Making new friends, having a new place to live—these can be some of the most exciting but nerve racking aspects about going away to college. Fortunately, whether you’re trying to find a common interest with your roommate or feel a little less homesick, styling your dorm room so it has a good vibe can ease your worries. 

A well decorated dorm room—one that has self-indulgent shams and a guitar sitting in the corner—is an aesthetic that will never get old. In fact, it will probably be just the thing you’ll want to see after a long day of classes. While many guys look forward to creating a space that breathes their style, some—especially those who have never shared a room—might be unsure of how doing so will pan out when living with a new roommate.

It’s natural to be worried about how you and your new roommate will get along. Afterall, you are going to be living with them. One of the keys to getting along with your roommate, of course, is to start off on the right foot, something that can be done if you work together to style your dorm room. 

If you and your roommate don’t know where or how to start coordinating your dorm room, don’t worry. We’re going to give you all the tips you need to know so that you and your future bro can create an epic dorm room that looks good and feels like paradise. Not only will your decked out room be the perfect place where you and your buddies can chill out, it will also help you create a bond with your roommate that will last long after the school year is over.                                                                

Start by having a conversation with your roommate

Bedspreads, posters, storage trunks—you’ll likely have a lot of things on your “What to pack for college” list. Thinking about all of the things you need to buy for school, in addition to coordinating these things with your roommate, can become very overwhelming. 

It’s important to remember that styling your dorm room with your roommate should be fun, not stressful. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, so instead of thinking about it as a chore, view it more like a fun group project that you won’t be graded on. 

Take some time to have a conversation with your roommate about how and what you want to coordinate. Do you just want to avoid your bed spreads from clashing? Or do you want to go all out by giving your room a theme? Brainstorming a plan up front will make the process of coordinating your dorm room much easier down the line. 

And make sure to establish a vibe

There’s a good chance you and your roommate will want to feel good vibes when you walk into your dorm room. After all, you both are going out of your way to make sure your shared space looks good. 

You’re going to want to figure out what vibe you’re aiming for before you do anything else. When you’re not sure what to buy or what colors to emphasize, knowing the ambience you’re going for can help steer you in the right direction. So, ask yourselves: what vibe are you guys are shooting for? 

Next agree on a color palette

Regardless of how much you plan to coordinate with your roommate, everything you have in your dorm will have a color. Establishing a color palette up front will simplify the entire process by creating a straightforward guide you can follow. If you’re ever unsure if a poster or decoration will fit with the vibe of your dorm room, choosing something that fits within the color palette is always a safe way to go. 

The great thing about a color palette is that you and your roommate have the freedom to decide on the type and amount of color you want in your dorm room. If you both like different colors, select a palette that features shades of each that compliment each other.  This will allow you to bring your own personality into the room without sacrificing a seamlessly decorated space. 

If selecting a color palette from scratch sounds daunting, spend some time looking at some premade ones that fit the vibe you and your roommate are trying to go for. If neither of you have any strong attachment to a specific color, don’t hesitate to stick to a neutral color palette. This can include black and white as well as shades of navy, grey, and beige (although we don’t suggest using all of these colors at once).  

Not only will a neutral color palette give your new bedroom a sleek look, it will also give you the opportunity to add in some accent colors down the line if you choose. Plus, any personal decorations and wall art with vibrant colors are much more likely to stand out if you commit to using neutrals for the rest of the room.

If you and your roommate have difficulty deciding on which colors you should use when coordinating your dorm room, sticking to a neutral color palette offers a simple but versatile option. Image courtesy of Audrey A La Mode.

Then pick out complimentary bedding

Aside from your desk, the most obvious piece of furniture in your room will be your bed, so you’re going to want to make sure it looks good and feels comfy. Coordinating comforters with your roommate isn’t a necessity in creating a dorm room with a good vibe, but it will certainly make your room’s aesthetic that much better. 

Now that you already have a general color palette picked out, finding complementary bedding shouldn’t be too difficult. The easiest way to make sure you and your roommate’s comforters match is to stick to solids or patterns that closely align with the colors you agreed on. 

The key to coordinating with your roommate is making sure that everything matches and fits together seamlessly. You don’t want one bed to stick out more than another, which is why choosing a comforter with few colors and simple patterns is a must. 

But picking a solid colored comforter doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing style. Choosing bedding bundles with subtly patterned sheets can add personality to the room by offering a break from heavily used colors in the palette you and your roommate agreed on. 

Another way you and your roommate can coordinate comforters is by selecting ones made by the same company. While you probably won’t want the same bedspreads as each other (this will make your room less exciting), you can choose similar ones in different colors. For instance, these grey and blue comforters made by IZOD have the same style but come in colors that complement each other. 

And finally, add some personality with artwork & pillows 

After you’ve done the heavy work of picking out a comforter and complimentary sheets, the rest can just fall right into place. Again, you don’t need to get crazy about making sure everything you buy for your dorm room will coordinate with what your roommate has purchased. Have fun by getting creative with some of the details of your room, like pillows and wall art. 

You have a lot of room to really express your personality by picking out things that speak to you. It’s less important that the accessories in your room match the agreed-upon style and color pallete you established with your roommate, although doing so can make the whole room come together seamlessly in ways it otherwise wouldn’t.

Throw pillows

Pillows that have a unique texture can be an ideal way to add a touch of comfort and style to your dorm room without overpowering the continuity you and your roommate have already created. These cable knit throw pillows are comfortable and nice to look at, but their neutral colors will make them easy to match in almost all dorm rooms regardless of their color palette. 

You can also pick pillows that allow you to incorporate different colors or patterns you like into your dorm room without making the room feel off balance. Similar to sheets, pillows can provide a break from solid-colored comforters, which will not only make your room more appealing to look at, but will showcase a slice of your personality as well.

Wall art

You don’t need us to tell you that blank walls are boring to look at. Having even just a few posters or paintings in your dorm room is instrumental in making any college dorm room feel less like a place to study and more like a chill place to hang out. 

Think about the vibe you and your roommate are shooting for when you are selecting artwork. Color isn’t as important here, although picking something that generally fits with your color palette definitely won’t hurt. 

This poster of the beach is a perfect fit to your dorm room if you’re going for a chill and relaxed vibe. Instead of being stressed the night before an exam, you can look at your wall and think about the soft sound of ocean waves crashing onto the sand. 

If you and your roommate want to feel motivated throughout the semester, consider this poster, which will always remind you to keep trucking along, regardless of how stressful the semester becomes. 

Yes, spending a little extra time to coordinate wall art, comforters, and pillows with your roommate will definitely give your dorm room a nice aesthetic, but this isn’t the only end goal. College, while stressful, is also supposed to be fun, and you can’t have fun if you don’t have friends you can count on. Styling your dorm room with your roommate, while you may not realize it at the time, is just the first step in creating a friendship that will stand the test of time.