9 Minimalist Dorm Room Ideas For a Calming Space

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Your college dorm room is a blank canvas and these minimalist dorm room ideas will help you to personalize your space while keeping it organized and cozy! 

Your college dorm room is a space to relax and recharge in, study in and spend time with friends. 

To make the most of this versatile space it is important to add in your own unique flair but try to keep the decor minimal. We all know dorm rooms are pretty tiny so making the most of the space you do have and not letting it get too cluttered is super important. 

In this guide based on minimalism principles, we will share all the best organizing tips for your dorm to look clean and feel peaceful!

Lastly, there is a whole section on budget friendly dorm decoration tips to ensure you make your dorm the exact aesthetic that you want but not overspend! 

This post is all about the best minimalist dorm room ideas.

How do you make a minimalist dorm room?

So to start, minimalism is a lifestyle choice and the benefits are endless. 

Only buying what you need is a great way to save money in college and not feel overwhelmed by physical items piling up in your home away from home. There is enough to focus on in college and cleaning and organizing extra stuff doesn’t need to be a priority. 

Here are the main goals of a minimalist dorm room:

• Smart storage options to minimize clutter
• Minimalism is a lifestyle choice and can help you to feel less overwhelmed as you balance other college responsibilities. 
• Minimalism allows a small room to be more versatile for hosting friends, studying, and resting.
• Being mindful of how much stuff we buy and not overbuying. You can get the basics now and add to your dorm as the school year goes on! 

You need less stuff than you think! Let’s dive into some of the recommendations for things to add to your minimalist college dorm list and some clever ways to organize it all! 

Disclaimer! You don’t NEED to buy anything on this list. This list is just for inspiration and guidance on organizing your dorm. Hope it helps!

The Best Minimalist College Dorm Room Ideas

1. Choose a neutral color palette or 1-3 colors for your dorm theme

So let’s start with the overall vibe of your space. Minimalism can work with really any color scheme. Even if you choose bright pink and orange you can still have a minimalist dorm room. 

I will say, most minimalist dorm room inspiration that you will find will be in neutral colors or pastel colors. These colors tend to signal to your brain ease and relaxation more than bright colors. 

It is also easier to find dorm essentials in more neutral colors which makes dorm shopping less complicated.

It is best to choose 1-3 colors to have for the theme of your dorm. This will keep things looking cohesive. 

Here is an example of a dorm room color palette that is easy to work with but offers a bit more color. This color palette is perfect if you want a pop of color but want to keep things tame. 

If something like this feels too busy-keep it safe and simple with neutrals!

2. Personalize your space with simple dorm decor

So this is the fun part-dorm decor! 

A true minimalist dorm probably wouldn’t have any decor but where is the fun in that? By adding in touches of simple and soothing dorm decor, you can really personalize your space and bring a little life to it! 

You only have so much control over the actual framework of the space. Hello concrete walls and minimal windows.

If your dorm is looking a little run down, just throw up a big tapestry or some cute art! 

Here are a few simple dorm decor ideas:  

• Art prints and thrifted or DIY wall art
• Tapestry 
• Wall decor (hats, records, posters etc.)
• Houseplants 
• Picture frames 

3. Utilize vertical space for dorm organization

You may despise those boring white walls at first but they will be your best friend as you start to settle into your space since utilizing vertical space can make dorm storage much easier. 

Rather than having tons of bulky furniture, take advantage of the vertical space in your dorm room to hang decor and organizing units. 

Here are some vertical space saving dorm room ideas:

• Tilted floor mirror or hanging mirror to broaden the look of the space 
• Adhesive hooks for artwork 
• Light shelves for the walls 
• Slender rolling cart 
• Wall hooks
• Peg board, bulletin board, cork board for calendars and to do lists
• Cover the bland desk chairs they provide with a throw blanket 

{RECOMMENDED POST: 7 Surprisingly Simple Tips For Choosing the Best Eco Friendly Dorm Decor}

4. Prioritize natural lighting or ambient lighting

To make your dorm feel light and airy, try to keep the windows open when possible and use as much natural light as possible. This will help you shift around any interesting smells and keep the space well-lit. 

If you have limited natural light, use soft ambient lighting to mimic that natural feel. 

Here are some ambient lighting options for your dorm:

• Salt lamp
• Fairy lights 
• Globe lamp 
• Rice paper lamp
• Unique thrifted lamps 

Try to use table lamps, floor lamps, or string lights rather than harsh overhead lights. The fluorescent ceiling lights found in most dorm rooms are intense and will throw off the vibe. 

5. Choose simple bedding and decorative pillows in one color with minimal pattern

In a dorm, your bed takes up almost half of the room, so it is a pretty large focal point when it comes to design. 

To keep things simple, choose bedding or a duvet cover that is one color or a very simple pattern. To create variety, go for fun textures rather than busy patterns. A chunky throw blanket and throw pillows with tassels keep things interesting but won’t overwhelm the space. 

White bedding is perfect because you can then add a throw pillow for a pop of color. 

Since a dorm bed can also act as a couch, adding decorative pillows really pulls it all together and gives it that cozy feel.  

{RECOMMENDED POST:10 Must Have Sustainable Dorm Essentials For Your College Dorm or Apartment}

6. Minimize visual clutter and clean your dorm regularly

Not to sound like a mom but clean your dorm!! Truly, this tip alone can do more for dorm aesthetics than anything. 

Once you choose all the best dorm decor, decide on a day once per week to do a quick deep clean of your space. College keeps you busy and there is no shame if your space gets cluttered from time to time. But do try to stick to a weekly cleaning routine. 

You deserve to live in a clean and well maintained space. It helps so much with being productive, feeling calm, and not creating tension with roommates. 

7. Maximize storage space in your dorm

If you are lucky enough to get a closet, use it! Hide everything away in it, in an organized system of course. 

But try your best to keep things kept away. This will help so much with keeping your dorm room clutter-free. 

Here are other sneaky places to store your stuff in your dorm: 

• Under your bed in rolling bins or space-saving bags
• Add shelves to your armoire 
• Dressers with dividers
• A bedside table or bedside caddy 
• Nightstand bookshelf with organizing boxes 
• Shoe racks in your closet for organizing shoes and extra toiletries
• Organizer on the back of your door 
• Laundry bags versus laundry baskets since they squish down 
• Back at home if you realize your dorm is too cluttered (; 

8. Organize your dorm mini fridge

So how exactly do you make the most of the itty bitty “fridge” (basically a cooler) in your dorm? 

Other than keeping it fully stocked with the best snacks, be sure to have some kind of organization system for your mini fridge. You don’t need to go overboard with tons of clear plastic bins but deciding where everything will be kept can make it easy to maintain. 

Before putting everything in, be sure to give it a good clean with a simple mixture of dish soap and water. 

Lastly, throw in a box of baking soda to keep it smelling fresh. 

9. Tap into your senses to create a cozy dorm vibe

Designing a living space is much more than just the look of it. 

Be sure to tap into your other senses as well to make your dorm room feel more homey. 

Here are some things to consider:

• Smell: essential oil diffusers (candles aren’t normally allowed in dorms)
• Sound: Lofi music, nature sounds, classical mustic etc. Really anything that sets a relaxing vibe 
• Taste: Snacks and sweets that you enjoy! Maybe some herbal teas or a little coffee station. 

Of course, these are just extras and completely not necessary but if you want to really tie the space together and give it that cozy feel, a few fun extras never hurt anyone! 

How can minimalism help you to save money on dorm decor?

As you read this post and opened up tabs of items to buy you may have started to watch the total in your cart gradually rise. 

Designing your dream dorm room can be expensive! Only if you do it wrong. 

So what is the best way to get dorm essentials that fit the vibe you want but aren’t super expensive? Well, minimalism. 

You really do not need as much as you think. The best part about college is that you are in a community of people that you can rely on. Check in with your roommates to see what stuff they are bringing so that no one overbuys. Use apps like Poshmark and Facebook marketplace (or your dorm’s Facebook page!) to buy and sell items as well. 

Start with the absolute basics and then add on as the year goes on. As fun as it is to have everything set up in the Fall, it is normal when moving into a new space to add things as you go. 

Don’t be afraid of hand-me-downs, thrifting, and using items you already own at home. 

At the end of the year, as people start to move out there will be piles of stuff (sometimes completely unused) in the dorm to snag. Sometimes this stuff is donated or gets sent to the landfill, unfortunately. 

Just know that you can design a comfy space with the basics and continue to create and customize things as you get more used to your space and new lifestyle. 

Please share all the ways you plan to decorate your minimalist dorm! I would love to hear any of your organizing tips and I’m sure it will help others as they are trying to figure out the best ways to decorate and organize.

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Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about the best minimalist dorm room ideas.

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7 Holistic Wellness Tips to Stay Healthy in College and Thrive

10 Easy Sustainable Living Tips For College Students

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