Are you looking forward to embracing a minimalist lifestyle in college? This article will help you learn how to do so.
A minimalist lifestyle isn’t about embracing scarcity and lack—it’s about living intentionally and focusing on what really matters most to you. It’s all about getting rid of what doesn’t add much value to your life, leaving you with more space, time, and energy to focus on what makes your life more colorful!
But given the small space that dorm rooms offer, is it still possible to embrace minimalism and have a comfortable living space? You might ask!
Well, absolutely!
15 Minimalist Dorm Room Ideas For Your College Dorm
With the 15 minimalist dorm room ideas we’ve curated for you in this guide, you will find incorporating minimalism into your college room much easier and fun, so let’s dive right in.
1. Declutter Before You Move In
In case you’re just joining the college and want to embrace minimalism right off the bat, the first thing you will want to do is ensure that you get rid of any clutter before you get move into the dorm.
Only tag along what you actually need. Avoid carrying the “Just-in-case” items or the ones that have been lying around for months without being used. You see, the more you bring along, the more candidates you’ll have for clutter, and the more your dorm room will look cramped and chaotic.
So, before you add any item to your packing list, ask yourself if you truly need it. If the answer is no or you aren’t sure, don’t bring it along. Minimizing what you move in with will make it easy to work with the limited space in your dorm room.
2. Get Minimalist Furniture
Dorm rooms often lack space for large pieces of furniture. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need one. Furniture remains a basic necessity for any space, including your college room.
So, how do you go about it? It’s simple: Go for minimalism-friendly pieces of furniture.
For instance, how about having a bed that comes with drawers? It won’t just offer a spot for you to lie on, but it will also provide a spot to keep a couple of items out of sight — a truly essential quality in any minimalist space.
Of course, you need not stop there. If you can, proceed to get a foldable desk and even a chair.
Such pieces can be easily tucked away when not in use, making your room appear larger than it actually is. A stool with storage space can also help you save space and reduce clutter in your room.
3. Keep Clutter Away
Clutter doesn’t end with the stuff you brought to your room. As you replenish your supplies, more items will come in, and if you’re not careful about getting rid of what no longer matters, your minimalism efforts will be greatly dented by clutter.
So, take time and occasionally evaluate your supplies to get rid of the ones you no longer need. For instance, when you bring in new beddings, why would you still need to hold onto the ones you were using. You can sell, donate, or even recycle them instead of keeping them in your room.
And, of course, you must also be disciplined about what you bring into your room. The fact that something looks cute or is on sale doesn’t mean it deserves a place in your dorm room. Buying intentionally will add value to your college life and help you stay organized.
4. Embrace Digital Organization
With the digital revolution, you no longer need to pile up papers or physical notes in your room. That’s still fine, but if you’re serious about embracing minimalism, embracing digital organization will be the best way to go.
Harnessing digital organization will help you save space, reduce the possibility of clutter, and make it even easier for you to access your notes and other essential documents. Plus, digital organizations can also help reduce paper waste, making it a more environmentally friendly option.
5. Make Use of Under Bed Space
Do you see that space under your bed? Consider making it one of your favorite storage areas for the things you need to keep out of sight.
Not many people — including yourself — will naturally cast their eyes under the bed, and that makes it one of the perfect spots to keep some of the stuff.
To do that, you will need to get some storage bins, beautiful baskets, or even DIY boxes. These options will help ensure that your belongings aren’t scattered all over your dorm room, providing you with a cleaner and more organized look.
6. Always Keep Your Desk Organized
A desk provides an ideal place for you to study, work on assignments, and, depending on the design, store some of your essentials. However, one thing you want to be careful of is how you use this desk for storage.
If your desk has drawers, then you can utilize them to keep some of the items you often need when using the desk, say pens and reading glasses. Just ensure that you don’t turn the desk’s surface into a place to pile up items.
Whether it’s books, papers, or other items you use frequently, you will want to ensure they are well organized after use. That will prevent them from creating clutter and making your desk appear messy.
7. Use Multi-Functional Items
In a minimalist dorm room, every square footage matters the most. That’s why if you can get multi-purpose items, it becomes even better because it means you won’t need to have 2 stand-alone items instead.
For instance, instead of getting a separate lamp and a charging station for your electronics, how about getting a bedside table that features built-in USB ports? What about getting storage ottomans that can serve as seating areas and, at the same time, an additional storage area?
Doesn’t that sound great? Of course, the options are endless if you can take the time to see what’s out there on the market. Embracing the versatility aspect when acquiring items will save you a lot of time and space without compromising the functionality of your dorm room.
8. Go Monochromatic If Possible
Apparently, the color scheme of your dorm room can go a long way to impact how your space looks and feels. In other words, if you need a minimalist vibe, then you’ll want to stick to a monochromatic color palette.
By monochromatic, we mean that you have to work with shades of one color. Let’s say that you opt for gray. You can use different shades of gray in your room, and it will still look fantastic without looking like you tried too hard.
Using different shades of the same color ensures that the space appears cohesive, creating a feeling of calmness and simplicity—just what minimalism is all about. And, of course, it’s best to work with one of the neutral colors when going monochromatic.
9. Try Reorganizing a Room
Do you know that adopting a new arrangement can help you realize more space? That’s right!
There have been a couple of times when I’ve had to rearrange my room for a new look for my space. I realized that certain arrangements provide more free space than others.
That’s why you should not overlook the importance of trying several arrangements. For a minimalist lifestyle, choose the one that leaves you the largest amount of space. That way, it ensures that your room doesn’t look cramped.
In some cases, you may need to stack whatever is stackable. Let’s say that you have 2 separate beds: one that you sleep in and the other for your roommate. If they are stackable, making a bunk bed can be a great idea. That will leave you with the space where the other bed was for you to use as your personal space, say, a study area.
10. Use Functional Items for Decoration
Being a minimalist doesn’t mean that you don’t need to use decoration for your room. Decorative items play a big role in enhancing the overall aesthetics of our spaces, so giving them a wide berth would mean sacrificing the beauty of your room.
But what if you can combine functionality with aesthetics? That should be even better!
And it’s possible! Items like hanging shelves, wall organizers, and floating bookshelves can all serve as decorative pieces for your dorm room. They will not only add character to your space but also help you stay organized.
11. Bring in Some Indoor Plants
Besides the functional decorative items, you can also consider bringing some indoor plants for decoration purposes. This is especially a nice decision if you choose a neutral color theme.
So, why should you bring these plants into your room? There are three major reasons.
First, indoor plants add some greenery to your dorm room, making your space look much better.
Second, these plants cleanse the air, ensuring that your room feels fresh and alive, something you need to promote a healthy and relaxing environment.
And lastly, taking care of plants can be therapeutic, helping you relieve some of the stress of college life.
However, don’t go overboard with the plants, as too many can make your tiny dorm room appear even smaller. Also, consider hanging them on the wall or placing them on the shelf so they don’t have to take some floor space.
12. Space Your Decorations Appropriately
When bringing in decorations, don’t just place them on the wall randomly. Instead, ensure that you space them evenly.
For instance, if you display a few photos on the wall, a geometric pattern can look great. It not only brings character but also creates a focal point in the room. Plus, spacing your decorations effectively creates a sense of balance and harmony in your space.
And remember to avoid cluttering up one area with too many decorations. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a room that looks crowded and overwhelming, the exact opposite effect that you want to achieve as a minimalist.
13. Work With Low-Key Bedding
Bedding can go a long way to make or break the look and feel of your dorm room. That’s why it’s important to choose bedding that complements your minimalist aesthetic.
Ideally, go with bedding with a simple design. In fact, if you can choose solid colors instead of patterns, the better it is for your minimalist lifestyle. And remember, the color must be neutral. You want to make the room appear as less busy as possible.
14. Use Small Floating Shelves
You need not have stand-alone shelves to store your items. Instead, consider utilizing small floating shelves that can fit in tight spaces, such as above your desk or next to your bed. These shelves not only add storage but also enhance the room’s aesthetic appeal.
Moreover, you can use them for decorative purposes by placing a few plants or photo frames on them. This way, you’ll be maximizing the limited space while also incorporating elements of minimalism into your dorm room design.
15. Proper Cord and Cable Management
If you’re not careful with how you manage your chargers, cords, and cables, they can quickly turn into an eyesore in your room. And this goes against the whole idea of minimalism.
That’s why you need to invest in some cable management tools, such as cord clips or sleeves, to keep them organized and hidden from view.
Alternatively, you can always hide them in one of the drawers belonging to your bed or desk. This will help keep your space looking clean and clutter-free.
