Five dorm room ideas to make your space feel cozy and personal

Before the semester gets too busy and you're up to your eyeballs in term papers, make sure your home away from home gets the TLC it requires. 

These dorm room ideas will take a bleak, blank space and turn it into a cozy retreat, whether you're in the midst of a study session, having a movie marathon with your roomie or tucking in after an all-nighter at the library.

Your campus is your home for a good part of the year, so making it your own is not only encouraged, it's practically required. (Didn't you see it on the syllabus?) Now's the time to add the flair you're looking for.

Have a look at our edit of dorm room essentials and dorm bathroom essentials before heading back to school—these goods are worthy of a 4.0!

5 dorm room ideas to pep up your space:

1. Make bold statements

@rosscooperllc (opens in new tab)

♬ Intro - The xx (opens in new tab)

Let's be frank: you're not given an entirely large space to work with, but that doesn't mean dorm rooms need to be boring. In fact, if you pay extra attention to the bed—oftentimes the focal point of the room—you'll see a huge transformation.

"Bedding to me is the foundation of any bedroom space," says interior designer Ross  Cooper (opens in new tab). "It's really the biggest piece of furniture, so you really have a lot of leverage there to bring in a ton of color."

Think of it like a canvas: there are various layers that will allow you to mix and match patterns and hues to your heart's content. 

"There's always going to be multiple elements," Cooper adds. "You have your fitted sheets, your duvet, pillow covers, a comforter and even a throw blanket at the foot of the bed. All of those are elements where we can really play with color and speak to our own personal style."

And throw pillows? Now you're talkin'! 

2. Add personalization

Of course, posters and artwork are strongly encouraged but don't forget to add photos of those you love—from back home and on campus—to your space. Likely, you're not going to have a table to place frames, so we recommend having a look at string lights with photo clips. They give off light and make space for your favorite moments—a win-win!

(opens in new tab)

Room Essentials LED Fairy Lights with Metallic Photo Clips
RRP: $10

A battery-operated light chord nearly two feet in length with 20 mini lights per string.

• View at Target in the US (opens in new tab)
• View the UK equivalent (opens in new tab)

"Making your space your own is so important," says interior designer Jennifer Morris (opens in new tab). 

"[Choose] wall decals if permitted and removable paper can be great but make sure it’s okay first and know it might leave a mark, which could come out of your room deposit."

(Pro tip: always inquire about what's permitted in your space before stocking up.) 

3. Add greenery

Bring a little life into your space—quite literally. A succulent or blooms from the farmer's market not only add a pop of color to your dorm room, but they have their benefits. 

"Scientific studies have shown indoor plants can boost your mood, reduce your stress and even help increase productivity, concentration and creativity when compared to spaces without plants," says Erin Marino, editorial director at The Sill (opens in new tab).

Sounds essential during midterms and finals, right? If you haven't quite developed your green thumb just yet, have a look at the best houseplants according to your zodiac sign.

4. Store wisely

We can't reiterate this enough: space is minimal. Use the necessary area under your bed accordingly and invest in bed risers if your storage boxes are bigger than you expected. Those extra clothes or knick-knacks that you don't necessarily use every day are prime contenders for that plastic bin. 

But when getting organized, don't overlook your desk. These desk storage ideas will keep your books and accessories in place all semester long. 

5. Add small details

And by small detail, Cooper suggests an ottoman, an oftentimes overlooked item that not only adds pizzazz but value. 

"It's an easy, lightweight piece of furniture, it'll move with you between any dorm room you go to and it will definitely transition to apartment living down the road," he says. "It can be your desk chair, it can be a secondary chair when your friends come and visit."

It'll provide flexibility, versatility, and—if you shop wisely—storage space!

(opens in new tab)

HomePop by Kinfine Fabric Upholstered Round Storage Ottoman
RRP: $86.63

A velvet button tufted ottoman with removable lid available in 15 shades. 

• View on Amazon in the US (opens in new tab)
• View the UK equivalent (opens in new tab)

Happy decorating!