Transform Your Dorm Room: 9 Must-Have Target Finds for a Chic and Functional Space
Transforming Your Dorm Room: Chic Essentials for 2025
Hindsight is 20/20, and while I like to think I’ve always been somewhat style-forward, there are a few early design decisions (read: mistakes) I now side-eye with my seasoned editor brain. My dorm room, though, isn’t one of them. Not-so-humbly: it was a tour de force. Sure, my style has evolved, but I made my half of that tiny room feel like home.
I went all out: stick-on molding, vintage magazines from flea markets, and a carefully curated pillowscape that I upholstered myself. Back then, chic dorm room ideas were hard to find in stores, and DIY was the name of the game.
If only I’d had access to Target’s 2025 dorm decor lineup!
The Evolution of Dorm Decor
It hasn’t been that long since I graduated, but the dorm room buys you can get your hands on in 2025 are miles better. DIY is still the spirit of these youthful years, but now you can find curated, cleverly scaled pieces that actually fit and won’t damage the walls.
I still think about that dorm room, but if I could go back, these are the nine Target finds I’d include on my college dorm room checklist. They’d make starting school a little easier—and certainly, a whole lot chicer.
1. Leopard Print Tiered Tray – Threshold
Price: $20
Vertical space is everything in small bedrooms. This leopard-print tray won’t hold your whole life, but it adds a pop of pattern and keeps essentials like skincare and makeup looking pulled together.
2. Cozy Woven Stripe Throw Blanket – Room Essentials
Price: $15
Throw blankets are an easy way to layer texture onto a personality-dry space. This one is compact enough to drape over the end of a bed or accent chair—and stylish enough to double as a shawl during an 8 a.m. lecture.
3. Magnetic Arch Mirror Gold – U Brands
Price: $5.99
This magnetic arch mirror is not just functional; it turns your mini fridge into an accidental art installation. If you don’t have a magnetic surface, use removable strips to create a bedside gallery wall.
4. Fluted Metal Rechargeable Table Lamp Brass – Hearth & Hand with Magnolia
Price: $29.99
With all your devices needing power, a portable lamp is a lifesaver. This vintage brass design adds a swanky touch to your desk or nightstand.
5. Twin Teen Half-Moon Headboard Classic Velvet – Threshold Designed With Studio McGee
Price: $180
A headboard isn’t essential, but it transforms your bed from a glorified cot into a cozy retreat. This moss green velvet option is worth the splurge.
6. Corduroy Compressed Foam Dorm Chair Cream – Room Essentials
Price: $85
Everyone needs that accent chair that holds half your closet midweek and serves as a crash pad during study sessions. This cozy cream corduroy chair fits the bill perfectly.
7. Oversized Bolster Ruffle Pillow – Armoire Collection
Price: $20
Even if the rest of your pillows are basic, one hero bolster can elevate your pillowscape. This ruffled lace pillow adds just the right amount of sweetness.
8. Reversible Floral and Stripe Comforter Set – Threshold Designed With Studio McGee
Price: $55
In a dorm room, everything needs to pull double duty. This reversible comforter set allows you to switch up your look midweek, keeping things fresh.
9. Fluted Storage Organizer Cart – Garvee
Price: $56.99
One of the best dorm buys I ever made was a drawer storage cart. This fluted design doubles as a nightstand and keeps your essentials close while looking chic.
Even the most stylish dorm setup can fall flat if the space around it feels chaotic. To keep your room looking polished, here are the dorm room organizing mistakes experts say to avoid at all costs.
With these essentials, your dorm room will not only be functional but also a stylish sanctuary that reflects your personality. Happy decorating!