4 dorm looks we love and how to create them for yourself

This article was originally posted September 7, 2018 and was updated September 4, 2019.

Nothing says #freshstartseptember like moving out of your childhood bedroom (maybe for the first time ever) and into a building with a bunch of strangers. Now that you've picked up all the beauty essentials and the gadgets you'll need to make this semester successful, it's time to think about adding a little personality to that rather bleak room you're inhabiting. So we're sharing the dorm decor looks we love. We've even sourced the corresponding pieces so that you can shop the look. They're affordable — with a few splurges thrown in here and there — and we hope they'll make the transition to dorm life a little better and more stylish!

Dark but cozy

This dorm room from Ikea is exactly what we want for upcoming cozy fall afternoons. Pair greys and blues for a welcoming space. Plenty of hanging fabrics lend a cozy feel, and strands of lights help cast a warm glow for all those nights of course readings. We also love that these neutrals pair perfectly with wood furniture, which is likely what was awaiting you when you arrived at your new dorm.

Removable wallpaper exists and it's a beautiful thing. This peel and stick wallpaper comes in tons of different patterns, but we particularly like this geo print in navy. Instead of doing an entire wall, opt for a small accent wall, or use it to create a headboard design behind your school-supplied lacklustre bed frame.

Geo Wallpaper, about $65 CAD, Society6

Just like in our inspo pic, these sheets are a stylish, neutral and pair perfectly with blues for the ultimate study space this semester. This set is pure cotton and both the duvet cover and pillowcase zip shut to keep the pieces inside in their place.

HJÄRTSTILLA Duvet Cover and Pillowcase, $79.99, Ikea

Luxe crushed velvet is exactly what fall calls for. These tufted floor cushions serve as added seating and add a little texture to your space.

Velvet Floor Pillow, $59, Urban Outfitters

As seen in the inspo pic, firefly lights add a warm glow to your dorm. And, at 98 feet long, this delicate strand of copper lights is all you'll need!

Extra Long Copper Firefly String Lights, $74, Urban Outfitters

This room divider may feel like a splurge, but it can offer some seriously-needed storage space, not to mention an element of personal space, to a shared room. We love its industrial, vintage vibe and it's a piece that will easily transition into your first apartment.  

VEBERÖD Room Divider, $149, Ikea

Those beige walls need some help. Adorn them with pretty print from Juniper Print Shop. The beauty of this company is that you pay a set fee for the image and then you're free to print it as many times as you want, at whatever size you desire! For a room like this, we particularly like these two images. The nautical print adds a vintage feel to any space, the black and white cityscape is a classic and they both fit with the colour scheme. FYI: For a deal, you can sign up for their newsletter and get a code for "buy two get one free."

Nautical Print and Ann Street Print, from about $26 each, Juniper Print Shop

Black and white and boho

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You can't go wrong with classic black and white — especially with a bit of boho thrown in. For this look, we're taking styling inspo from Anthropologie. Just as in this setup, aim for plenty of texture, and it's easy to achieve with rugs, throw pillows and embroidered bedding. Keep things classy and clean with framed black and white prints. And since your room will be small (we guarantee it), try subbing in a chair as a nightstand as they did in the pic above. It's perfect for holding your current reading list, and it doubles as extra seating when you have company.

Texture is everything with a very simple colour scheme like this one, plus, the more pillows on your bed, the comfier studying will be. Look for cream, white and black accent pillows like this one and your room will be particularly stylish.

Cushion, $36, V de V Maison

Style meets snuggly with this piece so we're 100% on board. This fleece blanket mixes in perfectly and it's as soft as can be.

Amped Fleece Printed Throw Blanket, $59.99, Urban Outfitters

The star of our inspo image above, this quilt embodies the boho aesthetic we're after. It's a bit of a splurge, but we absolutely love the embroidered elements. And it may feature an embroidered jacquard front, but it's machine washable and dryer-safe, which is ideal for when you inevitably spill coffee all over it.

Embroidered Lilou Quilt, from about $200 to $227, Anthropologie

Behold! A laundry basket that's actually aesthetically pleasing! It's pretty and striped... and very convenient. You won't need to hide it away in the back of your closet and it's got handles, so you can take it to the laundry room with you.

Jute Laundry Basket, $39.99, H&M

Please do something with those drab walls that doesn't involve taping a bunch of best-selling college posters to it. This tapestry is an excellent option for covering up some of that empty space. Plus it's got tassels and fringe, which add texture galore!

Moon Phase Textured Tapestry, $49, Urban Outfitters

Add some additional seating with this very on-trend banana fibre stool. It's boho for sure, but it also happens to be the perfect place for those clothes that are not quite clean enough to put back in your closet but not quite ready for the hamper. I'm not wrong.

ALSEDA Stool, $49.99, Ikea

Bright and textural

For this look, channel bright, fresh and clean with lots of white. We love these luxe looks from Bed Bath and Beyond (left) and PB Teen (right). A palette like this will add a calm vibe to your space and maybe even make a tiny dorm feel a little more spacious. To keep it from being boring, add in plenty of texture with ruched bedding, lanterns and faux fur accents. And as you can see with the Bed Bath and Beyond pic, it's an opportune palette to mix in your favourite metallics for a bit of glam.

As seen in our inspo pic, this textural beauty is designed to keep you warm and brighten up your new space. It's also organic and certified to be free from over 300 harmful substances — and 100% machine-washable.

Organic Ruched Diamond Duvet + Sham, $20.04-$105.63, PB Teen

A budget-friendly fave, these paper lanterns will cast such a pretty glow on your new space. We love the layered look, like in this idea from Ikea pictured above. And if you're not allowed to put holes in your walls or ceiling, Command hooks will be your new BFFs.

REGOLIT Pendant Lamp Shade, $5, and HEMMA Cord Set, $9.99, Ikea

Add in texture and make things super cozy with an extremely well-priced sheepskin rug. Fun fact from their site: "wool is soil-repellent and durable." Sounds perfect for a dorm.

RENS Sheepskin Rug, $39.99, Ikea

Accents are truly key with a look like this. If you've got the space, consider investing in what is perhaps the coziest chair we've ever seen — maybe it'll make that reading list seem a little more manageable.

Butterfly Chair, $38.88, Walmart

Please don't be afraid to mix your metals! You can absolutely have gold and silver accents. And lucky for you, this very chic ottoman is not only pretty, it functions as extra seating.

Faux Leather Silver Pouf, $120, Baba Souk

As seen in our inspo pic, this photo board is a step up from the traditional cork board. Plus, it's an easy way to incorporate gold into your space.

Umbra Zig Zag Photo Collage Display in Gold, $26.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

Plants, please

We're here to tell you that millennial pink and the plants-on-every-surface aesthetic aren't going anywhere. They also happen to look beautiful together. For inspiration, we're looking to the ivy covered walls and all-pink-everything in this shot from Urban Outfitters, along with the plenty of plants seen in this pic from Society6. If your dorm has low light, or your not looking for a commitment right now, opt for faux foliage or plant patterns over actual plants.

Cover your walls with a tapestry! It's available in three different sizes, and when it's time to move out of your dorm, it's easy to fold up and pack away. You can use it as a picnic blanket, because it's durable enough to be machine-washed.

Terrarium Tapestry by Beth Hoeckel, about $59 CAD, Society6

Please ignore the crib in this image and focus on those pretty, matte leaves. Urban Walls is a Canadian company making it easy to achieve a dorm room oasis. These palm leaf decals are also made to be easily removable without causing wall damage (very important!) and you get eleven branches per pack.

Palm Branch Wall Decals, $85.34, UW Decals

Pulled straight from our inspo pic, this pack of five faux vines are a wonderful addition to your new room. Leafy and lush, they can be strung just about anywhere — no watering required.

Decorative Vines Set, $20, Urban Outfitters

If you do opt for live plants, these mini pots are amazing finds. They're a great home for succulents and cacti and the gold or matte black finish will work so well with the rest of your decor.

Small Metal Plant Pot, $6.99, H&M

Channel plants and hues of pink with another pretty print from Juniper Print Shop. And since you can print it in any size you want, we love the idea of taking it to your local print house and printing it on vinyl for an oversized wall treatment.

Pom Poms Print, from about $26, Juniper Print Shop

Pick up this pretty pink sheet set in your pursuit of plenty of millennial pink. Pink bedding is not hard to find these days, but these sheets of sustainably-grown cotton are so well-priced, they made our list.

DVALA Sheet Set, $24.99, Ikea