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Personalised dressing gowns at the ready! The preppy aesthetic is back in fashion. Discover how to achieve a preppy feel in your bedroom with crisp colours, playful patterns and charming finishing touches. 

The preppy aesthetic is more than just a design movement – it’s a lifestyle. Steeped in a rich American heritage, it focuses on traditional, vintage elements, with nods to the present. The term ‘prep’ stems from prep school – with anything labelled ‘preppy’ encompassing the sort of lifestyle you’d expect an Ivy League student to have. Studying, socialising and indulging in old-fashioned sports like polo, horse-riding, tennis and skiing. Preppy is a status symbol and it radiates sophistication.

Put some pep into your prep with these timeless preppy bedroom ideas, which are sure to stay in style for years to come. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to introduce vibrant colours to your bedroom palette, mix clashing patterns in the right way, and add playful, tailored accents that epitomise this iconic aesthetic.  

Ready to go to prep school? Class is in session…  

We’ve seen the fashion world go crazy for the preppy aesthetic recently, with Chandler Bing-style sweater vests, white tennis skirts, striped Oxford shirts, and oval reading glasses all making a big comeback over the last 12 months. But what makes a bedroom preppy?  

A preppy bedroom aesthetic encompasses the same core elements you expect to see in preppy fashion, capturing a classy, chic and polished vibe. It exudes old-money opulence and celebrates the finer things in life. Think Ralph Lauren if it were a room (but we’ll show you how to achieve the look without the designer price tag).  

Now, let’s explore how to play around with your colours, patterns and furniture to create an elevated, preppy bedroom in your own home… 

1. Crisp colours that pop 

First things first, let’s talk about colour. Your colour palette choice is super important when designing a preppy bedroom, as some shades are synonymous with the aesthetic. The good news is there are plenty of different colours to choose from, with both masculine and feminine tones available. The main rule is to go for a bold, classic colour such as navy, pink or green, to lean into that confident preppy personality.     

Our second top tip is to counter this strong shade with white. Fresh whites are what give the preppy bedroom that iconic pop. Typically the canvas colour, you may choose to paint your walls and ceiling white and introduce bold accents through your furniture and accessories. Alternatively, consider a vibrant, patterned wallpaper and counter this with all-white furniture for a crisp look.

2. Must-have preppy patterns: stripes, plaids, and polka dots

Patterns are the hallmark of an instantly recognisable preppy bedroom design. Think timeless patterns like plaids and checks, bold stripes and soft polka dots, houndstooth and geometric shapes. One way to do it is by plastering these patterns all over your walls and floor for a vibrant, maximalist look. 

 Wallpaper is excellent for decorating a preppy bedroom. We love how this room has been designed with a bold red and navy striped wallpaper on the top half of the wall, complemented by the forest green panelling. Whilst clashing, these colours, shapes and textures contrast each other perfectly, adding lots of depth and interest to the room. If you’re nervous about committing to wallpaper on all four walls, you could always consider creating a feature wall.

Alternatively, if you prefer a softer, minimalist vibe, choose to use your patterns more sparingly with accents around the room. We love this checkered burgundy and beige rug, contrasted with our neutral-toned House Beautiful Rosa Bed Frame. 

Gingham is another quintessential preppy pattern and looks great on bedding, adding instant character. Plus, gingham is having a real moment right now, with brands like Piglet in Bed leading the charge. Their new spring 2025 bed linens are perfect for a preppy bed – just look at that warm, honey yellow gingham! We’ll take five, please.

Credit: @pigletinbed

How to mix and match patterns

Mixing clashing prints can often be a big no-no in interior design. Not with the preppy aesthetic! On the contrary, we love mixing patterns such as stripes, checks and gingham. 

The trick to mastering the art of mixing patterns is by layering them in varying sizes. Too much of the same sized print can look a little busy and chaotic – which could be stressful to go to sleep in! It’s also a good idea to choose colours in similar hues that complement eachother for a cohesive, blended look.  

Interior Design Influencer @patriciarodi is an expert at this. Just look at how she’s mixed her patterns with soft striped bedding, a large checkered blanket, and a smaller ditsy floral print wallpaper. Her bedroom feels calm and relaxing, whilst also inviting to the eye. Bravo!

Credit: @patriciarodi 

3. Monograms and personalisation

As the saying goes, it’s all in the details. One key element of preppy interior design is tailored, personalised touches like adding your initials or family crest (if you’re lucky enough to have one) onto accessories.  

The most popular way to do this is by having some bespoke monogrammed pillows made for your bed, like the one seen here. 

4. Characteristic vintage-style furniture

Preppy designs are all about mixing the old and new, which is why you tend to see a lot of vintage furniture. Imagine grand four-poster beds, intricately carved ornate headboards, and beautiful retro dressing tables.  

The trick is to counter these old-fashioned staples with updated, modern soft furnishings to keep your overall aesthetic fresh and contemporary.  

For instance, you could upholster an old chair or headboard with new fabrics, or try dressing an ornate-looking metal bed, such as our Hatti Metal Bed Frame, with bright-coloured bed sheets and accent pillows.  

5. A touch of nature

Nothing says bourgeoisie like freshly cut flowers in a beautiful vase. This could be the perfect accessory for your bedside table or cabinet, if you like something pretty to look at (and smell) as you drift into slumber. Plus, it feels a little bit extra having fresh flowers in the bedroom, doesn’t it? 

If you’re not a fan of upkeep and need something a little lower maintenance, why not opt for some dried pampas grass or artificial flowers instead to achieve the same look? We’ve styled our Fairbourne Wooden Ottoman Bed with some pampas reeds next to it, which adds a touch of nature to complement the crisp white and pale pink colour scheme. Blooming lovely.

6. Preppy accessories and artwork

To finish the look of your preppy bedroom, add some sporty or nautical motifs to tie the room together. If you have any particular hobbies or passions, now is the perfect time to incorporate it into your design. For example, if you live by the coast or like to go sailing, why not go for a nautical theme with some framed pictures, like the image above. 

You could also create a mixed media picture wall like one you might expect to see in a prep school dorm room – hanging things like collegiate flags, retro tennis rackets or equestrian-style artwork. Whatever your interests, make sure it’s personal to you.

*Ding!* There goes the school bell. Hopefully with these top tips and tricks, you’ve learnt a thing or two about how to create a polished, preppy aesthetic in your bedroom. The most important thing is leaning into whatever brings you joy – and have fun with it!