May 2022 is just around the corner, which means graduation season is approaching fast. Closing out a chapter of your life and embracing a new one is a pretty big deal, and in addition to your senioritis, you may be feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty about what’s coming next. Regardless of how you’re feeling leading up to graduation day, one thing is for sure: This graduation season, you deserve to feel fabulous! What better way to celebrate graduation in style than to have a gorgeous, memorable cap on your big day?
Whether you’re looking for something elegant, funny, inspiring, colorful, or sentimental, there are many unique and memorable ways to decorate your graduation cap this spring. You don’t have to be crafty, either — it’s all about finding a design and style that works for you. That said, here are 20 graduation cap decoration ideas to try this year and inspiration for how to achieve a look you’ll love.
1. send an inspirational message
Graduation is an emotional time, so get creative by choosing your favorite inspirational quote for your graduation cap. This one features an empowering quote by Nelson Mandela and a cute “thank you” to mom and dad!
2. reference a funny meme
Memes have become a language on their own, and the best part is that almost every member of Gen Z can speak it. Humor yourself on your graduation day with a funny meme-inspired cap like this one.
3. honor your fave MOVIE or tv show
When brainstorming what kind of grad cap to make, remember that there are a lot of movie and TV references that you can take inspiration from! Try making a cap inspired by your favorite iconic movie or TV show (like this one inspired by Legally Blonde)! They are so fun, and chances are they’ll get a ton of attention on the big day.
4. try a nostalgic cartoon design
Similar to a cap inspired by your favorite movie, this one will reference your favorite cartoon. Connect with your inner child and try a cartoon-inspired decoration like this one, which is perfect if you love Scooby-Doo!
5. pick your fave graduation song
Whether it’s “Gotta Go My Own Way” or “Thank You, Next,” decorate your grad cap with a cheeky song reference or lyric that relates to graduation day! Check out this Beyoncé-inspired one for inspo.
6. celebrate your fave book
If you put the “lit” in literature, a book-inspired cap might be the one for you. Think of a quote or fun literary reference that you think would be amazing for your graduation cap and get creative with it!
7. match your besties
What’s better than one graduation cap? Two graduation caps! To really capture the bestie aesthetic, come up with a clever way to match your graduation cap with your BFFs or decorate caps with a group of friends for a fun touch.
8. show some gratitude
Take a minute and remember all of those years studying during college. Is there someone who deserves a big thank you for supporting your life and college experience? Say thank you with a nice message on your graduation cap.
9. call out your major(s)
If you’re not sure how to decorate your cap, try referencing your major(s)! You can create a fun “theme” that connects to your majors — like this one, inspired by teaching and education — and show that you’re proud of what you studied!
10. say “goodbye” in style
On graduation day, you’ll be parting ways from four (ish) years filled with growth, hardships, and laughter, so why not state a proper goodbye on your cap?
11. have a bedazzled moment
Simple and elegant, a bedazzled cap will make the perfect accessory for any graduation outfit. This black and pink one is adorable!
12. The Flower Cap
Plant lovers, a floral grad cap might be the one for you. You can decorate yours with floral decals, stickers, or plant-inspired prints for a dose of nature.
13. Tie-DYE Everything
Bring the psychedelic 70’s vibe to your graduation day with a tie-dye cap. Of course, your design will likely depend on the color and texture of your cap; you may want to make the tie-dye on a seperate fabric, then glue or sew it onto your cap.
14. Honor the memories
You made a lot of memories in college, so why not commemorate them on your cap? Make a collage of people and moments that were part of your college experience, then use adhesive to stick the collage to your cap. After graduation day, you’ll have a memento of what those years meant to you.
15. add a bit of embellishment
If you love beauty and accessories and want to graduate in style, check out this graduation cap that makes use of a chic white ribbon! Simply go to the craft store or order some materials online, and decorate your cap any way you like.
16. Give yourself a grad day pep-talk
Apart from inspiring others through quotes, you can also inspire yourself by decorating your cap with a self pep-talk. There are so many things that you can say to yourself for this major accomplishment: “I finally made it”, “I did it!”, “I’m on my way.” and so much more.
17. sparkle with fairy lights
If you really want to be extra on your graduation day: add fairy lights to your cap. You will definitely stand out and will look amazing while you’re at it.
18. channel your inner activist
Want to make a statement with your cap? Make an impact with an activist-inspired message that honors your passion for social justice and changing the world.
19. rep your college or university
Wear a cap that shows off just how proud you are about graduating from your college or university. You can decorate your cap with the university’s logo, a picture of the mascot, or anything that represents it.
20. honor your hometown
If you’re proud of your hometown, state, or country of origin, it’s time to show it off at your graduation (especially if you’re graduating miles away from home!). Tell us about your heritage through your cap like this one that says “Proud Latina.”
At the end of the day, graduation day is about creating a cap that’s unique to you — one that speaks to you, and that you’ll be proud to wear on your big day. Graduating from college is a major, life-changing event that usually happens once, so make it count, make a statement, and slay with a grad cap that reflects this important milestone.