8 Ways to Decorate your College Dorm Room
Ahhh dorm life. Your chance to live in a tiny room with someone you may not yet know. Luckily, your dorm doesn’t need to be a messy, disorganized, lifeless room. You can make it an inviting, warm space where you and your friends want to hang out. You’ll probably spend a lot of time in your dorm room, from studying in the evenings to hanging out with your new roommate and creating some of your best college memories. It’s important to personalise your room, to ensure it feels like your home away from home. We have created some simple tips to help you get your new dorm room feeling pretty special: here are 8 ways to decorate your college dorm room:
- Make it personal
If it’s your first time away from home, it’s normal to feel homesick. But you can help relieve some of these feelings and make your room more cosy by filling your space with pictures of your pets, family, and friends. If you can’t bring your pets to school, you can always get a fish with an aquarium stand to keep you company with little maintenance. It’s likely that your parents may want to give you something to put in your new dorm room, to make you feel more at home. If you used to have a certain type of candle back at home, bring it along. Small touches will make a big difference when you’re just getting adjusted to dorm life.
- Go for color
Let’s face it- your dorm room probably isn’t going to be the place where you take your interior decorating skills to the next level. Instead, you should focus on making it a bright, happy space. Choose a bright cover for your bed, and consider getting a wall tapestry or two to brighten the place up. Choosing bright colors will ensure that you will have a bit more energy to get through the long reading or finish off that essay you’ve been dreading for weeks. A bright space will help uplift your mood and ensure that you feel more upbeat.
- Stock up on Merchandise
Whether you’re already in a sorority or planning to join one, sorority gifts are a great option. Not only can use them to decorate your room, but you can give them to your bestie, alumni friends, or keep them for yourself. They’re also the perfect gift to give friends who are off to college, it helps get you prepared to start the academic year off on a good foot, while looking good too!
- Use Material Wisely
Grab a throw blanket for your bed or for snuggling up for an afternoon of studying. Consider some cute rugs if you have tile floors, just don’t go for white- choose a nice bright color which will hide all kinds of stains. Textures can also change how a room feels and give it a more homely vibe. I really love at least one really plush item in each room, whether it’s a luxuriously soft rug, throw or cushion.
- Go for light
Many people find that their dorm rooms have very little natural light. You can easily find some cheap lamps from Target which can brighten things up and they work perfectly as a lamp for when you have to study late at night. I would suggest getting a light to read in bed too – whether you want to read on your phone or not. It’s much more comfortable than having to have the main light on and I find it helps me fall asleep much faster than leaving the main light on when reading.
- Invest in furniture
You’re going to quickly get tired of lying on your bed or sitting at your desk. If you have the room, a comfortable chair can make things easier, especially if you have friends over for movie nights. Likewise if there’s space invest in a good quality desk so that you can do your homework or study at home if you want to. Sometimes the libraries and common areas are packed with noisy people who seem to be more interested in flirting than in their grades. Having your own little sanctuary where you can really focus on what needs to be done will become a lifesaver especially around exams.
- Go Green
Greenery will make your dorm room stand out, and plants also clean the air- meaning you feel less fuzzy for studying. Whether you have a green thumb or not, you can easily find a plant you can keep alive. If you’re not ready for the commitment of a real plant, you can find fake plants that really, really look like real plants. This is a great way to brighten up the space and while you wont have the benefits of a real plant, such as purifying the air, you also wont have to worry about killing it.
- Get Some Cushions
Cushions can add interest to a boring room, and they’re also a great way to make your bed more comfortable if you like to study while lying down. You can choose cushions that have art work on them or bright colors. I personally LOVE floor cushions which are larger than normal cushions made from a slightly more durable fabric. They’re a great, cheap form of seating when your budget is low and you also don’t have much space for extra chairs. They’re easy to store when not in use – for example, under your bed – and perfect to bring out when you want to curl up with a book or chill with your friends.
Going off to college is such an exciting time of your life, but it’s normal to feel a little anxious. Spend a little time getting a few extra bits and pieces to ensure your college dorm room is exactly what you need to succeed in college, both academically and in creating some of the best memories of your life!