Are you excited to finally be going to college and living by yourself in a dorm for the first time ever?
Well, we totally understand the feeling. After all, it means you’re finally going to know what it’s like to be independent! And while you may miss home, you’re pretty sure you’re going to enjoy your dorm room.
Right?
Well, we hate to be the bearer of bad news but… dorm rooms aren’t exactly cute or appealing in general. When you step inside the very utilitarian room, you just might find yourself wishing you had your bedroom here.
In a word, dorm rooms can be kind of drab.
But here’s some good news: they don’t have to stay that way! Sprucing up your space is actually quite easy.
In no particular order, here are some dorm room decorating tips you can try. And not to worry: these are ones that can help you become the coolest and hippest dorm room on your campus!
Let’s get to it, shall we?
Make a photo wall.
This way to decorate your dorm is perfect if you’re particularly sentimental or you want something to keep you from feeling homesick. Pick a wall which you can look at easily and start collecting photos of good memories. What do you do after?
Well, start sticking them there!
And you don’t have to be boring about it. Use some cute washi tape, or even better, use clothespins and wires and add some more character.
The great thing about this wall is you can easily add new memories to it, too! Talk about modular decoration.
Bring plants to your dorm.
Want some freshness in your dark, dreary room? Bring a plant or two along. They’ll add color and style.
Plants are also good for your health, so think of them as additional recovery tools when you wake up the next morning after studying nonstop or doing some partying.
Of course, we do recommend getting some low-maintenance plants, especially if you don’t have a green thumb or you get too busy with college life to take care of them. Or, what the heck, just buy some fake plants.
Put some additional lighting.
One thing we hate about dorm rooms is that the lighting is super bad. Rooms are generally lit with fluorescent lights that give you a greenish cast. Talk about not flattering.
While we don’t recommend changing all the lights in your room, we do recommend adding some lights of your own. Add fairy lights for example to set a nice, relaxing mood. You can also add a cute lamp to your side table - not only will it help you study at night, but it also adds to the cuteness factor of your room.
Use some paint.
Do the plain white walls remind you too much of a hospital or do you just find them boring? Either way, the quickest way to do something about it is to buy some paint and get to painting! It’s a fun DIY project you can do.
The great thing about painting walls is that you don’t have to stick to just one color or pattern. If you’re feeling creative, get two or three or even more colors, and throw it all on your wall! After that, step back and admire your creation!
Use removable wallpaper.
If you want to be less messy but still change up your walls, removable wallpapers are the way to go. Just cut them to the size of the wall and get to sticking.
Go with your favorite color or pattern, and enjoy!
Put a mirror.
If you’re feeling cramped inside your dorm room, try adding a huge mirror. You’ll be tricking your eye into believing that the room is bigger than it actually is!
You can either buy one huge mirror or a bunch of removable mirrors that come in different shapes and sizes.
Don't Forget the Bed, by adding more pillows.
Make your utilitarian room and bed a bit more homey with some pillows! Not only will they make your dorm room feel that but you’ll also be more comfortable when you sleep.
The same goes if you have a couch or chairs. Place some pillows with character to add some pops of color and texture to your room. They’ll also help make your space feel more inviting if ever you have some company over.
The size is a twin, but extra long so get the sheets that will fit by getting them twin XL.
Add some curtains.
Enhance your dorm by adding curtains to your space. Curtains can cover built-in blinds and drab views while making your dorm room feel cozier. And of course, they’re your best friends for sleeping in late or for taking afternoon naps.
Put a storage trunk at the foot of your bed.
Need a place to hide papers, textbooks, seasonal clothing, and even your diary? A storage trunk will do the trick! Choose from different styles: metal, vintage, wood, and so on.
You can also use it as an additional table - dual purpose!
Hang some artwork.
Another thing you can do to liven up your boring walls is to put some artwork. You can choose how big, how small, how many, and so on.
It doesn’t even have to be your artwork. You can buy some from the flea market, or pretty much anywhere you can buy art. The important thing is that it doesn’t clash with the rest of your room and that it’s something you like.
Go for some stylish desk decor.
Your desk doesn’t have to just contain books and other school-related things. Put pretty boxes, for example. You can also put a tray for your accessories.
Add extra seats.
If you’re the type of person who likes to have people over, make sure they can sit somewhere else than the bed. Get an ottoman, a bean bag, or just another cute chair for extra seating options.
One last reminder regarding dorm decorating
Before you get all excited about what you can do with your dorm, the best thing to do is to find out if there is anything off-limits regarding decorating. For example, are you allowed to paint over your walls, or bring in extra lights?
Ask your college for a list of what’s allowed and what’s prohibited in your rooms. While you may already be eyeing a lot of changes, ultimately, you’re limited to what is permitted by your school.
Still, need more ideas for your dorm room?
We hope that our list has helped you think of some ways to spruce up your dorm and make you feel more at home. But if you feel like you need more ideas on what to do, reach out to us at At Studio Blu, Inc.
We are an award-winning, full-service interior design firm based in Los Angeles. Our specialty is creating a custom interior design that embraces your style, tastes, and true essence. Our end goal is to go a step beyond what other design firms offer by creating a space that is really authentically you.
Work with a designer that will listen to you and make your vision for your dorm room to come to life! Contact us and book a free discovery call today.
We look forward to hearing from you!