A new school year provides a clean slate. You've got a fresh schedule of classes and a dorm room that's quite literally a blank canvas. Even if decorating isn't your thing, adding just a few simple pieces will make your space feel more welcoming and somewhere you actually want to hang out.
If you're not sure where to start or want a little inspo, we dug into the latest dorm decor trends that have us wishing we were headed back to campus this year. But all of these pieces aren't just great for dorms, they're items that can come with you after your dorm days and into your first apartment. Besides the Twin XL sheets — at least treat yourself to a full-sized bed once you get your degree.
And a little advice as a former RA, check your college's dorm rules before hitting purchase on any of these items. Many dorms have rules against upholstered furniture like rugs, tapestries, and bean bags because they can be a fire hazard so check what's allowed before purchasing.
So if you've got your laptop and noise-cancelling headphones ready to go for the school year, here are the decor items that will turn your space into a study, sleep, and social sanctuary.
Ruggable Washable Area Rug
Whether your dorms have cold, tiled floors or carpeted floors with some questionable stains, an area rug adds some color and texture to an otherwise plain space. Keep in mind, not all dorms allow for rugs, but if they do, go the washable route. We love Ruggable's washable rugs that can get tossed into the washer since accidents happen.
Spoonflower Peel and Stick Wallpaper
For the particularly design-minded, peel-and-stick wallpaper offers the chance to totally transform your room. Keep in mind that you can face fines for any damage left behind to dorm walls, but peel-and-stick wallpaper is a removable and renter-friendly option.
Spoonflower has a massive catalogue of prints. This is one of the pricier decor routes to take, but worth it if you'll lose your mind staring at boring white walls — even a singular small accent wall can revamp your dorm room.
Pottery Barn Teen Custom Neon Light
To help make your and your roommate's spaces feel distinct but cohesive, how about some custom neon signs? Pottery Barn Teen makes custom neon signs up to nine characters long. They come in electric colors that make your dorm glow.
Urban Outfitters Bean Bag Chair
Dorm room furniture doesn't have a reputation for comfort — make sure you have a mattress topper on your list — so to break up the long hours in your wooden desk chair, a bean bag chair is both comfy and a decor opportunity. Urban Outfitters has some particularly unique options, like the Dylan Striped Bean Bag Chair, which comes in both single chair and loveseat options.
Target Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to add some personality to your space. Since they may get tossed around with college living, don't spend a ton of money on them. Target's collection of throw pillows is fun and cheap and includes options like this cute blue floral pillow, this vibrant corduroy half moon, or this cross-stitch number.
Lego Botanicals Happy Plants
Let's be honest — as much as you'd like to think that you'll be able to keep a plant alive in between classes and work and your social life... you won't. But to keep your dorm room from feeling drab, Lego Botanicals are the solution. This Lego Happy Plants set is absolutely adorable, featuring cheery planters with faux succulents. These planters sit on desks or window sills, ready to greet you when you come home from a long day of lectures.
Ban.do Oat Milk Vase
We love Ban.do for its delightfully quirky decor that adds some color and cheer to any space. The brand has a whole line of cheeky vases, but we're partial to its ceramic oat milk vase. Even if you're not keeping live flowers in it (you could opt for some faux or Lego stems instead), it's still a fun way to show your personality and penchant for the dairy-free.
Dahapyboo Cork Board
Since I am quite a few years out of college, I did a deep dive into the latest college dorm decor trends. And let me just say I am immensely impressed by the elaborate cork board collages that I spotted on TikTok and Reels. While I saw quite a few cork boards DIY'd from top to bottom, if you want to save time, this Dahapyboo cork board is a great starting point with its linen backdrop and bottom-hanging rope so you can hang photos.
Juxyes Brass Photo Frames
Another favorite among the college students — floating picture frames. Rather than the classic picture frame with matting, these hanging pictures create the illusion of photos hanging freely, surrounded by a gorgeous brass frame. The Juxyes brass photo frames come in a two-pack on Amazon, giving you a jump start on creating your dream dorm gallery wall. And since you can't drill into your dorm walls, don't forget to order a pack of Command hooks.
Woozoo Globe Oscillating Fan
While, yes, this fan is technically more of a straightforward appliance than a piece of decor, you have to admit that this Woozoo compact globe fan is totally adorable. It's a fan favorite online for dorm rooms because it won't take up a ton of real estate — including floor space — but still oscillates so you can get some air flow in stuffy dorms. If you need to create some more space for your fan and have it at the perfect angle for sleeping, this fan shelf is ingenious.
Rosanbella Name Pennants
To make your dorm feel like home for both you and your roommate, grab a couple of custom pennants. Little-known fact: Amazon has a subset of its website dedicated to handmade artisans, like its version of Etsy. These pennants are customizable, coming in a variety of colors and fonts. And since they're customizable, instead of writing your name on the pennant, you can even get it with your hometown for a little reminder of home.
Room Essentials Squiggle Lamp
Just the other day, whilst browsing the aisles of Target, I came across this lamp and had to practice some major impulse control and not scoop it up for myself. But if I had a dorm room to shop for, I'd absolutely buy this lamp. One universal truth about dorms: the lighting sucks. If you can't stand the harsh overhead fluorescents, you'll need to bring some lamps to warm and cozy up the space. This lamp totally fits the bill, just make sure to buy warm light bulbs so you don't end up with harsh lighting after all.
Threshold Scalloped Edge Floral Sheets
The easiest way to brighten up your space is to try lively twists on things you already need. So if you're buying sheets, go for something with a little more personality. These Threshold sheets at Target come in a darling floral pattern and have a chic scalloped edge for a little something extra. Target cotton sheets are totally underrated, and with a 300-thread count, they're deliciously soft, get even better with time, will keep you cool, and are easy to clean.
Curtain Fairy Lights
String lights are a dorm room classic, but rather than deal with a bunch of strings of fairy lights, go for this curtain design. The Hxweiye Curtain Fairy Lights create a wall of ambiance so you can turn off the bright overheads and actually relax.
Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights
One of the most memorable pieces of dorm decor for me was my friend's LED strip lights that synced to the audio of whatever was playing (can you tell I went to art school?) That being said, a set of these Govee LED strip lights is the ultimate lighting experience and sure to impress your dorm mates.
