Over-the-Top Dorm Decor

Choosing the Right Dorm Decor

If you lived in a college dorm for any amount of time, you might remember the decor being a lot different than it is today. With dorm decor trends being shared all over social media on apps like Instagram and Pinterest, there’s a lot of pressure to choose the most expensive, and sometimes excessive, decor.

Whether you’re in charge of decorating your college student’s dorm room or you’re helping them decorate, keep in mind that you don’t have to keep up with every trend. Even if your child’s dorm room isn’t Pinterest-worthy, it’s most important that they can feel comfortable.

The Most Over-the-Top Dorm Decor

It’s not surprising that you want to do something nice for your teen when you send them off to college, but it’s easy to go overboard as a parent. It’s normal for you to feel a mix of emotions during this time, but you don’t have to drain your savings account to decorate their dorm. Keep things realistic instead of trying to keep up with every trend. If you’re looking for a simple way to decorate their space, you might avoid some of these over-the-top dorm decor trends.

Neon Signs

Neon signs are one of the most popular trends in college dorm decor. While a small neon sign could add a nice touch to a dorm room, one that takes up the whole wall may be a bit excessive. Custom neon signs with your child’s name can also seem over the top. While many people enjoy this trend, neon signs in dorm rooms certainly aren’t for everyone.

Bold Patterns

Everyone has their own taste when it comes to patterns, but some patterns are a bit too bold. Whether you’re choosing the pattern for wallpaper or a comforter, you’ll want to choose a pattern that your college student won’t get tired of. Bright, bold patterns might seem like a good fit at first, but it can be hard to match them with the rest of the decor and these types of patterns make it difficult to focus on anything else in the room.

Matching Everything

There’s nothing wrong with wanting the decor in a college dorm to match, but it’s okay for some things to have different colors and patterns as well. Ensuring every piece of decor in the room matches, from the trinkets on the shelf to every piece of furniture, can seem over-the-top and may lead to a lot of unnecessary planning.

Excessive Amounts of Plants

In a time when plant owners have started calling themselves “plant parents” adding some tasteful plants to your child’s dorm room can be a great way to make it look and feel cozy. However, there shouldn’t be so many plants that they seem to be taking over the dorm. Keep in mind that all the plants will have to be cared for, and while they may look nice in the room, they can also lead to a lot of maintenance.

Expensive Decor

How much you spend on your child’s dorm decor isn’t what determines whether they’ll feel comfortable or not. Buying only brand-name decor that looks expensive can come across as over-the-top. There’s no doubt you want their dorm to look nice, but it’s also important to remember that it’s a temporary living space and they’re going to be spending a lot of their time in class or around campus as well.

Funny Signs

There are plenty of dorm signs out there that are specifically designed for college students. There’s nothing wrong with having a funny sign on the door or in your child’s dorm, but you may want to keep it tasteful. Funny dorm signs can range from cringe to downright inappropriate, depending on which one you or your child chooses. Before you hang a sign in their room, think about the message it sends to other students.

Themed Decor

You might have a specific theme in mind when setting up any bedroom space. Creating a theme for your child’s dorm room can be a fun and unique way to decorate. However, some themes can be over-the-top. Even if you do decide to go with a certain theme, it doesn’t have to take over every item in the room. Additionally, make sure your child (and potentially their roommate) has a say in what theme you decide to go with.