Are you looking for dorm room ideas for girls to recreate? Here are 37 insanely cute and creative dorm room ideas that’ll make everyone jealous!
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Congratulations to all of the new college freshmen’s. I bet you are excited to learn and have fun during these college years. If you are living on campus, I can tell you right now the dorms are not going to be pretty, haha! I also used to live in a dorm and it was not cute at all. The only things that were there were a small bed and an even smaller desk
That’s all. I spent a few days redecorating the room with my roommate, who was a close friend of mine. We laughed, talked, and decorated for at least three days in a row. I am proud to say that after we were finished, you wouldn’t be able to tell it was a dorm. Other than the fact that it had two beds of course, haha!
Anyway, there is no reason why you can’t have a cute and functional room too. One that looks amazing and is organized. I think you are a lot more productive when the environment is nice too. If you need some help finding ideas to turn your dorm into your dream room that you won’t mind spending most of your time in, then you’ve come to the right place.
I spent hours scrolling through Pinterest trying to find the very best decorations and ideas for you to recreate. From cute bedding to organization ideas and amazing wall decorations, there is something in here for everyone. Now, let’s take a look at these dorm room ideas!
DORM ROOM IDEAS
1. GET CUTE BEDDING
If you want your room to look nice and pretty, one of the best ways to do that is by getting cute bedding.
You don’t need to spend tons of money on this, simply go on Amazon and search for ones you like. They are extremely affordable and pretty well made.
If you want the one in the picture, go on Pottery Barn.
2. ADD FAIRY LIGHTS
Fairy lights will literally make anything look good. They are great for creating a warmer atmosphere and giving the space a little glow.
You can hang them up behind your headboard or all around your dorm walls.
3. INCORPORATE A DESK HUTCH
Desk hutches are literally a lifesaver. They add an insane amount of extra space on your desk table which is great because you won’t have that much to begin with.
Chances are you’ll get stuck with a very small desk with maybe one drawer if you’re lucky. So do yourself a favor and buy a desk hutch.
You can organize your stationary items there, add some cute pictures of you and your friends/family, or even double the desk as your makeup vanity.
4. ADD A BED SKIRT
If you go and look at literally any dorm room when you first walk in, you’ll see that almost every bed has a bed skirt on it.
The reason for this is that since you are left with very little space to use, students make use of the area under their beds.
They store storage bins, extra clothes, and other items they don’t have space for in the actual room. So, if you are planning on using the space under your beds for storage, get a bed skirt.
They make everything look cohesive and hide all of the clutter under your bed.
5. STORAGE BINS
As I mentioned previously, your dorm is not going to be very spacious. You will have a closet to store your clothing but it’ll be very small.
So, before you start packing clothes for your move, first go through every single item and see if you would actually wear it.
If you haven’t worn a shirt in 6 months, do not include that because chances are, you won’t be wearing it at all.
Make sure you bring clothes that fit and are appropriate for classes. You can also bring a few pairs of going-out clothes that you would wear for clubbing and partying.
If you run out of closet space in your dorm, the best solution is to use storage bins. There are literally hundreds of options for this and they are all very cheap.
The way I used my storage bins is, that I would store away everything that I wouldn’t wear for the season.
For example, If it is currently wintertime, I would not be walking around with short sleeves on.
So, I suggest you keep the clothes you would wear for the season in the dorm closet and put everything else in the storage bins. You can just switch them out when the season changes.
6. THROW PILLOWS
Throw pillows are a must-have for me. If you want your space to look extra cute, you need to include some cute pillows on top of your bed.
You can find amazing options on Amazon or on Etsy if you want something more custom. I suggest keeping your pillows to a maximum of three. One for sleeping and the other two for decoration.
This way you won’t have to work out every morning and night trying to get the pillows off your bed and then back on, haha!
7. NEON NAME SIGN
Make your dorm room look fun by adding a light-up neon name sign above your bed.
You won’t have a lot of floor space to make the room look cute so adding a cute sign on your wall is a great way to do that. I found an amazing option on Etsy for only 18 dollars. You can get it here.
8. PULL-OUT DRAWERS FOR YOUR CLOSET
As I said earlier, you will not have a ton of closet space. The rod is probably long enough to hold about 30 pieces of clothing, tops.
And if you’re anything like me, you probably have triple or quadruple the amount. So, that little closet space isn’t going to be much help.
This is where the pull-out drawer organizers come in handy. Just install however many you need below the rod where you hang your clothes.
You can now just fold your clothes and place them inside the drawers. They offer a ton of extra space and are fairy cheap. You can go look on Ikea or Amazon.
9. BRING A MINI FRIDGE & MICROWAVE WITH YOU
You guys, I cannot express how much you need these two items in your dorm. The cafeteria food they offered at my college was absolute sh*t.
So, what I did was, I bought myself a mini fridge and microwave so I can make microwaveable meals myself.
And, if your college is close to home, you can go there during the weekend, meal prep all of your meals and then store them in the mini-fridge.
This way, you’re not spending a ton of money on fast food, you’ll be eating healthier, and won’t be gaining the freshman-15.
Just be sure to check if you are allowed to have a mini-fridge and microwave in your dorm beforehand because some colleges don’t allow them.
10. VANITY AT THE FOOT OF THE BED
If you love doing your makeup or just need a place where you can sit and get ready in the morning, use the space that is at the foot of your bed.
It’s not going to be a lot of extra space but, you can definitely fit a small vanity or desk there.
Buy a little mirror and shelves/organizers to keep all of your makeup, skincare, and hair products in one place. This one from Amazon is a great option.
It is compact, affordable, and offers a bunch of space.
11. USE AN OVER-THE-DOOR ORGANIZER
If you want extra storage space, use an over-the-door organizer. You can find them on Amazon for as low as $10. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty great deal to me.
All you need to do is hang this over your door and use it for literally anything. You can store your shoes there, makeup, extra towels, skincare, hair products, and so much more.
12. OVER THE DOOR MIRROR
This is honestly such a great idea. You obviously need to see how you look before you head out the door so, an over-the-door mirror is perfect for this.
It doesn’t take up any floor space and you can also find mirrors with storage space inside. How awesome is that?!
You can make your door look a little better by adding some stickers around the mirror. This also makes the mirror pop and your room look nicer.
13. USE THE WALL FOR DECORATIONS
I’ve probably said this ten times already but, you will not have any floor space to make your room look cute. So, what I did when I was living in a dorm was I used the walls.
I hung up lots of pictures, hanging plants, fairy lights, etc.
This is a great idea because not only will this make your room look amazing but, it won’t make your space feel cluttered because everything is on the walls.
14. OTTOMAN WITH STORAGE
Ottomans are going to be your best friend.
When you’re hanging out with friends in your room, it creates an extra seat, when you are just lounging about, it’s great for putting your feet up, it also looks super cute and adds as room decor, and most importantly, you can use it to store your things.
When you are looking for ottomans to buy, make sure you buy one with storage space because not all of them have it.
You can store literally anything you want inside. Clothes, shoes, school supplies, cleaning essentials, etc. The great thing about this is that no matter what you put inside, it’ll still look cute.
15. HANGING WALL SHELVES
Hanging wall shelves are literally amazing. I know I’ve said that about everything so far but it’s true, haha!
Go on Amazon and search for hanging wall shelves, you’ll find options with rope and a few shelves attached.
The great thing about this is that you won’t need to drill the walls to hang them up. Just grab a command strip, put it on your desired wall area, and then hang the shelves.
Now you have some more space that you can use to decorate, organize, and literally anything else.
16. MAKE SURE YOUR SPACE IS CLEAN
The number one thing that makes any room feel smaller is unnecessary clutter. So make sure your dorm room is always in top-top shape.
Put your shoes away where they belong, don’t leave clothes lying around, make your bed every morning, and at least once a week, wipe down all surfaces with a cleaning spray.
You can also use Clorox wipes. Don’t forget to vacuum as well, even if you don’t think your room is dirty.
17. ADD SOME TEXTURE
Adding texture to your dorm room is key to creating an inviting space.
If you have brick walls in your dorm, then that’s amazing but if you don’t, you can incorporate texture by adding woven blankets, a shaggy pillow, duvets with patterns, and so on.
Doing this creates visual interest and will make the room more appealing.
18. CUBE ORGANIZER
I know I’ve talked about under-the-bed storage ideas and bed skirts to hide everything but, if you don’t like the look of bed skirts, there is a way to make your under-the-bed area look neat and cute.
I suggest you cube organizers that’ll fit under your bed, so make sure you measure before buying. You can find these on Amazon or Ikea.
Then buy baskets/bins that are all the same. It’ll look much more tidy this way. Now just place the things you want to store away in the bins and place them inside the cubes.
19. GET A FUTON
If you have enough space under your bed or next to your bed, then getting a futon is an excellent idea.
They aren’t too expensive, which is great and they also create extra seating. So when you have friends over they can sit there instead of on the floor or on a hard surface.
20. CREATE A PHOTO BOARD
Personalize your room by creating a photo board. You can buy a small bulletin board from Amazon along with some pins and just pin the photos you want to showcase.
Print out pictures of you and your friends, your family, some silly pictures because a photo board is never complete without them, and of course some of your favorite memories.
This is such a cheap and easy idea for your dorm room. This idea is also great for guys as well.
21. VERTICAL SHELVES
Vertical shelves are amazing for dorm room organization. They hardly take up any floor space so they won’t make the room feel cramped and smaller than it already is.
You can place cute decorations there, your bags, your clothes, shoes, and other miscellaneous items. I suggest you put the shelves next to your nightstand since that will be in the center of the room.
If there is no space by your nightstands, you can place it right next to your door or bed.
22. COMFY CHAIR
Every girl needs a comfy chair. When you’re sitting down at the same spot for hours on end studying, doing homework, or whatever else, you need the chair to be comfy.
You don’t want to wake up the next morning with aching muscles and back pain because of a stupid chair, haha! So, go on Amazon right now and look for a cute and comfy chair.
If you have enough space in your dorm, you can create a little lounging corner for you and your roommate. You guys can take turns using it or come up with a schedule.
If you love to read, add some books, some activity books, snacks, and drinks. This is great for unwinding after a stressful day.
23. WALL GRID DISPLAY
How insanely cute is this? Creating a photo wall grid in your dorm is a great way to make the room feel like home and a little more personalized.
You can get these grids on Amazon for an insanely affordable price. Print out cute pictures of you, your friends, and your family, or even just aesthetic pictures you like.
Grab some mini clothespins and just pin them on the grid. Add some fairy lights for the perfect amount of illumination and to make it more cozy.
24. ADD A WALL TAPESTRY
Wall tapestries are always in and trending for dorm rooms. Since you are not going to have a lot of space to do much decorating on the floor space, you need to make use of the walls.
If you’ve already hung up cute pictures and decorations to make your room look extra cute but still have a bunch of empty wall space left, then consider adding a tapestry.
You will find SO many options online. You can match it to your bedding, get something with animal prints, or florals, with a boho vibe, or even have it custom-made with your favorite picture.
25. ADD A RUG
Area rugs are so important in my opinion. They make your room look and feel a lot cozier, they bring the decor together, and they look amazing.
But my main reason why area rugs are non-negotiable is because the dorm room floors are disgusting.
I don’t know if it’s like this for all colleges but my dorm floor had dirt and grime from I don’t know how many years ago. I was not about to walk on that with my bare feet.
So, my roommate and I mopped down the floor, bought a fluffy rug from Target, and laid that down. We didn’t have to worry about getting our feet dirty and the room looked amazing.
So you should definitely get an area rug, even if your dorm is clean.
26. WHERE IS…?
If you are sharing your dorm with a roommate, then you need to recreate this idea. It is extremely useful especially in those moments when you need to find them.
Each of you will write down where you usually go on blank pieces of paper. For example, sleeping, in class, off-campus, at a restaurant, etc.
All you need to do is get a cardboard and and cover it up with some fabric. Install them on the wall, glue down the papers, and get a clothespin to mark exactly where you are.
27. COFFEE/ SNACK STATION
I am a huge coffee addict, my day does not start without drinking a freshly brewed, hot cup of coffee first. If you also drink coffee or tea then get a tiered rolling cart from Amazon or Target and make a little station.
On the first tier, dedicate that area to your coffee/tea. Include creamer, sugar, syrups, and coffee stirrers there. On the second and third tiers, add a bunch of your favorite snacks.
Sometimes, you don’t have enough time to make breakfast or even go to a fast-food restaurant to grab something quick, so this will be very helpful. Plus, it is great for those midnight cravings, haha!
28. GET A READING PILLOW
Reading pillows are amazing, I still have one on my bed. They offer great back support, are comfortable, and don’t take up too much space on the bed.
This is great if you have a hard headboard. Those can really hurt your back when you rest on them. The reading pillow is also amazing if you are studying for long hours.
It won’t won’t make your back ache and is super comfy. So I definitely recommend you get one.
29. LAP DESK
Sometimes you just have those days when you don’t want to get up from your bed and walk to your desk to work. So instead, I suggest you buy a lap desk. It is exactly as it sounds.
A small desk you put over your lap. It is actually super convenient. They have compartments where you can put your coffee, phone, and pens. You can be comfy and productive with this.
30. ADD A BED CANOPY
Adding a canopy to your bed will elevate the space so much. They just give off that elegant and classy vibe to me. You can find so many cute options on Amazon and Etsy.
If you want to make it look even cozier, add some string lights to it as well.
31. FLOOR MIRROR
Having a full-length mirror is definitely a must for dorm rooms for girls. When you’re getting ready to head out the door and need to do a quick outfit of the day check, the mirrors will come in handy.
You can make sure your hair is looking cute and your foundation actually matches your neck, haha! I cannot tell you guys how many times my friends have told me my foundation is a completely different shade from my neck.
Don’t be me and check before you leave!
32. ADD A MIRROR ABOVE YOUR NIGHTSTAND
Mirrors, in my opinion, make your space look a little bigger. I have no idea why that is but I don’t think you can ever have too many.
So, add a mirror above your nightstand. This will also be helpful when you want to see how you look in direct sunlight or want to do heatless curls before bed.
You can personalize it and make it look cuter by adding some adorable pictures of you and your friends around the perimeter.
33. INCORPORATE GREENERY
Greenery, whether fake or real is another thing you should definitely have in your dorm room. Why you ask? Well, because they brighten everything up.
The bright green hue just makes everything look better. Especially if you aren’t getting enough natural sunlight from your windows because trees might be covering it up.
You can add fake ivy garlands on the side of your bed, have a couple of potted plants on your nightstand, and even have a larger plant by your door.
I suggest going with faux plants because you don’t need to take care of them as much.
34. FLOATING SHELVES ABOVE YOUR BED
Floating shelves are seriously amazing! You can install them above your bed to create extra decorating space or even use them for organization.
You can get a set of two from Amazon for about 15 bucks. That is a great deal plus, it comes with all of the tools you need.
Add some cute pictures on the shelves, some plants, and just other little decorations to make your dorm room feel like home.
35. LOFT YOUR BED
If you are not lofting your bed, you are seriously missing out on a ton of extra space. I did it during my freshman year and it was the best decision I made. It gave me so much more space to work with.
My roommate and I ended up making a little living room under there. We got a small loveseat, a little coffee table, and some cute decorations to finish it off.
You can add a futon under there, create a little study station, kitchen area, extra storage space, or literally anything else.
You will need to contact your housing department to inquire about it because not all beds can be lofted. It is definitely worth finding out though.
36. BLACK ACCENTS
If you want a bolder look to your dorm, I suggest you go with black accents. Black accents look very sophisticated, chic, and elegant.
You can mix in some blush pink and a bit of white to balance everything out.
37. USE A CLOTHING RACK
Last but definitely not least, you need to bring a clothing rack with you to your dorm. I’ve already mentioned this a couple of times but dorm room closets barely have any space to hang all of your belongings.
So a clothing rack is very important. If you’re like me and can’t decide on your outfit and get really overwhelmed every day when trying to pick out something to wear, this clothing rack will become your best friend.
Why? Well, what I did was, every week I set aside a few hours on Sunday afternoon and picked out my outfits for the week.
From earrings, and accessories, to what shoes I’m gonna wear. This helped me save so much time and I was not stressing out about clothes anymore.
Another way you can use the clothing rack is by hanging up bulkier items like winter coats, jackets, and sweaters.
Get a clothing rack that has some shelves so you can organize your shoes or put storage baskets on it as well.
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