How to Get the “Gen Z-Preppy” Look in Your Dorm Room for Under $200

Despite being aggressively early 2000s, Mean Girls remains a preppy staple to this day. (Because remember: Y2K is a staple of Gen Z-preppy.) You can hang this sign above your desk-turned-vanity for a daily boost of confidence. And bonus: The glow from this sign gives you a reason to avoid the dreaded “big light.”

These books add clean lines and pops of color to any space. Stack them to add some height variation on your desk, or lay them out on your nightstand. Because they’re faux books, you can’t actually read them, but because they’re hollow inside, you can use them to store items you don’t have desk space for.

Clean white bedding is a hallmark of the old-school preppy style, but you can spice it up with a pop of color and playful design in the form of a cheeky throw pillow. If the “chill pill” reference doesn’t resonate with you, there’s also this adorable pink “hug me” option that has similar vibes.

This collage kit is the epitome of Gen Z-preppy, mixing traditional prep elements (like pastels and coastal motifs) with more eclectic word art and early 2000s imagery. This pack comes with 70 mini posters and 50 stickers, giving you plenty of options for creating big gallery walls or switching out your decor every few weeks.

Plaid and preppy go together like Sunday brunches and LoveShackFancy dresses. This throw blanket gives the old-school print a Barbiecore update with warm pastel pinks and oranges.

Remind yourself of how much you love your preppy space with this trinket dish, where you can store your cute little odds and ends. Bonus: Pink and orange is a classically preppy color combo.

Add a touch of elegance to your space with this minimal table lamp. The clear and white color combo will help your more colorful decor pop, and the crisp, clean lines scream “prep.”

This rug mixes the traditional with the new, blending vibrant pink with simple ivory in a subtle pattern. It gets extra credit for being stain-resistant, so if you spill your Starbucks, no worries.