17 Great College Dorm Ideas For Guys – Cool, Easy, Space
This article is the ultimate guide and easiest way to find inspiration, great deals, and college dorm ideas for guys!
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It can often feel like men’s dorm room ideas are, well … sparse.
College guys dorm rooms can feel really abysmal…
- Too empty or too cluttered
- Messy and disorganized
- Too dark or bright
This article will help you find great options to help you:
- Show your school spirit or your personal style with wall art and decor.
- Storage space solutions – a great way to find extra space.
- Find the perfect addition(s) to make your room a great place to live.
Here’s what makes this a one-stop shop … I will show you:
- Style guides to gain some inspiration about your style.
- Ideas for everything … from your mini fridge to your desk lamp.
- Actual pricing!
- Tips and tricks to make a small space feel bigger and better.
I promise … after looking through this guide you will be able to determine…
- What you actually like
- What makes sense in your space that you actually need
- What each item costs
Let’s get started!
How To Determine Your Personal Style (The Easy Way)
The easiest way to style and decorate your room to create a cohesive “look” is to determine your personal style.
The easy way to determine your personal style is to determine what are your favorite things.
Here are some great questions to ask yourself to determine your style:
What do I like to do?
- Sports / Exercise
- Music – Listening or Playing or Singing or Writing?
- Art – Photography, Videography, Poetry, Writing, Painting?
If you enjoy sports you might enjoy a room with sports memorabilia on your dorm walls.
If you enjoy music you might want to showcase your instruments such as hanging up your guitar.
If you enjoy art you might enjoy hanging up your artwork or art you’re a fan of in your college room.
What do I like to watch?
- Sports Teams
- Movies / Shows
- YouTube Videos
If you have a favorite sport or sport team you might enjoy hanging up artwork or posters that demonstrates your interest.
If you enjoy movies or shows you might enjoy showing them to friends on a projector screen during a fun movie night.
If you enjoy watching YouTube videos determine what they are about and see how you can incorporate that into your room.
What environments do I like best?
- City or Country
- Great Outdoors
- Traveling to Countries or Places
- Tropical, Arid, Arctic… etc.
If your enjoy the city you might incorporate more industrial items and if you enjoy the country perhaps you might enjoy more natural materials.
If you enjoy the great outdoors you might showcase your love with artwork or plants.
If you enjoy certain countries you might enjoy hanging up some wall decor that shows your interest such as wall decor in that native language or books about that place.
If you love a certain environment like the beach you could incorporate beach-themed items.
What tones or color palettes do I prefer?
- Darker or Lighter
- Rich colors or a more natural color palette?
- Specific tones such as “jewel tones”
Here are some color schemes to try to incorporate a cohesive look for your guys dorm room.
What themes do you enjoy?
- Minimalistic
- Modern
- Natural Materials
- Bright Colors
- Academia
Cool dorm rooms are where one showcases their personal style and matches it with themed decor and a good color scheme.
Inspiration Images For Guys Dorms
Use these images and decide what you like about each dorm room. Determine your favorite dorm rooms and incorporate those themes into your own dorm or apartment.
IMAGES
Whatever your personal interest incorporating some themed decor is the perfect way to showcase your personal style.
What is The Difference Between A College Dorm Room and a College Apartment?
College dorms are owned by the school (also known as “school housing” or “student housing”) whereas college apartments are sometimes offered by the school and sometimes they are owned by a separate company. The main difference between them in addition to who owns them is that dorms typically have less space — they are only one room and things like food, bathrooms, and living spaces are often shared spaces.
College dorms are also often shared — either by multiple people in one room.
They typically fall into a few different categories:
- Single room
- Double room
- Triple room
- Quad room
Depending on the school and dorm offerings they can have shared bathrooms or a single bathroom. Sometimes they are shared by a few people, and sometimes they are shared with a whole floor. They are often gendered but they can also be co-ed (everyone shares a bathroom regardless of gender).
They often offer options like this:
- Single Bathroom
- Double bathroom
- Shared bathrooms
- Communal bathrooms
A college apartment typically comes fully equipped with all the basic rooms – a bedroom, living room, bathroom, etc.
College Dorm Ideas For Guys
Not sure what you need for a college apartment or dorm?
It is important to determine
- the amount of space you will have
- what rooms you have in your dorm or apartment
- if you are sharing a space
- the square footage of the room(s)
Once you have an understanding of what you are working with you can then start deciding what you need!
Not sure what you need for a college apartment or dorm? Use this free image/printable I made!
Check out these cool college student dorm room ideas for young adults!
Important: Remember to make sure to only pack what you need!
- Example: If you have just a dorm room you don’t need a baking tray
- Example: If you have a roommate you don’t need multiples of many items — you can share a microwave!
Dorm Room Ideas For Different Areas/Rooms
Dorm Room Essentials/College Dorm Necessities
Sleeping
Dorm Bedding
Thread Count: There is a misconception that a higher thread count equals better sleep. While a higher thread count can be luxurious, because it literally has more threads it can be less breathable and make sleeping under your sheets a lot hotter.
Opt for a thread count of around 400 to keep cool. Make sure they are 100% cotton, particularly Egyptian cotton if you can. They will last longer, keep you cooler, and feel soft to even the most sensitive skin. The right bedding can make a world of difference.
Pillows: It can seem extra, but having a good quality pillow can really make a difference in sleep.
Consider these factors before investing in a good pillow:
- Do you run hot (Ex. Do you find yourself flipping your pillow to make it cooler?)
- Do you prefer a harder or softer pillow?
- Do you like a pillow with structure or a looser pillow?
Mattress Topper/Mattress Pad: Dorm room mattresses are typically provided by the school — and they are notoriously bad. They are often used for years and years, usually covered in hard plastic for sanitary reasons, often have hard springs in them, and are just plain uncomfortable.
Invest in a good quality mattress topper/mattress pad to get a better night’s sleep. Trust me, as someone who was initially stubborn about getting one — it’s well worth it and you will notice the difference once you do.
Throw Pillows
Remember… a college dorm is a small space which means it probably has a small bed. You don’t have room for a ton of decorative throw pillows, but one or two can really brighten the space and make a great accent.
Try your best to make use of these college dorm ideas for guys to create a cohesive look.
Blackout Curtains
If you value sleep and don’t sleep well with bright light I recommend talking to your roommates about blackout curtains.
They can help you sleep better, which is critical when you’re doing all that studying!
Eating
Mini Fridge
A mini fridge not only is a great way to store food, especially in a dorm room, but it can also be a great way to add some character to your room.
Mini fridges now come in a plethora of fun colors, styles, and unique designs.
Microwave
Microwaves are a must for busy students living in dorm rooms. Not only are they helpful and you can make tons of meals in them… but they are also compact and easy to store!
Kitchen Eating Set
Why buy a dozen different sets of college dorm room cooking/eating supplies when you can buy a complete set with everything you need?
It’s less to think about, and you won’t be left with too much or too little supplies.
Working
Desk
Most college dorms come equipped with a desk … but not all!
Make sure to determine if yours has one or not. If not, definitely choose a desk that is compact and easy to transport.
Gaming Experience
If you’re a fan of gaming, I definitely recommend perfecting your setup before you go to school.
Gaming can be a great pass-time during the day when you need a break from studying. There are tons of fun accessories to emphasize your personal style and interests.
Desk Shelf
To keep your workspace clear of clutter try to find easy storage solutions such as a desk shelf to store supplies, books, hobbyist items, and more. You can also get a shelf that attaches to the desk or resides on the floor.
Make sure to note whether your dorm allows you to hang items though before purchasing!
School Supplies
College school supplies are very important. Usually, your school will provide you with a list. It will definitely be fewer supplies than you’d think, and of course very major-specific.
For example, I went to a business school and we needed a specific calculator, laptop, notebooks and folders, pens or pencils.
Here are a few generalized products all college students should have:
Need a new computer? 🙂 We've got you covered!
Desk Chair
If your school doesn’t provide you with a desk chair, or you have the desk chairs they provide (mine was terrible … it was literally a rocking chair. Don’t ask me why lol), then I would look into investing in a good desk chair.
You will definitely spend many hours studying and working there so you will want something ergonomic and supportive.
Seating area / Living Space / Living Room
In most dorm rooms, when students come over to visit their friends they sit on their beds. However, if you have the luxury of space and some extra cash, consider investing in some extra seating for when your friends visit or if you want to mix it up!
Extra seating: Extra seating can be anything … a couch, futon, camping chair, ottoman (which is great for storage), etc.
Dorm Room Decor Ideas
Dorm Decorations
Dorm Decorations are a fun way to make your space feel a bit more like home. It’s important to avoid going overboard, but a small decoration item here or there can make a world of difference.
Decorative items to try …
- Wall Decor
- String Lights
- Neon Sign
- Area Rug
Make sure that when choosing these college dorm ideas for guys that it fits your room and is easy to transport.
Small Space Solutions For Extra Space And Storage
Dorm rooms are notoriously small, so it’s important to make the most of the space you have with some simple storage solutions.
Here are a few that will not take a lot of time to install or put together, and will make a huge difference in space:
Bed Storage / Storage Trunks
Perfect for extra clothes space or general items!
Door or Closet Door Storage
Make use of your closet or main door by hanging some storage devices on it.
I hope these college dorm ideas for guys were helpful!
The Best Ways To Make A Guy’s Dorm Room Look Great And Feel Great
College dorm living comes with a lot of challenges, so the best thing you can do is work to make it as comfortable as possible.
Here are some tips to make a guys dorm room look great without breaking the bank.
Tip #1: Look at styling your dorm room as a way to make new friends, and not just a way to impress your old high school best friend(s). Consider how your style reflects who you are, what your interests are, and as talking points to start conversations.
Tip #2: Look for products with some utility, that will make your place the perfect hangout spot for you and your guy friends or girlfriends.
A perfect way to make your place the focal point for your floor or building is to host! Here are some fun ideas:
- Host college movie nights in your room with a projector! This is a great freshman tip because it will help you to meet new people!
- Hook your projector or TV up to your video game console like a switch to host gaming events with your friends.
- Purchase some fun cards or board games and have friends over for a fun game night on a regular basis.
Tip #3: College life can get boring because there is lots of downtime. Eventually, things will fill up as you get more involved, but for some of the time it’s nice to be able to enjoy your space and make the best use of it. That’s why I recommend having some sort of hobby that you can do in your downtime that doesn’t involve screens to help you relax. This can be anything!
Here are some ideas:
- A meditation pillow for relaxation and meditation.
- A mini garden to take care of and brighten your room.
- Soda stream – a fun way to make fast and yummy beverages for yourself or others.
I hope this article helped you to…
- Gain a little bit more of an understanding of your personal style for college dorm ideas for guys
- Helped you to determine the perfect ways to make extra space with not much space
- Gave you a great idea or two about college dorm essentials and cool ideas for college dorm decor.
- Gave you some great tips for making your dorm space your own space to make the school year more memorable.
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