Dorm sweet dorm
Ways college students can smartly style and organize their home away from home
Framed photos and artwork add personal touches to a dorm room.
Above: Content creator Haneen Matt worked on this dorm room for her daughter with Pottery Barn Teen.
Left: Personal decor leads the way on Etsy, where original artwork and vintage items have a unique appeal.
IKEA's Bjorkasen laptop stand could transition to a first apartment.
The Kjuge Pouf from IKEA offers seating and storage.
As the college school year begins, there are some elements dorm residents can add to personalize and maximize their smaller living space. Amanda Preston, marketing manager for IKEA Michigan, says multifunctional furniture remains a popular option. For instance, the Kjuge Pouf with Storage ($12.99) offers extra seating for friends and storage for blankets, books or electronics.
"Students are increasingly looking for versatile, space-saving products like this that help keep their rooms organized without sacrificing comfort," she says.
Textiles can enhance a dorm room. "Soft bed sheets, plush throw pillows and a cozy blanket can instantly create a sense of comfort and familiarity, helping students feel more at home in a new environment," Preston says. "Beyond adding comfort, these pieces also bring personality and style to a space. Layering soft textures and favorite colors can transform a basic dorm room into a welcoming retreat where students can relax, study and recharge."
Flexible furniture can be modified for future moves.
"The Bjorkasen laptop stand is a great example. In a dorm room, it works as a convenient laptop desk, but it can also double as a side table for snacks, studying or entertaining friends," Preston says. "Later, when you move into an apartment or house, it easily transitions into a sofa-side table, with the base designed to slide neatly under a couch or chair. Its flexible design helps it adapt to changing spaces and needs, making it a practical piece you'll continue to use long after move-in day."
Practical matters
Metro Detroit-based content creator Haneen Matt, who worked with Pottery Barn Teen on a dorm room for her daughter, also shares some tips.
"Proper storage is important when you are working with such a tight space. You should make use of any nook or cranny like underbed storage or shelving for the upper bunk," she says. "Pottery Barn Teen has a No Nails section on their website with shelves that have heavy-duty tape and don't need nails. They come with a plug to put up for the top bunk. There is enough room for a drink and your phone to charge."
In a dorm room, Matt says a mattress topper makes the bed much more comfortable.
"Bedding is a nice way to personalize the space when you're off to college, but you want it to feel like home and feel like you," she adds. "Artwork that speaks to you can be added with Command strips. It makes the room a little more personalized and fun and string lights and lamps make it a little cozier."
Practical additions include nightstands with storage, a vanity with lights and an over-the-door mirror.
"When working with small spaces, look for pieces that serve a double purpose, like ottomans that provide seating and storage, and coordinate with your roommate if you can," Matt says. "You can split things so you do not have to buy everything."
Personal spin
"Dorm decorating has become one of Gen Z's first real chances at self-expression, and you can feel it in what they're shopping for," says Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy trend expert. "Personalization is leading the way, with searches for personalized and custom portraits jumping over 1,200% in the last few months, alongside a love for the nostalgic as vintage wall art and lamps both climb. Students aren't recreating someone else's room. They're building a space that's unmistakably theirs." Johnson likes to think about dorm decor through a past, present and future lens. "Start with the past by bringing a piece of home with you, whether that's a personalized pet portrait or artwork inspired by your hometown. For the present, lean into color, texture and one-of-a-kind finds that reflect your personality right now," Johnson says. "And think toward the future by investing in handmade or vintage pieces that will follow you well beyond the dorm. My rule of thumb is that small details make a big impact."
She encourages students to think beyond freshman year.
"A vintage lamp, a piece of original art or a custom mug doesn't age out when the semester ends, and those are the pieces that grow with you," Johnson says. "Choose handmade or vintage finds you'll still love in your first apartment, wherever life takes you next."
Express yourself
Students want their space to feel like home, says Stacey Shively, chief merchandising officer for Michaels.
"This year, we're seeing a shift away from perfectly coordinated rooms toward spaces that feel deeply personal and reflect individual style," Shively says. "Students are embracing meaningful keepsakes, DIY projects and collected décor that tells their story."
Classic personalized dorm traditions — photo walls, DIY artwork and favorite mementos — are still central, but they're now paired with cozy lighting, soft textiles and handcrafted accents that make the space feel warm and personal.
"Decorative pillows, ambient lighting and DIY photo displays featuring friends, family and pets help soften the space and create a sense of familiarity from Day One," Shively says.
Framed photos make a dorm room feel like home. Michaels offers readymade frames that make it easy to create a gallery wall on any budget, Shively explains. Custom options can preserve special mementos and other treasures for years to come.
"Handmade artwork, framed photos and DIY décor become keepsakes that travel with them from space to space, rather than being replaced after one school year," Shively says.
"Instead of decorating for a single semester, students are creating spaces that can grow with them, mixing functional essentials with personal pieces that continue to tell their story long after graduation."
