Maybe you’re about to embark on your college journey and move into your first dorm room, but you don’t know where to start when it comes to decorating. Or maybe you’ve been in your dorm room too long and you want to change things up. Whatever the reason is, you want to decorate your dorm room with something new. 

Decorating your room into your dream space can seem daunting at first, but decorating your space is a great way to make your room reflect your own personal style and taste! There are plenty of ways to decorate your dorm room to fit your style; you can use a minimalist approach, or go all out with a maximalist approach. You can go with florals and color, or keep it more neutral! The way you decorate is entirely up to you! But if you’re struggling on how to get started, here’s a guide to dorm room decorating to get you started!

Take a Minimalist Approach 

We’ve all heard of minimalism; an approach to decorating that focuses on clean lines, less clutter, and a simpler aesthetic when it comes to decorating. At one point in your life you have probably thought about attempting to try out a minimalist lifestyle. But minimalism can be hard to accomplish, especially in a space as small as a dorm room. We as humans naturally hang onto clutter, so creating a clean space with minimalist decor might seem hard. If you’ve ever watched an episode of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix, then you know what I’m talking about. 

When decorating your dorm room in a minimalist style, remember this one thing; the simpler, the better. However, simpler doesn’t mean boring or without color. Rather, a minimalist approach is just about not having excess of what you need. Translation: you don’t need those twelve pillows on your bed. No really, two will be fine. And do you really need two desk lamps, or is one plenty?

Decorating in a minimalist way is a great excuse to get rid of some clutter or extra things you don’t need in your dorm room. Like Marie Kondo says, if it doesn’t spark joy, get rid of it. But whether you’re about to move into your dorm and have a tendency to overpack (who doesn’t?) or you’re just overwhelmed with things in your room but you can’t let go of it yet, there are other options than just purging your stuff. Because who knows, you might need that one earring back later right? 

One way of getting around throwing out your old stuff that you’re not ready to get rid of is to find a way to store it. Storage bins and carts are a great way to hide clutter while looking stylish, and making your room seem more minimalistic. Stressing about having to narrow down the many pairs of shoes you bought from home? Throw them in a storage bin that’s both chic and stylish and no one will be the wiser! Your storage bin doesn’t have to be boring either. You can use your storage as ways to decorate too!

If you’re looking to really change up your room, another way you can do that is through artwork on your walls. Hanging art is a fun way to give your room personality. When picking art, try to stick with works that have similar styles and colors. When hanging the art, consider mapping out where you want to put each piece to hang it in a way that looks clean and not jumbled.

Another fun way to incorporate wall art into your room is with a mirror. Mirrors have a natural tendency to make a space look larger. So not only will a wall hanging mirror add decor to your walls, but it will also make your small space seem a little bigger. A fun tip is to match your mirror to your trunk or another color in your room so as to create a clean flow of colors.

Showcase Your Inner Maximalist 

The opposite of minimalist decorating is to take a maximalist approach. Basically, take a Marie Kondo approach to everything you just learned about minimalism and throw it away. Maximalism basically means taking all of your favorite things you like about decorating and combining them all together. Like leopard print and orange stripes? Why not have both? Maximalism isn’t about limiting yourself to one design choice. If you like a bunch of patterns, incorporate them into your space. By adding in a lot of design and different decor choices you can give your room depth and really make it match your personal style!

If you like the maximalist approach to decorating then a good place to start is to just think of the types of patterns and colors you like. Maximalism doesn’t mean you can’t have a color theme; it’s about not having to compromise when it comes to design decisions. So if you love the color purple, incorporate that in as many forms as you want! This could mean having a patterned bedspread and then hanging curtains of a different pattern but the same color!

If you love patterns, adding a rug with a cool design is another way to incorporate your style into your dorm room! Rugs are a great way to accessorize a space and to really make it your own! There are so many different styles of rugs out there that the only hard part is deciding which one you want. And the best part about maximalism is that you don’t have to choose! Layering rugs is a great way to add depth to your space! 

Another great way to incorporate a maximalist style in your room is through color. Colors are great for brightening a room and making them your own! Incorporating different colors and patterns is what maximalist is all about. A good way to do this is with throw pillows. There are so many throw pillows out there with different designs to really make your room pop! 

Bring On the Florals and Color

Incorporating florals and colors into your room is a fun way to spice up your space! Whether you want to completely redecorate your space or you just want to add some new decor pieces to up your decorating game, florals and colors are good ways to do this. Incorporating floral art work on the walls is a good way to introduce some new decor into your room without going overboard. A floral tapestry is a good way to do this!

If you’re lucky enough to have a private bathroom in your dorm, then another way you can add some florals to your dorm room decor is in your bathroom. You can decorate your bathroom in different ways, but the simplest way to give it a new look is with a new shower curtain. Shower curtains can easily change the entire look of your bathroom, so choosing one can be a fun experience! You can go with a floral print, or choose a solid color option. It all depends on the vibe you’re going for!

If you love color in your room and want to add more to your room you do it in many ways. Having a colorful bedding set is a fun way to add a lot of color and can make a huge difference to your space! Getting a colorful bedspread is the most obvious way to decorate with color but if you’re looking to include color in your room in a more subtle way, there are a lot of ways to do this! A cool way to add some more color is with some colorful lighting. No one ever said your bedside lighting had to be boring. Instead of a plain lightbulb, opt for a color changing one! This way you can change it to whatever color matches your mood!

Keeping it Neutral 

So maybe colors aren’t your thing and you’re more of a neutrals fan, but you’re worried having a neutral color scheme might be boring. But just because you have a neutral style dorm doesn’t mean it has to be boring or bland! Neutrals can bring a clean, natural aesthetic to your room. You can incorporate neutrals in your room with wall art, rugs, bedding, and many other ways! The key to keeping your room from becoming too bland, try to find different shades or some patterns. 

Finding trinkets and other small decor items is another way to keep the neutral theme throughout your room. Adding a salt lamp to your dorm can incorporate a soft glow that will still keep to a simpler decor theme while adding a fun and relaxing glow to your room! Salt lamps are also a nice natural option from a generic lamp from the store!

Getting wood accented decor is another way to incorporate a neutral atmosphere. Light wood colors stick with the neutral tones you’re going for while also keeping your space from becoming too dark toned. The light wash of the wood will give your room a natural aspect that can help your room feel light and airy everyday! 

Decorating your dorm room should be a fun experience. Whether you’re about to start college and move to your first personal space or you’re going into your senior year, decorating your own room however you want is a liberating experience! Moving into your own space is exciting because you can finally decorate however you want and really let your personality and creativity shine through! And if you’re just looking to add a few new touches to your room to spice it up, there are tons of options and ways to do this! 

One thing to always remember when decorating (or redecorating) your space is to remember to just have fun! Whether you’re a minimalist, a fan of all things floral, or you don’t have a set style, you can’t go wrong with how you choose to decorate your room. When shopping for new decor pieces it can sometimes feel overwhelming because there are often so many options and directions you can take the image you have of what you want your room to look like. But don’t stress; as long as your decor makes you happy, you’re on the right track!