Colorful dorm room ideas that you’ll be happy to call home
Whether you’re about to embark on your first year of college or the last, one thing remains the same: The end of summer brings a lot of excitement and perhaps a little bit of anxiety. While you can’t wait to start a new chapter alongside your friends, there are undoubtedly a dizzying number of to-dos left to cross off your list, including decorating your dorm room. For some, this particular project is a welcome event, but for others, it might be somewhat daunting. Whichever camp you fall in, IKEA Kreativ will make the project fast, easy, and more importantly, fun.
Now, if you’re asking yourself: What is IKEA Kreativ? And how can it help me with my dorm room design? You’re in for a treat! With this virtual design-meets-shopping experience, you can browse and compare products, explore different combinations, swap items in and out, and buy everything you need all in one place.
But before you start decking out your new home away from home, let’s get those creative juices flowing with a little eye candy. Ahead, we’re going to take you on a tour of two fun and playful dorm room designs guaranteed to whet your appetite and get you in the decorating mood.
However, if you’d rather get right down to business, you can select one of the furnished dorm room designs below and put your unique spin on it by swapping products and moving items around. Or, if you prefer to start with a blank slate, jump into an empty dorm room instead. For an even more personalized fit, see if you can access your dormitory a little early to scan your own space.
Modern whimsy college dorm room
Move-in day has finally arrived. You get to campus, find your dormitory, open the door, only to discover your new digs leave a lot to be desired. Not a problem! Follow the lead of this charming setup and breathe life into your dull sleeping quarters with a vibrant color palette. Here, pops of green, yellow, and pink lend a playful energy that immediately captures the eye.
The bed is dressed with a bright-green, wavy-striped PORTLAKMÅLLA duvet set. On top sits a solid pink GURLI accent pillow that breaks up the verdant pattern and also serves as the perfect finishing touch. A green and off-white, checkerboard-patterned rug warms up the floor and lends additional visual interest to the space.
Pro tip: Think outside of the box when it comes to storage.
College dorm rooms are notoriously small. Select furniture and decor that will offer you a little extra storage, like the GRIMSARBO side table or the GRANVÅG wall mirror, which has hidden storage behind it.
And speaking of visual interest, how about that KLIPPAN loveseat flaunting a yellow floral-patterned sofa cover? Assuming your dorm room or studio apartment has space for a small sofa, it will make a stylishly comfy perch for hanging out with friends or late-night study sessions. However, if reviewing notecards while lounging on a sofa sounds more like a recipe for nap time than the perfect test prep location, you can always camp out at your desk.
While many college dorm rooms come with a standard desk, see if you can swap it for something with a little more pizzazz, like the LAGKAPTEN / SPÄND desk. It features a fun, multi-colored grid pattern on top and a minimal frame below, which will help the room look and feel more open.
Pro tip: Invest in furniture with casters.
Many different activities take place in dorm rooms, including sleeping, studying, movie nights, and impromptu dance parties with friends. That being said, furniture with wheels will make it super easy to rearrange your space without breaking a sweat.
Last but not least, if there is one thing that you can never have enough of in a dorm room, it’s storage. Stay organized and keep your room from looking like a cluttered mess by finding a home for all of your essentials. Make the most of underused areas, such as under the bed and the walls.
Consider hanging items like a SKÅDIS pegboard, JORDMÅNEN wall hooks, and EKET cubes to corral some of your belongings. Use KUGGIS or TJENA boxes and RISATORP baskets to stash some of your other possessions. And if your dorm room doesn’t come with a dresser or a closet, consider the STORKLINTA four-drawer chest and the BOAXEL wardrobe combination to keep your clothes from piling up on top of your bed.
Creative energy college dorm room idea
Similar to the dorm room design above, this setup is also stylishly modern and boasts an energizing color palette. A contrast of warm and cool tones gives the space a sense of balance and playfulness. Now, you might be thinking: The blue accent wall is fun and all, but I can’t paint my dorm room. Well, you don’t need to. Opt for peel-and-stick wallpaper instead. It’s a temporary solution that will allow you to bring a bit more color, or pattern, into your space. Just be sure to get permission from your residence hall before you cover any walls.
Once you’ve established your color palette, it’s easier to select the furniture and decor. Start with textiles, such as the bedding and rug. The PILTANDVINGE duvet set is a great choice if you want to make a bold statement. We love the bright pink on the bed, but it also comes in vivid blue, light green, and gray if the blush hue isn’t your cup of tea. The chevron-patterned HANNELISE accent pillow breaks up the rosy bed linens, and ties in the rest of the color palette, while the patchwork-patterned rug adds loads of visual interest and a bit of softness to the floor. Additionally, the rug anchors the mini seating area, made up of a bright yellow SOTENÄS lounge chair and an orange DOMSTEN stool.
Pro tip: Go from sitting at your desk to standing in seconds.
If you do some of your best work while standing, then you’re in for a treat. Just perch this handy DUBBLA laptop stand on top of your desk and voilà … now you have a standing desk.
Small spaces can accumulate clutter in the blink of an eye. Keep your college dorm room looking oh-so-stylish with adequate storage options. For your desk area, a SKÅDIS pegboard, TJENA file holder, BÖNSYRSA organizer, and TROFAST bin will help keep your workspace neat and tidy. EKET cubes, TJENA and PANSARTAX boxes, SÖSDALA memo boards, and RISATORP baskets helpful storage solutions that also happen to be easy on the eyes.
While most dorm rooms come equipped with basic overhead lighting you’ll want to bring additional fixtures that will make your space feel cozy and inviting. For instance, the NÖDMAST lamp is portable and battery-operated so you can move it around whenever you need a little extra illumination. Plug-in wall lamps like the orange donut-shaped VARMBLIXT will free up space on your nightstand or dresser and will add a nice warm glow. If your dormitory does not permit you to screw anything into the wall, consider using adhesive hooks instead.
Pro tip: Save space with products that serve more than one purpose.
Since square footage is limited, opt for furniture and decor pieces that pull double-duty. For instance, the ENSMÄRKE lamp provides lighting, but it also comes with a USB-C port for charging.
Now that you’ve covered all of the major bases, it’s time to accessorize your space. You don’t want to go overboard with dorm room decor, but a few pieces sprinkled throughout will add extra color, visual interest, and personality. Think artwork like the BILD and PJÄTTERYD pieces showcased here, a yellow NATTBAD Bluetooth speaker, and a vase or two such as the blue CHILIFRUKT or orange FRÖVÄXT. And last but not least, round out your space with photos of family and friends and a couple of plants.
College dorm room essentials checklist
Now that your dorm room layout is all squared away, let’s make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Here is a quick checklist of must-haves to ensure you don’t leave anything to chance:
- Shelving
- Lighting
- Bedding and pillows
- Extra blankets
- Towels
- Bathroom caddy
- Storage
- Laundry basket
- Waste bin
- Memo boards
- Desk organizers
- Cooking necessities
- Fave snacks
- Flip flops
And if you’re looking for even more dorm room inspiration, check out this fun read:
Unique dorm room ideas that are too cool for school