Everything You Need to Throw a “Bed Party” That Won’t Cost Hundreds (SO Cute!)

I still remember how strange college decision day felt. My friends and I had been working toward it for so long, pouring hours into essays and applications, and suddenly it was all over —  it was exhilarating, nerve-racking, and overwhelming in the best way. My school celebrated with a cookout for all the seniors and encouraged us to wear shirts representing our future schools. It was a lovely day filled with pictures, congratulations, and that shared sense of excitement. Looking back, I see it as a simple but meaningful way to mark such a big milestone.

In the years since, celebrating decision day, which is usually on May 1, has evolved into something much more elaborate. Enter the “bed party”: a trend where high school seniors deck out their beds in photo-worthy decorations to represent their future university. 

A “bed party” is a celebratory setup where high school seniors (or their loved ones) decorate a bed to announce which college they’ve committed to. These displays are typically styled with sweatshirts, hats, banners, balloons, and school merch galore, all in the college’s or university’s colors, of course. 

Many people post photos of their bed parties on or around College Decision Day on May 1, when students are required to make their final choice on the school they’ve committed to attend.

The result is a festive, photo-ready setup that’s perfect for announcing your future plans online. Bonus points if a loved one decorates the room in secret and captures the surprise on video. Bed parties have become a fun and memorable way to mark the end of the long (and often stressful) college decision process.

Bed parties may look perfect and effortless online, but they can be surprisingly expensive to put together. College merchandise alone isn’t cheap, and buying multiple pieces — plus decorations and accessories — can add up to hundreds of dollars fast.

But it doesn’t have to be so complicated or costly. With a little creativity, you can put together a DIY college bed party that’s more affordable while still feeling festive, personal, and Insta-worthy. Here are a few college bed party ideas to try.

This is such an easy craft with a big visual impact. All you need is construction paper in your college’s or university’s colors, scissors, and a stapler. Creating a simple paper chain takes little time and effort, but adds instant color and dimension to your room (perfect for photos!).

A lot of times, bed parties get expensive when you’re buying several pieces of merch. While it’s exciting (and there are usually lots of fun designs to choose from), it’s not always practical for your wallet or the limited storage space you’ll have once you’re living in a dorm. Instead of buying a ton of items, choose one thing you genuinely love and can see yourself using all the time, like a sweatshirt, water bottle, hat, blanket, or tote bag. This keeps your setup both aesthetic and useful.

Start by looking around your home for items you can use in your setup. Anything in your school’s colors works, like blankets, pillows, clothes, or decor you already own. 

If you are buying some new items, you can also think beyond traditional merch when shopping. Bed parties don’t have to be filled only with branded items; things like sheet face masks, snacks, stationery, or small decor pieces (that you can use to decorate your dorm!) all work as long as the colors feel cohesive.

One of the best ways to “stock up” on college merch is to make it yourself. Plus, it doubles as a fun night with friends. Paint or use felt or fabric to put your school’s logo on tote bags, plain T-shirts, pennants, or canvases to create personalized decorations. Not only does this save money, but it also makes your bed party setup (and your eventual dorm room) unique and even more sentimental.