Going to college for the first time can unearth a lot of anxiety. These are the years when you’ll discover who it is you really are, and - especially if you haven’t even begun to understand the answer to that question yet - you might be afraid to find out what the answer is. 

There’s no avoiding that anxiety, but it may help you to alleviate some of it if you can at least start to answer the big question. The simplest way to get started? Think about how you want your dorm room to look! Your style says a lot more about who you are than you might think. 

These are some of the best looks we’ve seen so far for 2020:

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Soften the Edges

Dark and Light Dorm Decor Inspired by @nichesocial

Every inner rockstar needs the look that brings it to life. Most of us at least like to pretend that we have the chops for a career in music at some point or another - whether that be during a late-night crawl through all the karaoke bars in town or alone in the living room after everyone else has left us to our own devices for a night. Whatever the case, if you feel like channeling your inner rockstar at college this year, why not invest in some dorm room bedding that will reflect how you feel on the inside?

Here, they’ve combined whites, black, and grey tones to create a look that screams rockstar. Dark charcoals are reminiscent of the coal eyeliner you might’ve seen a lot of early rock or pop punk bands wear, while the textured whites add an element of softness to round out the sharp edges. Every good rockstar can also perform a ballad, and this one is yours.

Get the look with this varsity collection 27-piece bedding and bath set, marble print peel and stick wallpaper, and slick knit throw.

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Let There Be Light

Bright and Airy Dorm Decor Inspired by @mercedesnwhite

Dorm rooms come prepared for you as a blank slate. Typically, you’re met with blank white walls, a simple bedframe with an adjustable height, a desk, and a dresser or wardrobe. What you do with it is entirely up to you, but you’re probably going to want to add some additional lighting at one point or another. Most dorm rooms come with fluorescent lights that don’t provide a great lightsource for your Instagram photos, so adding pops of color and additional lighting to make the glow in your room a bit warmer will help immensely.

Here, they’ve strung up a strand of small bulbs around the top perimeter of the wall and added pops of orange to create a really cohesive, warm look. The russet throw is the darkest color in this particular decor, but because they’ve stuck to one specific tone of orange, simply adjusting the shade, and paired it with white, it looks especially warm. Think of the warm scarf you might wear when the temperature drops and the leaves begin to change, and that’s how this look feels.

Get the look with this complete campus pak bedding and bath set, pink knit throw, and LED string of lights.

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Diluted Boho

Desaturated Whimsical Decor Inspired by @yugita.jasmine

Muted colors are in right now. They don’t clash as easily as brighter colors might if you can’t quite decide which one you love the most. They also offer you a way to play around with different patterns and textures in a safe space if that’s something you aren’t entirely comfortable with yet. Boho is also in right now, and if you pair the style with muted colors, you’ll get a dorm room style that is truly unique.

Here, they’ve done exactly that, hanging a white and grey mandala tapestry up on the wall parallel to the bed, adding in bedding that combines muted tones of grey, white, and blue. The bold pattern of the mandala tapestry means that they’ve mostly stayed away from other patterns, but they haven’t been afraid to mix and match the textures. Ruffles on the comforter, a fuzzy throw, and even a ruched decorative pillow all work to tie this look together. The muted tones have also allowed them to go bold with some neon lights in the decor.

Get the look with this comfort pak bedding and bath set, knot throw pillow, and Kashvi wall tapestry.

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Yes Frills

Ruffled, Cozy Dorm Decor Inspired by @tellythecraftaholic

What’s the opposite of no frills? All the frills! There’s nothing wrong with letting yourself indulge in all of the pretty colors and textures dorm decor has to offer. Ruffles, flowers, cozy furs, and - most importantly - pink, are the perfect way to tie your dorm room decor together into a girly, textured wonderland.

Here, they’ve combined a ruffled baby pink comforter, a pink headboard, beige accent pillows, and a white fur throw to create one of the coziest dorm beds we’ve ever seen. To tie the look together, they’ve added a faux fur seat cushion to their standard dorm room desk, a plush faux fur rug to the floor, and an adorable flower wreath to hang from the wall. Imagine walking into a room where you know you’ll feel at peace just because of how lovely it is. This is your room!

Get the look with this starter pak bedding and bath set, faux fur cube ottoman, and peonies pattern wallpaper.

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Simply Spotted

Minimalism Done Right Inspired by @emmalea_good

When most people think of minimalism, they think of a space so clean that it’s nearly sterile. While this can definitely work for some people, packing up your entire life to move into a dorm room isn’t necessarily conducive to true minimalism. For the purposes of settling into a small space that doesn’t offer up much storage, we propose settling for a modified take on minimalism. Simple decor and a bold print on your bedding can go a long way.

Here, they’ve paired simple white sheets with a matching set of black spotted pillows and a duvet, colorful accent pillows, a single plant on a stool, and a few photo frames to round out the decor. It’s simple enough to be considered minimalism, but the added touch of a bold print and colorful accent pillows allows you to make minimalism into something all your own. Now, your dorm room decor can be simple and clean with a little added pizzazz. 

Get the look with this bed in a bag, plant art print, and circle wall mirror.

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Step Out of This World

Astrological Dorm Decor Inspired by @milkteadani

Not everyone believes in astrology, just as not everyone has a seemingly impossible dream that they’ve set their sights on. If either of these apply to you, however, you may just be able to see the appeal of incorporating those into your dorm room decor. Not only will you have a constant reminder of all the dreams you are working toward while you’re in college, but it will also offer a gorgeous look for you to carry with you during your years in a college dorm room.

Here, they’ve used a lot of deep blues, which could be taken to represent either the sea or outer space (although we reckon outer space would be more accurate). The yin and yang dream catcher on the wall combined with some simple art that says “reach for the stars” act as a gentle reminder of the dreams you’re chasing. Pops of color on the accent pillows are a reminder of all of the unknown, both in space in the years ahead of you.

Get the look with this bed in a bag, hologram throw, and moon wall art. 

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Here Comes the Sun

All Yellow Dorm Decor Inspired by @florencemayvintage

It’s not easy to use one color predominantly in your dorm room decor in a way that isn’t quickly on the verge of becoming overwhelming. You have to strike a balance when you decide that one color is going to be the color, and the best way to do that is to try to stick within one tonal range and to vary the shade within that range that you incorporate into your decor. Whether you’re trying to emulate the sea in your decor or trying to channel the sunshine, you may just want to consider going all in with a single color this year.

Here, they’ve gone with all yellow, combining some yellow floral bedding with bright yellow curtains, sunflowers painted on the dresser, and even some yellow flowers in a vase beside the bed. There’s yellow decor on the walls and even some golden-yellow baubles that have been strung from the ceiling. The traditionally bright color is muted in some of the decor, and they’ve made it less overwhelming by cutting it with some darker browns and blacks.

Get the look with this bed in a bag, happy vibes wall art, and slice slice baby accent pillow.

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Fancy Some Flowers

Floral Dorm Decor Inspired by @midgetfidgets

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In a dorm room, where you usually only have one or two tiny windows and even smaller window sills to work with, it’s not very easy to keep plants alive. If you’re someone who loves plants but are a bit worried about keeping them alive in the midst of a busy schedule and very little access to sunlight, you might want to consider looking at some floral bedding for your dorm room. Bring the plants to your dorm without worrying about whether you’ll have to face their demise in a few weeks time.

Here, they’ve kept it fairly simple, making the flowers a centerpiece of their decor by using them sparsely, but you can choose to make yours however you’d like to. A floral throw and its matching pillowcase offer up the focal pattern of this look, not only because they are the boldest pattern, but because the flowers have been printed over a pale pink background, which contrasts nicely with the deep navy that’s also included in the bedding.

Get the look with this Dean’s List bedding and bath set, “hello” accent pillow, and peony art print.

Whatever you decide your personal style is, we know that you’re in for an incredible few years at college. It’s time for you to figure out who you are.

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