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Dreaming of the perfectly designed blue and white dorm room for the upcoming school year? If so, you’re in the right place! This post is full of the very best dorm room ideas and ways to incorporate a blue and white color scheme into your design.
The most beautiful dorm rooms I’ve ever seen focus on bringing in light and airy white pieces with pops of blue. Something about the blue and white combination is so elegant, timeless, and stylish!
Of course, designing a dorm room from scratch can be a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, I’ve come up with some simple ways to bring your style to life in your new space. The goal is to make it feel like your home away from home after a long day of classes.
How to Style a Blue & White Dorm Room
Start with a white base and incorporate blue into the room when you can. You’ll find this route easier than trying to coordinate multiple different colors or elements into the room. You can add texture with rattan details for the ultimate grandmillennial escape!
Now, let’s start designing the perfect college dorm room together. You’ll have a stylish dorm room in no time.
1. Use Headboards
Headboards are an easy way to dress up a dorm bed. They’re also a great focal point. Whether you opt for a crisp white headboard or bring in a pop of color with blue it’s sure to add interest.
If you don’t want to worry about attaching a headboard, a headboard-shaped pillow is a good option. I found one linked below that would be perfect in a blue and white inspired dorm room.
2. Bring in Throw Pillows
Another great way to style a dorm room and enhance the blue theme is to bring in decorative pillows. You can source these accent pillows in person at shops like Home Goods or local boutiques. Dormify also has great options. Amazon is another great place for affordable throw pillows to use in your dorm.
3. Curate Sheet Sets and Bedding
A big tip I have for those of you styling a dorm room is to shop at TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls for sheet sets and bedding. During the summer months leading up to college move-in dates they are stocked with pretty pieces. There is normally a pretty good selection and the prices are unbeatable for your dream bed essentials.
4. Add a Few Furniture Pieces
Most dorm rooms come with a bed frame, maybe a dresser, and a desk. Bring in just a couple of well-thought-out furniture pieces to make it feel like home without creating a cluttered feel since you’re working with a small space. I love this nightstand that doubles as a dresser for extra storage!
5. Hang Wall Art and Frames
Cover up those bare, boring walls and fill vertical space with a few frames or wall art pieces. This instantly transforms the look of the dorm room design. You can use command hooks to avoid making holes in the walls.
6. Utilize Table and Desk Decor
I love adding in small table decor finds or a desk lamp to add to the blue and white theme of the room. You’ll need a lamp anyways so you might as well use this opportunity to continue the color coordination!
7. Style School Supplies
Gone are the days of ugly school supplies. There are so many stylish ways to store pencils, papers, notepads, and more. Source a few cute finds to help you feel motivated to study.
These small items truly add so much visually to the room and dorm decor.
8. Accessorize the Bathroom
If you’re lucky enough to have a bathroom in your dorm room, take the opportunity to accessorize it a bit! You can play around with fun bath mats, soap dispensers, and shower curtains for the perfect look.
Other Ideas I’m Loving
- Hang String Lights – Increase the ambient lighting with cozy fairy lights. These are so fun to drape across the room.
- Apply Stick Wallpaper – If your dorm allows, removable wallpaper takes your room decor up several notches. Choose a classic blue & white print with hydrangeas, stripes, or any other pattern you love.
- Add Blue Storage Ottomans – A light blue or navy storage ottoman is a great choice!
- Lay a Blue Area Rug – Especially if you have hard floors, a stylish area rug is perfect for bringing in more dimension.
- Bring a Mini Fridge – Take it from a college student who constantly needed a snack, a mini fridge is a MUST for college dorms. If your dorm room doesn’t already come with one, add this to the list of must haves.
- Use Under-Bed Storage Bins – Most dorm beds are raised a bit so you’ve got extra space for storage. Invest in some under-the-bed storage tubs to free up space.
- Hang a Bulletin Board – This pin board is one of my favorites for dorm rooms or home office areas.
- Drape a Cozy Blanket – Especially if you opt for a solid white bedspread, a throw blanket at the edge of the bed adds more character and charm.
- Swap Standard Desk Chair for a Stylish + Comfortable Desk Chair – Chances are your dorm room will already have a desk and chair. Most than likely, it will be less than aesthetically pleasing. Swap out the desk chair for something like this.
- Freestanding Clothing Racks – I’ve seen a lot of clean, classic white freestanding racks you can use for extra clothing storage if you have a tiny dresser or closet.
The Ultimate Guide – Blue Dorm Room Round-Up
If I were designing a dorm room this year, these are the pieces I would personally gravitate towards. They’re the perfect dorm room essentials!
Sources:
Bathroom Mat / Bedspread Set / White Headboard / Personal Pillow / Blue Lamp / Scalloped Throw Pillow / Blue Frame Set / Scalloped Sheet Set / Printed Pillow Covers / Hydrangea Art Print White Towel / Blue Headboard / White Dresser
Final Thoughts
Whether you love coastal, grandmillennial style or are just a fan of a blue and white color palette, these pieces will help you create the most stunning dorm room on campus. By searching retailers like Home Goods and Marshall’s, you can stay on a budget but still achieve that chic look.
