Hey there! So, you’re getting ready to move into your new dorm room? Exciting times!
I remember when I was in your shoes, I had so many ideas for my dorm room design. I actually went with a zebra print and hot pink theme (cringe, I know!).
But if I could do it all over again, I’d totally go for a cozy and coastal vibe. Think blue, white, and beige – it’s like a relaxing beachy feel in a room!
When I was in college, I had a shared dorm room and let me tell you, it was a struggle to keep things organized and cohesive. Especially when you have a roommate, it’s super important to keep your stuff together and stay organized.
So, I’ve put together some tips and tricks that helped me stay organized. On top of that, I’ve added to this list a lot of additions I would have added to keep my dorm room cozy and comfy. Your dorm room is your safe haven. You want your dorm room to be your go-to retreat after class, a place to hang out with friends, watch movies, and study in peace.
Here are some of my fave cozy dorm room ideas and essentials. Hope you find them helpful!
1. Fairy Lights
Okay, so for the first dorm room decorating idea, if you’ve looked into any of my other decor posts, I almost always always always put in fairy lights if the post is about cozy decor.
I love how fairy lights create a very warm, cozy tone to the room. You’re able to just chill and lay in bed on your phone and not just sit there in the dark. It really changes the ambience!
It will also make an inviting space for you and your friends to hangout.
2. Wall Macrame
Beige is such a warm and inviting color. That is why I really love boho macrame! It is a really cute and trendy way to decorate your dorm room walls.
I’ve found similar ones on Amazon that have a nice green embellishment.
This would go well with any theme colors for your room.
3. Photoclip Fairy Lights
Aside from the regular fairy lights which can be dispersed along side your desk or the head of your bed, I really suggest getting these photoclip fairy lights!
You can put these up next to your desk or next to your bed. If you’re studying out of state like me, I missed my high school friends and my family so much.
Having pictures of them up on the wall will help remind you of them and can serve as an inspiration and motivation through school.
4. Hanging Macrame Shelving
These floating shelves are so cute and they help save space! These floating shelves also add some greenery and liven up the space. Overall love the aesthetic of these. Also, in some dorms you can’t put up regular floating shelving. Double check with your RA on the floor with what you can add to the walls. My friends, when they wanted to hang things, just plastered up the holes at the end of the year.
5. Boho Styled Storage Baskets
Still going off of our cozy, comfy beachie boho theme I love these storage baskets. These are essential for saving space, when you can store any hoodies or sweatpants that often take up a lot of room in the closet, especially when it’s not winter. I remember my friends used to store snacks in these storage bins.
For me, I believe my under the bed storage was used for a lot of decorating and essential things like extension cords, and actually a lot of decorating stuff! Since I was in a sorority we would always have to make things for events.
6. Desk Shelving
Desk shelving is a great way to increase vertical space! If your dorm does not have desk shelving I recommend you get one. This is where you can tuck in some books, your planner, any office stuff if you’re going to preserve your drawers for other things like jewelry and make-up. Just another space saving idea!
7. Neon Lights
I feel so old when I say this, but I wish they had these neon lights during my time! You can put your name or a quote you love. On Amazon you can actually get it customized! This will also add to the cozy ambience.
8. Tapestry
Dorm rooms, at least the one that I stayed in, just had plain white walls and wooden furniture. My dorm was probably outdated at the time, but I just needed something to spruce up the space and add some character. Tapestries are a great way to decorate that bare plain white wall space. Adding string lights behind it also adds to the cozy ambiance.
9. A Fluffy Rug
Nothing says comfy and cozy better than a fluffy rug. Imagine stepping out of your bed onto the cold floor, especially during those winter months. I know I keep saying this, but these dorm room essentials really do add coziness to the room 😀
It also offers a place for people to chill out and hang in your room during fun movie nights, or when you’re cramming in your room with some of your classmates the night before an exam haha
10. Book and Snack Cart
Carts like this are a great way to create vertical storage space. I never had one, but to be honest I would probably just store a bunch of food and snacks and keep it next to my mini fridge and microwave. That’s exactly what my roommate did and it was a very convenient placement for her. Having this as a snack storage is also convenient when you and your friends wanna grab a quick snack during any study sessions or movie nights! You can also use this as a place to put any beauty products, hair dryers, straighteners, curlers, etc.
11. A Back Pillow
As I’m writing this right now, I really wish I had a back reading pillow. As a blogger I like to curate my posts while chilling in bed. This pillow will be helpful for when you need to during those cold winter nights, and the library feels a million miles away. My only tip is to try not to fall asleep! Haha Some people are very productive while in bed, but sometimes doing boring things like studying can make you sleepy. Alternatively, you can sit on your cozy fluffy rug with this back pillow while doing your work – less likely you’ll fall asleep on the floor, but trust me it happens sometimes haha
12. Hanging Closet Organizer
This hanging closet organizer helps to increase and organize your closet space! Going along with my old dorm room theme, I had a hot pink one as well during my time haha I used to put all of my light clothing here and it was folded up and fit nicely, like my tanktops and t-shirts. For this one, love the beige color, it goes well with the cozy vibe.
13. A Motivational Wall
I recommend doing a motivational board or motivational wall filled with pictures and inspirational quotes to keep you going. There will be days you may be overwhelmed with work and need that little extra nudge to pass those finals! Your board will be there for you to keep you in the right mindset.
14. A Saucer Chair
While I was in college, I did have a hot pink saucer chair to match the theme of my room. It was one of the most comfiest chairs I ever got to relax and chill out in. My friends in other dorms would have these chairs too. It’s a great addition for people to sit down and chill after classes so everyones not always crowding on your bed or your floor. And what’s great is that its foldable so you can tuck it away when you’re not using it to make more space!
15. Bed Risers
This is such a dorm room essential! I had a different type of bed riser, but the ones on Amazon looked so aesthetic and are a lot higher. These bed risers help clear out some clutter by providing a space to place items in your storage baskets. Creating extra storage in your dorm room is a necessity. Over those four years, I accumulated many things along the way, more than when I first moved in – like a lot of textbooks, school gear, etc. Definitely a helpful dorm room storage hack!
16. Plush Tufted Headboard
I really do wish I had one of these in my college dorm room! And if you’re going for that coastal vibe, this would look amazing with blue and white bedding – the colors would complement each other so well! The plush headboard would also add a nice textural element to the space, making it feel even more inviting and relaxing
17. Cute Cozy Bedding
This coastal dorm room design is soooo cute!I love the calming colors and how inviting the bed looks. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a long day of classes. I can imagine myself curled up with a good book or watching my favorite show. The decor is also well thought out, and I’ve found some lovely throw pillows that would complement the coastal theme nicely. I’ve found these super cute throw pillows that would work well with the vibe. I also absolutely love the starfish throw to go along with the coastal theme. Overall, I’m a big fan of this design and would love to recreate it in my own dorm room.
18. White and Gray Aesthetic With Removable Marble Wallpaper
This gray and white dorm room theme is also such a clean and classy vibe. You can get temporary removable wallpaper to put up as an accent wall. Also adding in some fluffy throws will add some extra coziness to the mix. And I’m telling you, the fairy lights are a must! They really help pull together the whole ambiance of the cozy dorm room.
19. Marquee Letter Light
You can get a marquee letter with your first name initial to add an extra touch of coziness to your room! Not only will it bring some character and personalization to the space, but it will also contribute to the dreamy, cozy ambiance that you crave coming home to after a long day of classes. Imagine snuggling up in your cozy bed, surrounded by soft lighting and plush textiles, with your marquee letter shining brightly in the corner – it’s the perfect way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere!
I hope you’ve found these cozy dorm room decorating ideas helpful as you prepare for the upcoming academic year. Whether you’re looking to create a comfortable and inviting space to study, relax, or socialize, I hope these ideas have provided some inspiration for making your dorm room feel like your own.
Decorating your room is a great way to express your personality and make your space feel more welcoming, and I hope these ideas have given you some useful tips and tricks to get started. Remember, your dorm room is your home away from home, and with a little creativity, you can make it a place where you feel happy, comfortable, and inspired to succeed.
Really nice style and ideas . I love that pink carpet.
So many cozy and sweet ideas!!
These are so beautiful! Thanks for a few ideas guys can use, too. My son is at college and I’ll use some of these ideas come fall.
Sooo beautiful.. loved all
the ideas.!