Planning your dorm room design for the upcoming school year? Don’t stress! This post makes it easy to design a dorm room from start to finish with preppy dorm room ideas and inspo for your space!
From beautiful rugs and decor to bedding favorites and wall art, we’re covering everything you could possibly need to style your dorm room with a preppy coastal granddaughter vibe.
If you’re stumped on how to create a visually stunning dorm room that also functions well for everyday life as a college student, keep reading!
This post is all about the best dorm room ideas for coastal granddaughters.
How to Style Your Dorm Room Like a Pro
Staring at a plain, boring dorm room that needs updating? Starting from scratch can be very intimidating. But, with these easy tips and tricks you can curate a dorm room that you truly love.
Before no time, it will become your home away from home!
Match Your Rug and Accessories
The key to styling your dorm room like a professional interior designer? Pair a rug with matching accessories for an instant upgrade. Your dorm room will look sleek and polished by matching an area rug with decor like lamps or ottomans.
Need some inspiration? Here’s a couple of combinations that are sure to make your college dorm room unforgettable.
Rugs & Accessories
Lilly Pulitzer Printed Shade Table Lamp
This desk lamp truly has it all! The ceramic base is quality and perfectly balanced with a pretty patterned shade.
This lamp shade has the most beautiful shades of blue and green. Place it on a white desk for a preppy look. With this coordinating washable rug (KEY!), everyone will swoon over this lamp and rug duo.
Rugs & Accessories
Lilly Pulitzer Washable Rug
Match this rug with the printed lamp shade for a cohesive look! The bamboo lattice print makes this area rug a great focal point and accent piece. Plus, these colors are simply stunning!
Coordinating Colors & Patterns
Use this tip for easy dorm room styling. Even if your rug and decor doesn’t match perfectly, by keeping the color scheme similar and styling it properly, rugs make ALL the difference.
Don’t skip out on finding a large area rug or fun bold peel & stick wallpaper for your grandmillennial inspired dorm room. Trust us, it takes everything up a level!
We all know how little storage space you really have in a dorm room, so a storage ottoman or storage bench might be a great element.
Rugs & Accessories
LoveShackFancy Round Ottoman
Add this one to your dorm room wishlist! Function and style come together with this storage piece. Use it to store the essentials while bringing beauty to your room at the same time.
Placed on a rug with a matching pattern, this ottoman will be a total show shopper.
Rugs & Accessories
LoveShackFancy Floral Rug
Make things convenient with a washable rug! Plus, the pattern on this one is more simplistic and perfect for pairing with other dorm room decor.
Of course, you could also find rugs that match your wall art, bedding, or office supplies! Try finding a scalloped rug to use alongside scalloped throw pillows for another similar combo that takes minimal effort.
Use Classics Like Stripes
Hello, stripes! Go ahead and put it on your to-do list to find something striped to decorate your dorm room with.
Classic Stripes
Striped Cabana Rug
A classic striped rug you could use in any dorm room! This one is handwoven from an extremely soft blend of wool, jute and cotton.
Whether it’s the rug, bedding, curtains, or other decor, adding a piece with classic stripes will bring to life that coastal granddaughter feel in the dorm.
Striped Accents
We’re loving the stripes on this rug, but don’t miss using stripes in other places, too!
Stripes are one of the most classic elements in design and add a vintage but modern feel. Our favorite way to use stripes? On a peel and stick (dorm-friendly!) wallpaper or on a rug to make the room feel larger.
Once you become just as obsessed with stripes as we are, you’ll be shopping for striped laptop bags, striped water bottles, and more! Don’t be afraid to take your love for this classic print out of the dorm room and into the classroom.
Classic Stripes
Striped Storage Bench
Add this striped ottoman to the end of your dorm room bed for added storage and interest! It’s a striped lovers dream. Store those small items in extra storage like this.
Transform Walls into Artwork
Use up that wall space to make your dorm room feel more like you! Adding in your favorite wall art, mirrors, string lights, or other wall decor can truly make ALL the difference for a fresh look.
Wall Decor
Oversized Bow
How adorable is this oversized bow? It’s available in other colors if blue isn’t your thing, too. Bows are all over social media right now!
Go ahead and grab yourself some Command Strips or Hooks to avoid putting any holes in the walls.
Wall Decor
Blue Striped Floral Wall Art
Can you believe this two piece set is from Amazon? It’s an affordable budget friendly pick you can easily grab for your dorm!
Pro Tip: Be sure and measure your dorm room walls (if you can) to make sure the pieces you order will look appropriately sized!
Adding Wall Decor
We’re total fans of using multiple elements here. Consider framed wall prints, light up signs, fairy lights, or peel and stick wallpaper to maximize your walls.
You could even match these pieces with your roommate’s side of the room for a really pretty overall aesthetic.
Places like Facebook Marketplace and HomeGoods are great for finding more wall accents for a fraction of the price! Mixing more vintage pieces with modern splurges is a great route to take.
Wall Decor
Beachy Aesthetic Wall Collage Kit
Fill up your walls in a flash with this collage kit from Amazon! Plus, it’s unbelievably inexpensive. Photo collages are always a hit.
Digital Downloads to Print & Frame
Grab a gold frame or two and fill them with these gorgeous botanical prints from Etsy for a gallery wall. Whether you hang one or all three in a collage format, they are stunning pieces for any dorm wall.
No one will believe that you printed these off yourself – Rainey Studio has so many incredible designs to choose from that are all coastal granddaughter approved.
Wall Decor
LoveShackFancy Rattan Pinboard
Consider a pinboard for your college dorm! You can display meaningful cards, photos, and more.
Wall Decor
Curtain Leaf Waterfall String Lights
Hang this chic string of lights on your wall above the bed for added dorm decor! Plus, it’s fun to turn on for a cozy feel if the overhead lights are to bright.
Make Your Bed a Focal Point
Let’s keep it simple. Simply make your bed the focal point of your dorm! Selecting the right bedding and pillows can truly make or break a room. Let’s go through some of the best options.
Coastal Granddaughter Dorm Room Duvet Covers
Start by selecting a twin size duvet cover to create a great base to your bedding. These options come with coordinating pillow covers, too!
Grandmillennial Bedding
Styling your dorm bed is a key part of making the entire room look complete. Throw pillows, lumbar pillows, and throw blankets really take it up a notch – all perfect for a grandmillennial bedroom.
A headboard is also a great move for adding height and interest.
Don’t the layers and textures look so cohesive in this dorm?
Once you’ve got your bedding down, pick out an easy headboard. This makes any dorm room look like a luxurious suite compared to a tiny apartment!
Dorm Bedding
No Nails Wall Mounted Headboard
Consider taking your bedding up a level with a chic headboard like this!
Dorm Bedding
Wall Mounted Floral Headboard
Still crushing on this print from Love Shack Fancy? Pair this headboard with the coordinating ottoman and rug! It will be the perfect addition to your dorm.
Add Stylish Curtains
On a tight budget? Simply add curtains. Curtains make any dorm look more like home. If you have a large window in the center of the dorm room, adding curtains is a must.
This makes it look more like an inviting living room or bedroom instead of a dorm. It’s a top tip! Also be sure to search on Marshalls online as they always have great curtain options that are affordable.
Stylish Curtains
Garden Damask Smocked Curtain
Blue and white is a beautiful combination to add style and design to your dorm.
Don’t these white ruffle curtains take the room up an entire level? Plus, you can use them functionally to shade the sun for afternoon naps or to bring in more light when you need it!
Dorm Room Curtains
Even the simplest curtains make a dorm room look more elevated and cozy. If you love coastal granddaughter interior design styles, opting for things like classic white, scalloped, or striped curtains are a great choice.
Curtains will also help make a small space feel larger!
These no-drill curtain hanging brackets would be perfect to use in a dorm to avoid drilling into the walls.
Stylish Curtains
Olivia Embroidered Light-Filtering Curtain
Anything embroidered is always a good idea! These curtains are simple enough to pair with other decor but have a little splash of color and cute eyelet details.
Stylish Curtains
Smocked Top Light-Filtering Curtain
Smocking isn’t just for tops and dresses! Plus, check out the dainty little bows at the top of these curtains.
This post was all about the best dorm room ideas for coastal granddaughters.
I hope these dorm room ideas inspired you to bring a little coastal charm into your college experience. Don’t miss these dorm room essentials!
TIP: Use a bed skirt to disguise additional storage
Designing the perfect dorm room can make you feel more at home in your new environment and get your school year off on the right foot. Whether it’s freshman year or a new student apartment, you can use these tips and dorm room decor ideas.
If you loved this post, you’ll also enjoy Coastal Artwork for Walls, Dorm Room Ideas For Prepsters, and Coquette Aesthetic Room Decor If You Love Balletcore.
Coastal Grandmillennial Home Finds You’ll Love
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