If you’re a fan of the preppy aesthetic, but don’t know how to make your dorm room look preppy, check out these tips and your room will look energetic in no time!
To have a preppy dorm room, you’ll want to incorporate some pink, other bright and light colors, heart shaped decor, greenery, flowers, mirrors, positive affirmations, l.e.d lights, a photo collage, a mini neon sign and some cute throw pillows.
When it comes to this aesthetic, bright, pink and positive decor are your best friends.
Notice: Make Your Place Livable LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
1. You’re Gonna Need Some Pink
One of the staples of a preppy dorm room is the color pink. I mean, when you think of the word “preppy” don’t you think of upbeat, happy, girly things? That’s exactly the vibe we’re going for here, so this color is a staple. You don’t have to stick to just one shade either, just try staying on the brighter side of the spectrum. Hot pink should be the darkest shade that you use.
To really drive home the preppy aesthetic, I suggest using pink bed sheets. It’s usually the focal point of a room anyway, so having this color be the first thing that you notice when you walk into the dorm will make it 10x easier to make the rest of the space look preppy.
2. Keep The Colors Light And/Or Bright
As for the rest of your room, you’ll want to stick to a light and/or bright color palette. Take a look at this wheel:
If you’re not using pastels, then you’ll want to avoid the deep blues, reds, and darker shades of every other color. Instead, stick to the pastel shades. You’ll also want to avoid using a neutral palette. Stick to lively hues to keep the dorm looking energetic, light and preppy. Here are some color combos to consider:
Red, pink, orange, gold and white
Hot pink, blush pink, blue, yellow and white
Hot pink, red and white
3. Add Decor In The Shape Of A Heart
Preppy rooms are all about positivity and happy vibes. That’s why you’ll see a heart or two in a lot of rooms with this aesthetic. There are plenty of different ways to add hearts to your dorm through decor! If you search for some on Amazon and Etsy, then the possibilities will be pretty much endless.
Even if you’re not in the mood to buy some hearts, there are plenty of tutorials on the internet that’ll help you make your own decor! Just make sure not to go overboard unless you’re okay with having a valentine’s themed dorm.
4. Put Some Positive Affirmations On The Wall
Speaking of love and positivity, another kind of decor you’re going to want in your preppy space is positive affirmations. There are a couple different ways that you could do this. One way is to paint some on a mirror that you own. That way, every time you look at your gorgeous face, you’ll be reminded of all of the things that you have to be thankful for, your great qualities, etc! Another way to decorate is by buying a poster full of them and placing it on your wall.
I’m sure you can come up with other ideas too, so get to brainstorming so that your room can be a beacon of positivity!
5. Add Some Greenery
This may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a preppy dorm room, but plants are a symbol of liveliness too! Why do you think so many people became plant parents when we were locked inside during 2020? To bring your dorm to life and make it feel energetic and pretty, put some plants in the room! They don’t have to be real, so if you don’t have a green thumb, then there’s still no worries!
6. L.E.Ds Won’t Hurt
When it’s daylight and the sun is shining into your room, it’s easy for your dorm to look alive, energetic and preppy; especially with all of the bright colors you already used to decorate. However, when the sun goes down, the room won’t look so bright…unless you buy some l.e.ds. The overhead light in a dorm room is so boring anyways, and fairy lights make a space feel cozy and relaxed.
If you want to keep the energy levels high when it’s nighttime, you’ll want some bright, l.e.d lights to keep the party going.
7. Buy A Few Mirrors
Something else that you often see in a preppy room is more than one mirror. Having multiple of them in a room is usually a good idea because they make the space look bigger (which will really come in handy in a dorm). It will also help distribute more sunshine throughout the room, which will make the place look brighter and more preppy. You could also use this as an excuse to incorporate more heart shaped decor by getting a mirror that’s shaped like one!
8. Get A Photo Collage Kit
Who doesn’t love photo collage kits when decorating a dorm room? If you’ve never used one before, now’s the time. Having a bunch of different pictures that all compliment one another is such a satisfying thing to see. What’s even better is that they come in a bunch of different colors, so you can easily find one that fits the color palette you’ve chosen. Don’t know which one to buy? Well, when in doubt, get a pink one; preferably hot pink because it’s more energetic.
9. Add Some Flowers
I know I already talked about plants, but I was talking more about ivy, evergreens, weeping figs, etc. You know, the green kinds that you keep in pots. If we’re talking about plants, however, then I can’t act like flowers don’t breathe life into a space as well. In fact, flowers come in all sorts of different colors that would not only make your dorm look alive, but they would fit in with your color palette!
Just like with the greenery, you don’t have to buy real flowers; faux ones will give off the same effect. You could even keep them in a vase with water at the bottom to sell the fantasy even more!
10. Get A Cute, Neon Sign
This may not be something you see in your average dorm room. Good thing we’re not aiming for average though! I know I already talked about positive affirmations, but hanging one in the form of a neon sign would really up the energy levels of the dorm! It’s also an immediate attention grabber, so everyone who walks into your room will get a friendly message to greet them. Isn’t that cute?
It doesn’t have to be big by the way, it can be mini and adorable. Have a custom one made for yourself on Etsy!
11. Get Some Cute Throw Pillows
Last, but far from least, you’re going to want some adorable, soft throw pillows to help bring your dorm to life! Normal ones are boring in comparison. Get some in the shape of flowers, cute animals, characters, a smiley face, etc. They don’t have to live on your bed either; they can chill on your chair or your desk too. By combining everything on this list, you’ll have a lively, preppy dorm room in no time!
