13 Dorm Style Ideas to Help You Nail Your Room’s Aesthetic (I’m So Inspired!)

1. Preppy

This modern New York City studio’s light green accent wall creates clean lines and harkens to the coastal Ivy League vibes the term originated from, while school pennants on a pegboard really bring the look home. You could add some timeless patterns like gingham and maybe a tennis racket accent to go full and classic prep. Alternatively, you could lean into more of a Gen-Z preppy look, which can involve the same clean lines and monograms but brings in brighter colors and some Y2K inspo. 

2. Minimalist

You need to fit a lot of your belongings into a small space when you live in a dorm, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in clutter. Take inspiration from this commuter student’s bedroom in their family home.  The room has ample storage thanks to a floating shelf, desk, and dresser, but the furniture’s clean lines and neutral color palette create a sleek and purposeful design. With touches like a small plant and a vase with pampas grass, this space proves that minimalism does not equal boring.

3. Whimsical

Hanging fairy lights is the quickest way to add whimsy to a dorm room with cinderblock walls, as seen in this University of South Florida dorm. If you don’t want it to look like the holidays all year round, you can mix in fake greenery to amp up the fairy princess vibes — without overdoing it. Complementary green accents and cozy white textiles drive home the whimsy just enough to make this space feel like an oasis. Some other whimsical options for your own space: woodland accents, florals, and stars and moon accents.

4. Colorful

Bright colors are totally a fit for a dorm room, but you don’t need to put them everywhere to make an impact. This law student’s studio immediately gives off cheery vibes with vibrant pink pillows and a yellow bench — but it also has white walls and a white blanket on the bed. 

This mix of neutral and bold hues gives the room balance. And if you only take one note from this room, I hope you see that a few green plants can go a long way to add a burst of life to a space.

5. Cottagecore

Comfy and rustic vibes meld into one in a cottagecore room. When you’re trying to channel this aesthetic, picture Kate Winslet’s cottage in The Holiday. It is modest and cozy, and it has pastoral vibes. Earth tones and pastels, subtle floral patterns, and textured fabrics will give your dorm a cute cottage vibe, like they did in this New York City studio.

6. Eclectic

Think of an eclectic space as “a little bit of this” and “a little bit of that” combining to create a fun, inviting atmosphere. This on-campus apartment at the Savannah College of Art and Design has colorful pom-pom and pink fringe garlands and Strawberry Shortcake art — and it all looks like it was meant to go together. Don’t forget cute rugs, textured wall hangings, fun accent lighting, and a mishmash of throw pillows to make your space somewhere you just want to hang out. 

7. Boho

Freeform shapes and organic-feeling colors and textiles give this off-campus Salt Lake City studio immediate boho vibes. Mix and match colors and decor accents in complementary hues and patterns — plus natural woods and weaves — to easily bring this boho style to your dorm room. Bonus points if you can find a cute peace sign pillow!

8. Coastal Cowgirl

A perfectly themed print can quickly drive home your dorm aesthetic. Coastal cowgirl is about combining beach vibes with the classic Western accents — like cowboy boots and hats. Bring in beachy colors that remind you of a sunrise on a surfboard, like pink and orange, and you’ll have a room that melds these two seemingly different design ideas.

9. Monochrome

Make every design decision in your dorm a little easier when you choose one color to go everywhere. This off-campus studio drenched in forest green is the pinnacle of monochrome design. Even though most of the elements in the room share the same color, different textures add visual interest. You likely won’t be able to paint the walls in your dorm, but you can take inspo from this space by choosing a color you love and making it the star of your room. Or, on the flipside, you could stick with black and white monochrome, like in this Howard University off-campus apartment.

10. Maximalist

More, more, and more!! This Munich dorm room (voted our 2023 Dorm Therapy TikTok Contest winner!)  blends pinks, purples, greens, and oranges — and everything works together somehow. Use this as your inspiration to not play it safe when you’re shopping for dorm decor. No colors — or patterns — are off-limits. As long as you like them, that’s all that matters.

11. Mermaidcore

The bathroom in this Old Dominion University dorm gives total under-the-sea vibes. Colorful, ocean-inspired prints with images of coral, shells, and starfish would have Ariel feeling right at home. You can also achieve the mermaidcore aesthetic with more subtle accents, like macrame and crystal decor.

12. Coquette

Soft textiles and pastel colors are quick ways to imbue your dorm room with a coquette style. Faux rose garland does it for this Fordham University dorm. The coquette aesthetic and Bridgerton go hand in hand, and these pale pink flowers look like they’d be perfectly at home on a carriage or in a ballroom. Frilly pillows with subtle texture, a gilded pouf, and a cozy blanket are the perfect finishing touches. Heart and bow motifs, lace, and pearls would totally work in a coquette room, too.

13. Glam

In a glam dorm or apartment, like this two-bedroom student apartment at Boston University, the accents are what bring the look together. If you’re drawn to gold and rose gold trinkets, animal print and metallic pillows, and sheets and throw blankets with some sheen to them, you’re all about glam.