12 dorm room lighting buys to give your space a glow up

Time to shine ✨

Three dorm room lights on a pink crinkly background
(Image credit: Future)

Moving into your first dorm room? Congrats! Starting college is such an exciting thing, and you’ve got a lotta good times ahead. So, you’re probs in full prep mode and want to make your room look as cute as poss. One of the best and most practical ways to do this? All the lights, bestie.

They’re such a great way to create a cozy ambiance, making your li’l room feel like your li’l home. Not only this but there are so many varieties. String lights? So cute. Desk lamps? So handy. Floor lamps? So bold. Adhesive lights? …OK, you get the point. There are so many options.

Quick Menu:
1. Floor lamps
2. Adhesive lights
3. Desk lamps
4. Fairy lights

I’ve rounded up a variety of different lighting options that are perfect for dorms. They’ll both help you bring your personality into the space, while at the same time providing lighting for all occasions from studying to buddying.

Scroll on down for all the twinkly inspo…

These dorm room light buys are so fab and functional

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Make your dorm room look oh-so-dreamy with a range of lighting choices. BTW, I've broken these down into different sections, so you can find what you need easily.

The prices below were correct at the time of publishing this article.

Floor lamps for dorm rooms

For when you don’t want the big light on, but still want to see everything.

Adhesive lights for dorm rooms

Obvi you’re not allowed to drill your dorm walls, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put lights wherever you want they just need to be stick-on. 

Desk lamps for dorm rooms

Keep your eyes on the prize (that degree, sis!) with a lamp to illuminate your studies.

Fairy lights for dorm rooms

I had so many fairy lights up in my college dorm room, and loved how cozy they made everything feel.

FAQs

How do I get good lighting in my dorm?

The key to good lighting is by having plenty of it. Make sure to bring a variety of different lights with you, such as floor lamps, desk lamps, and fairy lights, so you can light up your room as much or as subtly as you want.

Are LED lights allowed in dorm rooms?

This will depend on your dorm room and college restrictions, so be sure to check your accommodation contract before buying any.

Where to buy dorm room lighting

How we chose these dorm room lighting buys

As a former college student myself, I know how important it is to have a range of different lighting options in your dorm. That’s why I made sure to pick a variety of lights that will be useful to have, as well as make sure they looked super aesthetic. Plus, I looked through plenty of sites for lights with lots of positive ratings and love from shoppers.

Up next: 12 dorm room rugs that are totally adorable

Eve Smallman
Content Editor

Hi there! I’m the former content editor at Real Homes and I'm now a freelance journalist.. I've been a lifestyle journalist for over five years, previously working as an editor across regional magazines. Before this, I graduated from Nottingham Trent University a degree in journalism, along with an NCTJ gold diploma. For Real Homes, I specialized in interior design, trends and finding the best viral buys.