Picking the right colors for your dorm room is important for making it look good and feel comfortable. The colors you choose can show off your style and make your room feel like a cozy space for relaxing and studying. Whether you like bright and bold colors or soft and calm ones, having a set color scheme can turn your dorm into a place you love.
Decorating a dorm room can be fun but also a bit overwhelming for college students. A good tip is to choose 2-3 main colors before you start buying things for the college dorm room. This helps make sure everything matches nicely, even if you buy several different small items from various places. With a set color palette, your room will look put-together and feel more comfortable.
In this post, I’ll share some great color combinations that will make your dorm room look awesome and feel cozy. These ideas are perfect if you’re stumped on what colors to bring into your dorm room or if you just need a little inspiration on how others have decorated. I’ve found so many cute dorm room ideas for you!
How to Choose the Perfect Dorm Color Scheme
The obvious answer here is to pick your favorite colors for your dorm room design. While that seems so simple, not everyones favorite color is necessarily a great option for interior design. If that’s you, here are a few other ways to pick a color scheme.
Decide if you want a bright, vibrant room that feels fun and playful or a calm, soothing space for unwinding. If you want a brighter look, pick two colors that are opposite on the color wheel for a bold contrasting approach. If you want a more relaxing tone and the space feel to be soothing, pick two colors that are adjacent. For a cheery room, orange, bright pink, and bright green are good options. For a relaxed look try light blue, light green, soft gray, or creams.
Next, determine what you already have. If you have certain wall art or a bedspread you are set on using, base the rest of your room off this. A simple way to pick a color scheme is to go ahead and select a comforter or quilt and use the colors displayed in that for the rest of your room.
Just remember, the most important thing is that YOU love the space.
Where to Buy Dorm Room Furniture and Decor
Before we get in to all the inspiration photos and color scheme ideas, let’s talk about where to purchase things for your dorm room. I don’t think you need to spend a ton. You can certainly make a very beautiful room on a budget!
My top choice and favorite place for buying home decor is thrift stores or consignment stores. Facebook Marketplace can also be an awesome resource. There are so many hidden gems out there for insanely good prices. Next, I’d browse Home Goods, Marshall’s, or TJ Maxx.
After that, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Dorm Co, Dormify, and Pottery Barn Teen can be fun places to browse for a few splurges and dorm room decor items. Don’t be afraid to repurpose things from freshman year to sophomore year, too. A fresh start year after year just simply isn’t necessary.
Dorm Room Inspiration Photos
Now, what we’ve all been waiting for! Enjoy this collection of styled dorm rooms where you can view different color schemes in real life and explore how they designed and decorated their small space. If you’ll be living on a college campus this year, have fun decorating your new home.
*special thank you to everyone who submitted photos for this blog post. I’ve loved seeing how you styled your dorm and greatly appreciate you sharing it for inspiration!
Navy and White
I don’t see this color scheme as often for girls and I’m seriously wondering why it’s not more popular after seeing how Andrea styled this dorm room for her daughter. Don’t you think it’s gorgeous?
I think they key is adding in lots of feminine touches like a scalloped sheet set, pretty lamps with a gold accent color, and beautiful white curtains. String lights would make it even more girly and fun!
Recreate this almost all white color scheme but swap the navy blue for coral, sage green, or any other color of your choosing.
Green, Pink, and Yellow
Michelle decorated this room for her youngest daughter Emma. I’m loving how she picked three “bright” and “bold” colors (green, pink, & bright yellow) and focused the wall hangings around that. They truly are the focal point. Then, she kept the rest of the room neutral with gray to keep the emphasis on the vibrant colors.
Yellow with Green Floral Stems
Yellow makes me so happy. Decorating your dorm room with yellow is a fantastic idea. Add in an earthy color like green to accent it is even better! Utilize that vertical space if you have it! I love how the flowers go almost all the way to the top of the wall.
Gray and Orange
You can use this inspiration whether you are male or female. I love how versatile it is! This gray and orange color combo would be perfect for a school with orange school colors.
Light Pink and Gold
Throwback to when I was in college myself! I took this photo on my very first day of college after we had finished decorating our space. We decided on blush pink with gold compliments. We loved how girly and preppy the room looked.
Gray and Green
Honestly this would probably be more like my current day color of choice. I’m loving natural looking greens with light gray, gold accents, and white. You can’t go wrong with a sage green bedspread and pairing it with pops of gray throughout your dorm room. I think this is going to be a popular pick!
Light Blue and White
Let me introduce you to the dorm room of your dreams. When I stumbled upon these two dorm rooms on Instagram I was blown away. They look like professional designers helped here! I was so excited when both Mary Beth and Madison gave me permission to share their photos with you all because these dorms are real show stoppers.
If a light blue and white dorm room wasn’t already on your mind, consider this your sign to ponder it! This design is perfect for a best friend who will be roommates!
The blue throw pillows on this one are my favorite. They take it up a notch! It almost reminds me of the styles you would find in a beach house.
White and Rattan
Is Rattan a color? I’m not particularly sure, but what I AM sure of is that a white and rattan themed dorm room is a gorgeous combo! Technically, rattan is a material type but what’s the difference, anyways. It’s a great way to bring unique style to your dorm room.
Lindsey added in a rattan overhead light, rattan edged pillows, and a scalloped rattan frame on her bookshelf. This dorm is so crisp and clean looking. We love how light and airy it is with mostly neutral colors and just a touch of pastel colors.
Gosh, I’m just totally gushing over this dream dorm room. The decorative pillows alone are enough to make you take a second look.
Dark Gray and Pink
While I personally opted for a blush pink and gray dorm room, I think this brighter pink with a darker gray dorm room is a stunning choice, too. It looks like this was pretty easy to put together and style while still being a gorgeous display.
This also goes to show that you really don’t have to go overboard with dorm decor. Sometimes less is more! She’s still got all the dorm room essentials but there’s not as much extra “fluff”.
Black, Orange, and Yellow
If you’re not as girly or just want something a little bit edgy and different I’m loving how Anna took this yellow and orange theme and ran with it adding in some contrasting dark colors in the bedspread, records on the wall, and the record player. The decorative items really make this space!
By using a variety of different colors (note the rug) she was able to bring so much character and personality to this room. It’s obvious what the primary colors are with the yellow throw pillow and orange/red posters.
Light Pink and Gray
A classic combo for dorm rooms is pink and gray. We’ve seen several variations so far in this post so I think it’s safe to say pink and gray are a popular duo for dorm rooms. I think it’s sleek, an easy way to style, and creates a beautiful room you’ll enjoy relaxing in.
Other Unique Dorm Decor Ideas:
Add these fun styling ideas to your to-do list! These personal touches will complete the styling of your dorm room.
- Adhere Stick Wallpaper – if your dorm allows, it’s a great way to bring in more of your base color and take the decor up a level. You’ll have the most unique dorm in the residence halls!
- Hang Fairy Lights – you can find these super cheap and they make the world of difference.
- Add Throw Blankets – if you’re stumped for ways to bring in your desired colors without them being overly obvious, grab a throw blanket and drape it across the bottom portion of your bed.
- Build a Photo Wall or Gallery Wall – a couple of the photos in this post display a collage of photos. Scroll back through for inspiration!
- Bring in Area Rugs – a large rug or a couple of smaller rugs can bring in pops of color and style.
- Storage Ottomans – extra storage for those everyday items and a touch of design? yes please!
- Hang a Bulletin board – a practical way to fill up wall space!
- Freestanding Clothing Racks – display some of your favorite clothing pieces in the color family of your interior decor.
- Add Faux or Real Plants – adding greenery creates a natural and relaxing element.
- Ambient Lighting – desk lamps, floor lamps, overhead lighting and more can up the brightness and improve your mood.
Conclusion
Choosing the right color scheme can make all the difference in transforming your dorm room into a cozy and stylish living space. Whether you go for the classic combination of navy and white, the soft pairing of pink and gray, the refreshing blend of light blue and white, or incorporate natural rattan elements, each of these schemes can create a unique and inviting atmosphere.
Remember, the key is to pick colors that you love and that make you feel at home. With a little planning and creativity, your dorm room can become a space where you feel relaxed and happy this school year. I hope you enjoyed browsing through the best dorm room color schemes for 2024!
