14 Ideas for Adding a Pop of Pink to Your Dorm (from Subtle Touches to Full-On “Barbie” Vibes)
If you’re like me, then you know that choosing the color inspiration for your room can be a challenge. When you walk into your dorm, it’s usually boring and drab, but it can quickly turn into a rainbow explosion if you don’t have a decor plan. Selecting a color scheme can run the gamut from going all in on one color, like pink, for example, or deciding to choose a hue as your main accent color.
Adding colorful accent pieces and decorations can be a great way to incorporate as much of a color as you want into your room. Whether you’re looking to go all-out Barbiecore or coquette in your room or just add a subtle touch of pink, these ideas sourced right from Dorm Therapy’s own archive of Dorm Tours are here to offer inspiration. (Make sure to follow your dorm’s specific rules for what you can and can’t do your room.)
1. Hang a pink closet curtain.
A closet curtain can make your space look a lot neater and add a pop of color. In her freshman dorm tour at San Diego State University, Katie Nolan hung a light pink closet curtain and pink baubles — she even used pink hangers for her clothes.
2. Add a statement pillow.
Throw pillows can truly take a bed to the next level. Plus, it’s easy to swap out pillowcases, so this is such a fun space to try out new patterns or colors. In her single dorm, Ruby Tavano had a neutral-colored bed to contrast her colorful walls. But this subtle pink accent is such a fun additional pop of color.
3. Toss a pink throw blanket on your bed.
If a throw pillow or two doesn’t feel pink enough for you, take a tip from Katie Bailey’s freshman dorm tour and add a matching throw blanket to the foot of your bed. The pink accents pair so well with her coastal decor, and I love how the pillows and blanket match so well.
4. Incorporate pink lighting.
In her freshman dorm tour, Jayla Jackson said she is “a very pink girl,” and wanted her room to be as pink as her roommate would allow. She hung this neon sign above her bed, and said the neon name lights in pink and purple, respectively, over her and her roommate’s beds were the highlight of their space.
5. Bring in a pink chair.
Having extra space in your dorm room to add extra seating is a huge win. When selecting a new piece of furniture, consider a colorful option. Kate Stocksen’s freshman dorm tour was a great example of how to add a pop of color, like how she opted for this elegant pink chair instead of a drab desk chair.
6. Get crafty with pink DIY decor.
If you have a crafty side, there’s no better time to put it to use than when you’re decorating a new room. Audrey Todd’s UT Austin dorm tour showed off homemade DIY felt pennant flags in a bold pink and red that she crafted for her door with both her and her roommate’s names. She also hung handmade flags inside her room that said “Houston” and “TX.”
7. Fill a vase with pink flowers.
There’s nothing that ties a room together like a fresh plant. In her dorm tour, Christina Viyar advised dorm dwellers to always have fresh flowers in their space. She liked to keep flowers in thrifted vases, and said, “It adds a cute and personal touch.”
8. Lay down pink bedding.
Christina’s dorm tour showed off soft pink bedding and cute plushies that tied together her cottagecore room. Even though colored bedding can seem daunting, the light pastel shade Christina used is the perfect balance between a neutral and a color.
9. Hang pink prints.
I think of blank walls as the space to be most creative in a new room. I love to create a gallery wall of fun prints, and Haley Karinja’s cozy pink dorm tour had a fabulous wall of prints. She hung eight prints, ranging in size, to tie in the colors of her room.
10. Coordinate your pink touches.
From her rose gold fan to her floral water bottle to her pink shell pillow, Kayla Brown’s junior dorm tour highlighted how to give pink vibes while still incorporating other colors like blue and white.
11. Think (pink) outside the box.
Trinity Rutledge’s freshman dorm tour highlighted a very cute pink microwave that brought some life to her “kitchen” area. You can easily add a pop of pink by buying a colorful version of something that might not otherwise be so exciting.
12. Create a pink coffee bar.
Chances are, the coffee bar in your room is going to be the first place you visit in the morning. Which is why it is even more important to make it extra bright and fun. In Angie Arias’ SUNY Oneonta dorm tour, she had a pink coffee maker, and it was clearly the star of the show.
13. Add coquette vibes with wallpaper.
In Shelby Garner’s coquette TCU dorm tour, she used peel-and-stick wallpaper to transform her space. Because she ended up having a lot left over, she said she added the scraps to cover her grey bathroom cabinets.
14. Use a pink shower curtain.
If you’re lucky enough to have a private or semi-private bathroom, you’ll probably want to hang your own shower curtain and add a few decorative pieces. Using a pink shower curtain like Shelby and her roommates did can bring a bright spot to a drab space.
