What does a preppy room mean? Well, designers suggest that it is quite impossible to summarize the meaning of a preppy interior in a single sentence because it is considered a complete lifestyle. The design is timeless yet modern, which blends the new and old elements, has a masculine and a feminine vibe, and can be formal yet relaxed. This style mostly uses heavy patterns that look sophisticated, but not too overly formal.
The preppy room design originated in New England, but now it has spread to Southampton and Palm Beach, too. As the style evolves, it reflects regional influences and can lean towards either maximalist or minimalist, depending on the home.
What Do You Mean by Preppy Aesthetic?
Also known as the prep aesthetic, it is a subculture associated with private universities or preparatory schools in the United States. The term generally refers to a person who reflects the traits of a student or alumnus of these schools. These characteristics are portrayed through dress, vocabulary, mannerisms, and etiquette that reflect an upper-class upbringing.
However, in interior design, there are two types of preppy aesthetics -
- New England Prep or East Coast Prep: This includes nautical elements, such as anchors, compasses, ships, lighthouses, and whales. The color palette mostly used in this is navy blue and white.
- Southern Prep: This is also known as the VSCO preppy aesthetic, and focuses mostly on summer elements, such as elephants, monkeys, leopards, zebras, palm trees, etc. This style is considered trendy and cheerful, while adding an essence of luxuriousness.
27 Preppy Room Ideas for Your Home
Here are some top ideas to create a preppy room -
Consider Pine Pieces
Preppy room design includes antique furniture. While the shine of mahogany steals the light, pine pieces that are beautifully scrubbed take the room to the next level. The setting looks more natural and cohesive when you incorporate soft colors.
Skirt Around the Sink
A skirted sink looks pretty in the kitchen, laundry room, and even a powder room. You can add a soft, plain fabric that may seem like a low-effort upgrade, but makes the room extremely preppy.
Add Some Scallops
Scalloped accents are the best additions when making the room look “preppy.” You can use pastel shades like blue and white together, with some brass and jute baskets.
Try Some Fringes
Fringes are a grandmillennial element, especially if it is bullion or jute. The simple fringe gives the perfect finishing touch for a skirted tablecloth.
Add Checkered Patterns
Also known as the Gingham style, this pattern has been used in preppy interiors for a very long time. You can consider adding accents with pillows or blankets over a small checkered sofa. Additionally, you can add a lampshade to tie everything together. These patterns are considered “happy patterns,” which bring joy to the space and make it look comfortable. Some of the popular gingham color combinations you can incorporate are blue and white, pink and white, red and white, etc.
Opt for Gloss
A hint of gloss in a room can enhance the look of the room and make it look preppy. For example, in a mudroom, you can consider adding a subtle gloss finish to the cabinetry to give the space a more sophisticated, elegant feel.
Lean Coastal
There is a very blurry line between coastal and preppy design styles. You can incorporate nautical stripes, pink and green floral patterns, and rattan to create a cozy oceanfront haven.
Add Border Frame Bedding
In every preppy room style, you’ll find a border frame bedding. These sophisticated bed linens keep the patterned wallpaper grounded. Furthermore, you can consider incorporating blue and white, which gives the room a youthful and refined appearance.
Go Maximalism
You can consider opting for a maximalist design, as there are no restrictions on color or texture. You can allow your favorite books to take the attention, and repeat the color and pattern of the book cover on the rug and the lampshade.
Add Equestrian Touch
Horseback riding is closely tied to the preppy aesthetic. Consider adding elements, such as a horse painting, which adds a touch of refinement without leaning too much into the theme.
Incorporate Monogrammed Pillows
Monograms are iconic when styling a room in a preppy style. You can get your pillowcases custom-monogrammed to give the bed a polished yet royal touch. You can also go for matching monograms and the border to make the look more cohesive.
Grandmillennial Style
Preppy designs are all about a traditional styling idea, so the grandmillennial style fits perfectly under its umbrella. You can keep the wall lighter, which will complement the darker pieces in the space.
Look for a Common Thread
If you cannot decide on what patterns to mix and match, you can pick a common color. For example, pink for all over the room, while adding transition colors and patterns to pull everything together.
Add Some Preppy Elements
Preppy interior is easier to work with than preppy outfits. You can take inspiration from fashion icons like Lilly Pulitzer for wallpaper and textiles. Also, incorporate wood and wicker furniture to anchor the space.
Consider Motifs and Patterns
Preppy visuals are mostly cheerful and related to summer and luxurious vibes. Some of the preppy motifs and patterns are -
- Stars
- Hearts
- Evil eye
- Palm trees
- Floral prints
- Decorative patches
- Smiley faces
- Cowgirl hats
- Tie-dye
- Pink monkeys
- Animal prints
- Pink dollar signs
- Lightning bolts
Preppy Wall Decor
Wall decor plays an important role in making the room look preppy. You can add some wall collages, which is one of the easiest ways to start your preppy room decorations without damaging the walls. Other preppy wall decor ideas are framed posters, hanging tapestries, flora wallpapers, cute heart or whale-shaped stickers, in addition to hanging ivy, and many more.
Preppy Aesthetic Bedding
If you don’t want to paint your walls in a preppy color palette or cannot incorporate posters or wallpaper, consider adding preppy aesthetic bedding. This is the easiest way to achieve the dream of a luxurious preppy bedroom. Some elements you can include are pastel pink hearts with floral bedsheets, pillow cases, and cushions. Adding a pink furry blanket with a couple of plush toys can enhance the overall look of the room.
Consider the Furniture
Preppy room designs can also be functional in addition to being visually appealing. Incorporate a pink chair, a desk, or a nightstand with an elegant poster bed frame, a soft-cushioned headboard, a few turquoise pouf cushions, or a rug. You can also add another feature furniture piece, like a hanging hammock chair, where you can relax and chill.
Go for a Pale Color Palette
Apart from going all pink and adding extra elements, you can also consider a serene and delicate look. To achieve the look, add a detailed light gray wallpaper to bring dimension to the light-filled space. For accent color, consider pale blue or peach to add personality to the room.
Add Some Stripes
Designers suggest that stripes are one of the best elements when thinking about a preppy room. A striped blanket with emerald green cushions as an accent on a white bedsheet has a huge impact on the aesthetic of the room.
Eclectic Touch
If you love incorporating black and white in your bedroom, then it’s great for a minimalist look. But, to add some preppy decoration, you can add some patterned pillows, with a striped headboard and a colorful throw blanket. Along with these, you can add a colorful lamp and some red roses in a white vase.
Add Some Additional Touches
If you opt for bold colors and patterns, you must balance the space in other ways by picking more pared-back silhouettes.
Opt for a Perfectly Coordinated Layout
This is the easiest option of all, where you just have to find one color palette and stick to it. This makes everything work perfectly and look intricate.
Add Some Quirky Elegance
Pick patterns in the space that stay within the same color families. For example, if you pick tan and blue, consider using the same color all over the room. Add some textured bedsheets, and light colored drapes, and walls for balance.
Dark Romantic
No one likes black walls much, but you can paint them with a high-gloss finish to keep the space feeling fresh and bright. Also, you can add some preppy details, such as a headboard and monogrammed pillows, to balance the space. For romantic touches, add floral textiles and an ornate chandelier.
Simple Grid
Colors and patterns are one of the easiest ways to make the space feel intentional and thoughtful. You can incorporate grid-patterned drapes and a hunter green bedframe in a neutral room for a dynamic look.
Cool Moody Look
Consider bold features, such as green drapes, black walls, and leopard-print throw pillows. These elements amp up the drama in the bedroom, along with a classic tufted headboard and a framed duvet. The entire setting seems like a contrast with the traditional look.