20 College Dorm Decor Ideas
Going away to college is your chance for a fresh start. Dorm rooms, however, are anything but fresh. They’re small, cramped and often drab. Plus, colleges and universities have restrictive decorating policies that can limit your options.
Your surroundings and living experience can make or break your college experience. So how can you let your individuality shine while still playing by the rules?
Allow us to take your imagination to the next level. We’re here to share the ultimate list of college dorm room ideas and useful hacks to help you create the dorm room of your dreams!
20 College Dorm Room Essentials
When dreaming about decor ideas for your dorm, you must be mindful of your small space. It’s always best to start with versatile items and rearrangeable pieces to get the most bang for your buck.
Not all dorms are created equal. Check out these dorm ideas guaranteed to liven up any room.
Looking for the perfect dorm essentials checklist? Check out our blog here!
1. Hang Temporary Curtains the Easy Way
If you’re a college student, chances are you have a hectic schedule and a tight budget. Thick curtains and a cozy bed are the key components of your living space.
While creating the bed of your dreams is easy, putting up curtains is another story. Measuring your window, drilling holes into the wall, and then dismantling hardware at the end of the school year is enough to forget it altogether. Plus, it’s against the rules of many dorms to permanently damage walls.
Kwik-Hang’s no-drill, damage-free curtain rod brackets are a perfect, affordable and reliable solution for your dorm room. You can install the curtains you need quickly, so you can get the rest you need.
2. Go For The Green
Greenery and plants can brighten up a room and bring revitalizing outdoor elements indoors. You can even use them as creative window coverings! Succulents are easy to maintain, making them the perfect addition to your dorm room.
You can always start with a faux plant if you’re not ready to commit to a live plant. Choose a stylish pot that suits your color scheme and ties everything together.
3. Roll With It
Small, stackable and mobile furniture is necessary when your dorm room serves as a kitchen, bedroom and social area. A tiered rolling cart is a must for easy access to everyday items and extra storage.
Opting for a side table with wheels and shelving allows you to move it out of your way effortlessly. So whether you’re trying to vacuum, fit more than two people in your room, or rearrange your room mid-semester, you’ll be thankful for this portable piece.
4. Hang a Tapestry
Are you unhappy with the color of your walls? Spruce up a bare wall with a tapestry or colorfully patterned sheet. It’s a non-permanent, budget-friendly solution that can liven up a bland wall.
Use 3M Command Hooks for wall hangings and posters. Command Hooks are the perfect solution for pictures and tapestries. It’s an adhesive product that sticks on both sides and can easily be removed, so you can hang wall decor without doing permanent damage.
5. Check Yourself Out
You can’t always rely on communal bathrooms for a full-length mirror. While they may have one or two, you might be battling everyone else in the morning just to put on makeup or check your outfit.
A full-length mirror in your room pulls double duty. You’ll be able to get ready in the morning, plus mirrors reflect light and can make your room appear larger. Try one that fits over your closet or door for a streamlined, storage-friendly solution.
6. Stash Your Shoes (and other things)
Nothing ruins a room’s vibe like shoes scattered all over the floor.
Hanging closet organizers are an absolute staple if you have more than a few pairs of shoes, extra towels or sweaters. Ditch the frustration of fishing items out of a storage box under your bed every day (or tripping over things!) by using just a bit of closet space.
7. Shoe Storage Ottoman
If closet space is at a premium, consider this shoe rack bench. The seat lid lifts to reveal a hidden storage compartment perfect for organizing small items.
8. Bedside Caddy
In a dorm room, it’s all about the storage – and keeping things safe. This handy bedside caddy stores your glasses, phone, tablet and more, along with a surge protector sleeve so you can charge all your devices conveniently.
9. Desk Chair/Storage Ottoman
Why not choose an ottoman that serves multiple functions when selecting storage for your space? This collapsible ottoman is a chair, footrest and storage cube all in one. Storage ottomans allow you to tuck away extra books, electronics or gear while also serving as a makeshift tabletop.
You can even store these under your bed (this one folds flat!) and pull them out when friends come over. It’s stylish and functional — a winning combination in dorm room decor.
10. Make a DIY Headboard
Spice up your side of the room with a cheap and easy DIY headboard.
With Pinterest at your fingertips, there are endless ideas at hand. Use fake flowers, lights, Polaroid photos, wall art or posters to create a unique look above your bed.
11. Start Your Day Smiling
If you’re lucky to have a personal bathroom, this one’s for you! Add a witty and colorful bath mat to incorporate your dorm room style into your bathroom.
12. Jewelry Organizer
Jewelry storage doesn’t have to be hideous or messy. Instead, stash your earrings, necklaces and rings on a standing jewelry organizer that’s aesthetically pleasing and functional.
13. Throw Some Pillows
No more pillow thieves! Personalized pillows ensure your stuff stays where it belongs – with you. When your bed is one of the only seating arrangements in your room, you’ll want to make it comfy. Throw pillows add color, design and comfort, and make your space feel like home.
14. Get Comfy in Bed
Good quality bedding is one of the best investments you can make. In addition to keeping you warm and cozy, a comforter or duvet adds a punch of color and style to your room that’s impossible to miss.
15. Add an Area Rug
If you have some extra space, add a small area rug for a touch of texture and luxury to your room. Rugs feel great under your feet and give your toes something to dig into while you study at night or chill with friends.
16. Experiment With Peel & Stick Wallpaper
For the ultimate solution in removable style, peel and stick wallpaper is where it’s at. With hundreds of patterns to choose from, removable wallpaper is also water resistant and washable.
17. String Some Lights
Transform your dorm with a simple added touch of string lights. Illuminate and decorate your space by selecting a chic style or using mini clothespins to hang some of your favorite photos.
18. Add Desk Storage
Get the most out of your workspace with a desk hutch. Hutches keep your desk organized, taking advantage of vertical space that often goes wasted.
19. Brighten Up With Task Lighting
Mom was right: Working in the dark is bad for your eyes! Adding a lamp above your desk or bed (or both) illuminates your room. Choose one with a USB port, so you can charge your phone!
20. Create a Gallery Wall
Don’t let your wall space go to waste. Hanging posters and photos of family and friends back home keeps loved ones close.
Upgrade Your Dorm Decor With Kwik-Hang
If you want to elevate the look and feel of your dorm room, start with curtains! Not only do they add noticeable style to your room, but they also block light that keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep.
However, curtains are traditionally a pain to hang, and fixing wall damage at the end of the year isn’t something you want on your to-do list.
Now, you can hang curtains effortlessly with the help of Kwik-Hang. Pair Kwik-Hang’s no-drill curtain rod brackets with our stylish curtain rods to hang dreamy curtains and create the perfect dorm room.
These brackets easily tap into place without any precise measurements or wall damage. Plus, you can remove them quickly once it’s time to move out. Kwik-Hang is the perfect addition to your dorm room decor checklist. Try Kwik-Hang today!
