15 Aesthetic Dorm Room Ideas You’ll Be Obsessed With
This post is all about aesthetic dorm room ideas.
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You’ve probably heard Gen Z youth throwing around the term “aesthetic” on social media, prominently TikTok and Instagram. If you have no idea what the heck that means, don’t worry–the new slang term can be a bit tricky to define. To put it simply, “aesthetic” refers to a specific vibe and mood in a space. To Gen Zers, this mood is bold, expressive, nonconformist, and just generally exudes good vibes. This style is especially popular when it comes to decorating an aesthetic dorm room or bedroom. There are tons of trending videos on TikTok of teens and college students showing off their aesthetic rooms, which is where this style was basically born and thrives the most.
Aesthetic dorm rooms are made up of individual decor pieces that are funky, eclectic, and cozy. If you want to make your dorm aesthetic, you only need to squeeze in a few key elements and touches to recreate the vibe. Here are 15 aesthetic dorm ideas you will definitely be obsessed with.
Here are 15 Aesthetic Dorm Room Ideas You Will Be Obsessed With.
AESTHETIC DORM ROOM IDEAS
1. PASTEL PIECES
Pastel is essential to aesthetic dorm room decor. Pastel shades like lavender, pink, baby blue, yellow, and green are super trendy, especially when contrasted with white walls and furniture. The use of pastel colors will create a funky, whimsical, and youthful vibe that Gen Z aesthetic is all about.
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2. PINK AND ORANGE ACCENTS
Pink and orange are also a major fad in dorm rooms right now–rosy pink and burnt orange to be specific. The combination of these two colors feels cozy and warm, yet still super bold. Incorporate this color pallette through accent pieces, like throw blankets or wall prints.
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3. FUNKY CANDLES
Unconventionally-shaped candles are a fairly new style, but are already quintessential to the aesthetic look. Urban Outfitters is a haven for these funky, avant-garde candles–they sell so many different shapes like knots, squiggles, bubbles, and more. Just add one of these candles to your dorm room and your space will instantly be aesthetic.
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4. MONSTERA PLANTS
Plants generally add coziness to any room, but Monstera plants are specifically trendy. Their distinctive shape and silhouette blends so well with other unique, bold decor pieces. They’re also popular in dorm rooms because they’re extremely easy to grow and take care of.
Monstera plants only need to be watered every one or two weeks, and don’t need direct sunlight. This low-maintenance routine is preferable for college students, and the glossy and vibrant leaves will truly stand out in your dorm room.
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5. VINYL RECORDS ON THE WALL
You definitely need to use vinyl records as wall art if you want an aesthetic dorm room. Vinyl records add contrast to your wall space and create an indie, retro feel in your room. This look is just so cozy and individualistic.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on records or damage the ones you already have, you can purchase “fake” records from Amazon to use solely for wall decor.
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6. WAVY MIRRORS
Unique, eccentric shapes have infiltrated many room decor pieces in Gen Z style, including mirrors. These wavy or “puddle-like” mirrors are super popular with teens and college students and emphasize a groovy, psychedelic vibe. I love how these mirrors add variety and an eye-catching pop to a bedroom or dorm room.
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7. MINIMALIST WALL POSTERS
I’m obsessed with the contrast of having cluttered wall space, with tons of wall art, but the art itself being minimalist. A wall gallery of minimalist posters maintains this balance of cozy and expressive yet bold and contemporary.
Urban Outfitters has tons of wall prints that display a simple quote in front of a boldly-colored background–such an aesthetic look.
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8. UNIQUE THROW PILLOWS
If you want to add more pops of funkiness and individualism in your dorm room, you should utilize throw pillows. The key is to get a collection of throw pillows that don’t match. Mix up different patterns, colors, textures, and shapes for a more distinguished look.
These cute plush flower throw pillows have been really in-style for aesthetic dorms and bedrooms.
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9. WALL COLLAGES
Wall collages are another way to clutter up your wall space and make your dorm room feel cozier. This DIY look is so easy and affordable. Just print and cut out a collection of images that reflect your personal style, then arrange them on your empty wall space with double-sided tape. The less structured, the better. This eclectic look is even more aesthetic if paired with neon wall signs. This idea also works great for an aesthetic desk setup.
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10. COLOR-BLOCKING
Aesthetic style mostly relies on breaking conventional design rules. It’s defined by its non-conformity and eccentricity. Color-blocking is an effortless way to emphasize this look, especially with pastels or neon colors.
If you need some inspo, you could implement color-blocking by contrasting the colors of your sheets and your comforter.
11. FAUX VINES
Faux vines are iconic to aesthetic rooms–pretty much any aesthetic dorm room or bedroom you’ll find on TikTok will be decked out in faux vines. There are so many ways to incorporate decorative vines in your room and the greenery will make your space feel so homey and relaxed.
My favorite ways to arrange faux vines are loosely draping them across your ceiling or hanging them in vertical rows behind your bed.
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12. NEON STRIP LIGHTS
Dorm rooms are notorious for unflattering, fluorescent lighting. Neon strip lights are a go-to remedy for this issue. Plus, they will instantly transform the mood and atmosphere of your space. Neon lights are the key to creating the “good vibes” that aesthetic dorm rooms are known for.
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13. CHECKERED PRINTS
If you want to recreate a bold, electric feel in your dorm room, you should definitely add accents of checkered prints. Checkered prints are paired well with neon signs, vibrant colors, and other urban decor. It falls into the funky, eclectic, and retro bedroom themes. The cutest way to blend in this print is with a little patterned rug by your bed.
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14. MOON PHASE MIRRORS
Moon phases are a constant in hip, trendy room decor. I’m obsessed with this moon phase mirror set you can find on Amazon. It’s a small and simple decor piece, but can really dress up your wall space and even create a bohemian vibe.
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Gen Z’s definition of “aesthetic” is all about self-expression, stepping outside of the box, and creating a cozy space with good vibes. No matter what you call it, this eclectic and retro look is super cute for dorm rooms. These 15 aesthetic dorm ideas are bound to create your ideal dorm vibe.
