etc.,” Harmon says.
What does Leigh Goodwyn, founder of dorm decor e-tailer LeighDeux, count among her dorm room essentials? “A long bed skirt to hide all of your stuff under the bed,” she says. This version available on Amazon comes in seven different sizes to fit all sort of different dorm lofting configurations.
