Actually Good Dorm Decor That You’ll Want to Keep (Even After Graduation)
Dorm rooms are so often all hard edges and surfaces. But soft lines, even softer fabrics, and greenery can make the space feel a lot more inviting.
A plush, pretty carpet: Ruggable Kamran Rose Rug
Top pick
These two-piece lightweight machine-washable rugs are available in hundreds of styles and a range of sizes.
An easy-to-clean area rug adds style and warmth underfoot. Cover the whole room or save money by simply adding a soft landing by your bed. We tested the popular machine-washable Ruggable rugs, which offer hundreds of designs (including themed collabs, such as with Bridgerton and Justina Blakeney), and we found the smaller, suitable-for-dorm-room sizes easy to clean, as advertised. (Very useful if you plan on eating in your room.) Keep in mind that Ruggable rugs require their own Ruggable-specific rug pad, which you can choose on each product page; we suggest the “cushioned” version for extra comfort unless your floor is already carpeted.
A wispy curtain: Urban Outfitters Freya Window Panel
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With prominent looped hanging tabs, a breezy floral print, and nice translucence, these curtains are laid-back yet beautiful. But you can hang them only one way.
Like a good rug, a lively set of curtains can add personality and softness to the harsh lines of a boxy dorm room. The Urban Outfitters Freya Window Panels, an affordable upgrade from the typical dingy blinds of college housing, are sheer enough to not let you sleep through an 8 a.m. class but also just thick enough to provide a bit of necessary privacy.
Nature in a pot: Rooted
Top pick
With lots of on-site search options and a colorful selection of chic ceramic planters available, this site is a great place to shop for an affordable houseplant.
Rooted, Wirecutter’s pick for the best place to buy plants online, is affordable and user-friendly, with categories such as “easy-care,” “low-light,” and “pet friendly” to choose from, as well as filters that let you shop by size, price, or expected growth. A handful of the low-maintenance plants are also labeled as “air purifying.” (We haven’t tested that claim, but it can’t hurt to try one of those plants, considering that dorm living inevitably gets messy.) What’s more, Rooted also delivers tips on plant care and space configuration (use the “great to place on” filter) and provides a generous selection of planters, making it a breeze to cultivate life and color in your room, with or without a green thumb.
An instant refresh: Vitruvi Stone Diffuser
Top pick
This compact model is the most attractive diffuser we recommend, but its smaller tank doesn’t last as long as that of our top diffuser, and its mist isn’t as powerful. It’s also far pricier.
If your dorm’s safety restrictions are making you homesick for the days of cozying up by a scented candle with a book, consider an essential oil diffuser. The curvy and compact Vitruvi Stone Diffuser is definitely a splurge (and perhaps something to consider only as a birthday gift to yourself or a reward to mark a milestone). But it glows with an adjustable warm, ambient light, emits a pleasantly soft scent, and looks like a piece of sculpture that’s stylish enough to display long after you’ve moved out of your dorm. (For a less spendy, more utilitarian option, we also recommend the Urpower 300 mL Aroma diffuser, which is less refined in form and function, but is about a quarter of the price and won’t break if accidentally knocked over.)
