Inside a Sophomore Dorm: Stylish Small-Space Ideas and Layout Tour

Since I shared a first-year dorm tour of the space I lived in with my roommate Shannon last year, it felt natural to post a sophomore dorm room tour too. Some elements remain the same, but now that I have a single room as an RA, I added a few new pieces to fill the space. Here’s a wide shot of the whole room:

Dorm room inspiration: navy, coral, & turquoise! See the whole dorm room tour by clicking the pin.I wanted clearly defined zones to help keep the room organized, so I divided the space into a living area, bedroom area, kitchen area, and closet/dresser area. Here’s my living area:Dorm room inspiration: navy, coral, & turquoise! See the whole dorm room tour by clicking the pin.I love the rug because it’s soft and fluffy for sitting on, and the futon provides extra seating.

My bedroom area:Dorm room inspiration: navy, coral, & turquoise! See the whole dorm room tour by clicking the pin.

My kitchen area:Dorm room inspiration: navy, coral, & turquoise! See the whole dorm room tour by clicking the pin.

And my dresser and closet area:Dorm room inspiration: navy, coral, & turquoise! See the whole dorm room tour by clicking the pin.Last year I mostly used my room for homework in the evenings or to hang out with my roommate occasionally. I wasn’t in my room a lot, but when I was, I viewed it as my personal space while I navigated the first year of college.

This year my perspective has shifted: I want the room to be an inviting place for friends and residents to drop by and hang out. Having a larger single room gives me the opportunity to keep my door open and welcome people in. (Keeping the room tidy is part of that goal—easier said than done!)Dorm room inspiration: navy, coral, & turquoise! See the whole dorm room tour by clicking the pin.In response to questions last year about where I bought certain items, I’ve included purchase details below to help anyone looking for similar pieces.

Navy blackout curtains — Amazon. These blackout curtains come in several colors and block sunlight well for better sleep.

Navy & white trellis rug — HomeGoods*

Turquoise “C” table — Bed Bath & Beyond. The exact table I bought isn’t available online anymore, but Bed Bath & Beyond carries similar styles.

Coral throw pillows — Target

Coral backrest pillow — Bed Bath & Beyond

Creamy white futon — Walmart

Turquoise throw blanket — Marshalls*

Woven basket — Marshalls*

Coral storage bins — Kohl’s (the ones I bought previously are no longer available online)

Wooden monogram — 22-inch plain wood monogram from Etsy, hand-painted with acrylic paint from Michael’s.

*HomeGoods and Marshalls do not list most products online, so availability varies by store.

If you have questions, feel free to comment or email me at [email protected]. I hope you enjoyed the room tour.

Questions for you:
Does your bedroom have a color scheme?
Mine is navy, coral, turquoise, and white.
Do you enjoy decorating?
I don’t always enjoy the process, but I love the finished result.
Where do you like to shop for home decor?