All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
College dorm decorating has come a stylishly long way since Pottery Barn Teen launched rugby striped sheets and mini-locker side tables in 2003. But now, the kitschy fads are replaced with cool decor that suits endless dorm design possibilities. And, yes, bean bag chairs are still a staple. Savvy online retailers like Room 422, Dormify, and Society6 give college students a start at curating a room of their own (okay, probably a room they’ll have to share, but all the more reason to hone in those design skills). If you’re a college freshman, check out the college’s housing web page before you get too amped up planning a dorm room. Often, this new home will have certain rules about what you can and can’t bring. Candles, for one, are a big no-no, so don’t waste your money on a gorgeous candle vessel. Instead, opt for a diffuser like Pura, with scents from the new Nest fragrance collection like Blue Cypress & Snow and Autumn Plum, to keep college jitters at bay.
You don’t have to bend the rules, just scale back and improvise. “If your child has a vested interest [in design], get a floor plan of the room and see what they allow,” says Winnetka, Illinois-based Lj Savarie of Savarie Interiors. Even essentials can feel “couture” if you customize, Savarie says, and she knows her way around a dorm, having already sent three kids off to university. Laura Park also recommends using bedding in lieu of basic XL sheets. Here, 15 ideas to transform a college dorm room with chic work-arounds for dorm-living rules.
Rule 1: Don’t use nails, glue, wall hooks, or double-stick tape that can damage the walls.
A dorm design do: Command Strips are Savarie’s go-to for dorm decor solutions, and some strips even hold 20 pounds. Janet Thomasson, mom of three and owner of Thomasson Interiors in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is a fan of Mix Tiles, ready-made frame with customizable photos that easily attaches and detaches to walls. A full-size leaning mirror is another trick Thomasson employs to turn an underutilized wall into functional decor.
Rule 2: Don’t paint the dorm walls, ceiling, floor, and furniture.
A dorm design do: Removable wallpaper comes in a myriad of options from densely packed florals to abstract rainbows, and it promises to add style to any dorm without a permanent footprint. Making your own accent space shouldn’t take more than two hours. This DIY diary on peel-and-stick wallpaper will show you how.
Rule 3: Don’t swap out dorm furniture.
A dorm design do: Make the most of the furniture, and think about how you can cleverly mask less than stellar pieces. Thomasson Interiors designer Serena Schupler, mom of four, had a ball scheming up dorm designs with her daughter last fall. “One of the first things Alex and I did was raise her bed and dress it with an extra-long bed skirt to hide storage and a mini fridge, creating a more sophisticated space,” she says. Savarie loves a custom headboard for her full-residential clients, and feels it can be as impactful in a dreary dorm room. Room 422 offers foam versions that velcro to the wall. Or you can go for a Leah Deux headboard-shaped pillow.
Another strategy to add personality is to go to a local home improvement store with the measurements of a dorm desk top and buy a piece of glass to make a cover. “Students can place their favorite photos underneath it and a decorative lamp on top for a really personalized touch,” Schupler says. Alternatively, place a piece of patterned fabric or a wallpaper sample (even cool wrapping paper can work) for a bright studying spot.
Rule 4: Don’t bring candles, or cover overhead lights and fire alarm strobes.
A dorm design do: Create mood lighting with a pretty desk lamp. Schupler found one for her daughter’s bedside that had a dimmer for a softer effect. To step it up, use fabric to warm up an otherwise sterile-looking space. Thomasson suggests suspension rods or no-drill rods (and no-drill curtain rod brackets) to hang drapes, or even create a fabric backdrop to your bed in lieu of or addition to a headboard. Adding monogrammed bedding can distract from a cold ceiling. Use throw rugs from Dash & Albert to further cozy up the room. Savarie had even heard of students placing an artificial grass rug on the floors—talk about putting the fun in a functional dorm room.
