Dorm room ideas – 12 ways to make this space truly your own while nailing 2024's biggest trends

Creating a home away from home is essential for anyone heading off to college – no matter if you're looking for ideas for yourself or for your child.

Our expert-approved dorm room ideas can help you create a stylish sanctuary on campus really rather quickly. Often terribly bland and compact, dorm rooms are defined by a practical, functional design that contains only the essentials. So it makes sense that it's a space crying out for some creativity and designer know-how.

More than just a tiny bedroom, a dorm room is a place for relaxing, socializing and of course, studying, so finding the perfect balance between style and practicality is key when planning bedroom ideas for teenagers.

Whether you're looking for teenage girl bedrooms or teenage boy bedrooms, ways to make this small bedroom feel more homey and personal will ultimately create a more inviting space that everyone will want to spend time in.

Dorm Room Ideas 2024

From inspirational beautiful bedroom ideas and the biggest trends for dorm rooms for 2024 to decorating with plants and practical tips to maximize on space and comfort, our dorm room ideas explore the fun that can be had when decorating and planning a design for a dorm room.

1. Make it personal

This may seem obvious, but bringing in decorative objects, meaningful mementos and designs that spark joy and happiness will help to make a dorm room feel more personal and unique – as well as remind them of home.

'Allow personalized detail to shine – with a wall-mounted pinboard to showcase interests,' suggests interior designer Benji Lewis. From styling a shelf with ornaments, to having pieces such as instruments, paintings or record players, a curated collection of decorations can make the world of difference in a dorm.

2. Choose a relaxing coastal color scheme

A place to relax on your own and with friends, as well as an area to study and sleep, a dorm room is a truly multifunctional space, and a relaxing color palette can help to make the room feel more calming and tranquil.

Whether you choose to decorate with neutrals, or embrace a muted, pastel color scheme like in the beautiful room above, a more relaxed color palette can be both timeless and therapeutic.

According to the experts at Dormify, coastal decor is on-trend for 2024 and a great way to bring a more serene vibe to a dorm room. 'The rising trend of the beachy aesthetic has translated to room decor, and perfectly bottles the nostalgic essence of summer. Our viral Sea Salt Sand Room [see above] helps students transform their dorm into a coastal escape by blending breezy beachy aesthetics with vintage charm. Go for a variety of blues, crisp whites, and soft fabrics to transport you back to the feeling of summer year round.'

3. Create a dedicated area for study

Creating a comfortable area where you can sit and study is one of the most important features of a dorm room.

'With many dorms already fitted with built in desks, if yours is without, it is definitely worth investing in a compact, adaptable desk design and desk chair that can grow with you throughout your time at college,' says Homes & Gardens' editor in chief Lucy Searle.

When organizing a desk, ensure the space is clutter-free and you have enough room for your laptop or computer, books and desk organizers – finish with a plant and table lamp and you will then have the perfect desk feng shui.

4. Ensure the bed is cozy and inviting

The bed is often one of the largest pieces of furniture in a bedroom and central design element in a room, so making your bed cozy and inviting will not only make for a better night's sleep but can add tactile texture, color and pattern to your dorm room.

From colorful covers to soft throws and scatter cushions, bed ideas can be a great way to get creative and show off your personal style, so be sure to make the most out of your sleep space.

This is also a relatively affordable way to spruce up a plain dorm space, you can pick up decorative dorm room essentials under $200 for the lot from Amazon thanks to our dedicated edit.

5. Embrace the 'brat green' trend

You may or may not have heard of brat green, or indeed the term 'having a brat summer', but you might just be aware of the sudden obsession with green. Vivid, vibrant lime green to be exact.

Thanks to British singer Charli XCX, who released her album 'brat' in June of this year, we've all gone wild for slime green and dorm room decor is no exception. 'Brat green is definitely this summer’s hottest trend that everyone is talking about,' says Dormify's president Amanda Zuckerman.

'Our Disco Fever room collection is a vibrant ode to this playful style, packed with eclectic patterns, bold colors, and a dash of humor that customers are absolutely loving. To achieve this look, don’t be afraid to make bold, personal choices,' she advises.

6. Lay out a washable rug

A great way to instantly update a tired dorm room is to roll out a new rug. Lay it down either slightly tucked under or next to your bed (sometimes they're impossible to lift up!) to give yourself something much nicer to put your feet on as you get out of bed in the morning.

'I think one of the best dorm-friendly trends is incorporating washable rugs,' agrees renowned interior designer Marie Flanigan. 'It's no secret that college kids aren't always the cleanest and these easy-to-clean rugs at MarieFlanigan.com are both durable and stylish.'

'There are also so many design options that blend seamlessly with any dorm room aesthetic while offering practical benefits like stain resistance and easy maintenance,' she adds.

7. Lean into trends that are practical yet beautiful

From pillows and throws and decorating with mirrors, to a beautiful table lamp or bedroom rug ideas, a few simple and fun touches can bring joy as you step into the space, and create a stylish, design-led focus in the room.

The team at Dormify is seeing a spike in demand for Coquette aesthetic dorm bedrooms. 'This design seamlessly merges vintage charm with modern elegance, featuring soft pastels, delicate florals, and romantic accents. It's the go-to choice for creating a cozy and whimsical space that captures the essence of this popular trend. The key here is to not be afraid of pink and embrace the fun of the ruffles.'

There is no reason why you cannot add small touches of luxury to your dorm room, as after all, it is a space you spend a lot of time, so it pays to make the room feel both practical and beautiful.

8. Be sure to include additional storage

If it's one thing that a dorm room needs plenty of, it's storage. Condensing a collection of belongings from your home into a new, small room is no mean feat, so it is worth cleverly thinking about creative dorm room storage ideas so your dorm room feels organized and spacious.

From modular shelving to under-bed storage ideas, there are many options for small bedroom storage.

Peter Erlandsson, co-founder of String, says, 'many students forget that storage can be part of the interior design scheme and by displaying and styling our objects, we can merge function with decoration.'

9. Include plants in your decor

Decorating with plants and flowers in the home is always going to bring a positive, uplifting energy to a space, as well as beautiful natural life, texture and color.

With so many to choose from, from small succulents to beautiful grasses, there are many bedroom plants that can transport the beauty of the natural world into your dorm room.

Choosing how to store and display your plants can also add a beautiful decorative element to the space, whether you use ceramic plant pots, woven baskets, or plant hangers on the walls and ceiling.

Aesthetically pleasing and mood-enhancing, adding plants to your dorm room can be the perfect finishing touch. For more plant inspiration, explore our best indoor plants guide.

10. Add travel-inspired decor to your walls

From photographs, wall hangings, artwork, and twinkle lights, the walls in your dorm room are a canvas for creating unique, artistic displays that reflect your personality and style.

According to Etsy's Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson, searches for travel-inspired art have soared. 'As Gen Z students bring the essence of their favorite destinations into their spaces, with Mykonos (+1,254%), Amalfi (+784%), and Athens (535) prints topping the search charts. Whether you’re a beach fan or city goer, these oversized prints will bring personality and inspiration to dorm walls, which can often feel drab or cold.'

If wall art isn’t your thing, smaller items like abstract desk lamps can add warmth and dimension to a room and still make a big statement, too.' Adding color, texture and originality to your dorm room, bedroom wall decor ideas can uplift a bland bedroom with unique visual interest and personal expression.

11. Keep a twin dorm zoned and organized 

If you are sharing your dorm room with another person, organization and communication is key for twin bedroom ideas, to ensure you have enough room and space for all of your belongings, as well as comfortable areas for you both to relax, study and socialize.

To help zone a dorm room and add a degree of separation, designs such as a folding screen or a canopy or curtains to add to your bed can be a great way to add privacy.

'If you are sharing with someone who has a similar style to you, why not collaborate for your dorm room ideas and choose matching bedding and storage designs, guaranteed to help make the space feel more cohesive, balanced and visually appealing,' says Jennifer Ebert, Homes & Gardens' digital editor.

12. Bring your own or DIY a headboard

A popular dorm room idea that adds luxurious comfort and an element of texture and stylish design to the bed, as well as to the overall room, many students bring their own headboard ideas to their dorms to neatly slot behind their beds.

There is an array of beautiful patterned designs available from brands such as Dormify and Dormco which can really elevate the space with beautiful color and pattern. With many headboards also incorporating clever features such as charging ports, a headboard can be both a beautiful and practical addition to your dorm room.

What are good things to have in a dorm room?

As we have explored, a dorm room should contain the perfect mix of practical must-haves and decorative designs that add character and personality to the space. An essential dorm room checklist looks like this:

Practical items include storage zones for clothes, shoes and toiletries, as well as a place to sit and work and areas where you can store your studying equipment. Bedding of course is essential, but it is also a chance to get creative with color and design, so choose inviting sets that reflect your style.

Then it's time for the fun stuff! Making your individual mark on the room and choosing decor such as wall art, lights and ornaments will make the room truly feel like home, so get creative and start planning your dorm room ideas for a welcoming and stylish space.

For more inspiration, see our what are good things to have in a dorm room guide and our dorm room checklist.