Dorm Room Decor: The Do’s and Donts for College

Do’s – to remember when decorating your college dorm

Dorm Room Essentials:

Dorm rooms are limited for space since students share rooms. Leave your extra clothes and accessories at home or go for them at a later date. For example, you can leave your winter clothes at home and get them during thanksgiving break as you drop off the warm-weather clothes.

Bring along a cute dorm room laundry bag too!

Image via: Etsy – Hen House Originals – Dorm Essentials Laundry Bag

Get Dorm Room Decor Ideas from our Burlap and Succulents Store:

Our Burlap and Succulents Zazzle store can give you ideas for bedding, pillows, blankets and throw blankets to make your dorm room look awesome!

Dorm Bedding – Choose fun patterns!

Buy bedding that will endure 4-5 years of college. You can get a synthetic down comforter which is perfect for all seasons and add style with a colorful duvet cover. Even when pulled up, a comforter makes a room look cleaner. Buy a machine-washable cover with a beautiful print that hides stains.

Dorm Room Decor Don’ts – Try not to do in your college dorm

Buy Small Accessories Immediately After Settling In

Don’t buy unnecessary accessories as soon as you move into your dorm room. While it can be tempting to buy cool items you may find that you don’t need some items after a while. Additionally, things go on sale sometime after school starts so it is advisable to buy then.

Dorm Wall Decor: Don’t Be Afraid of Color

There are many ways you can add color to your dorm room. You can use accent pillows, poufs, decals, or art. Even if bright colors aren’t your thing, try to choose accessories with happy tones that will brighten up your day when you’re missing your family or suffering from winter blues.

There are many things to consider as you go off to college and dorm room décor may be the last thing on your mind. However, it can make a big difference in your overall enjoyment of college life. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in your dorm room, it is only fair that you make it a small haven. Follow the above decorating dos and don’ts and you’ll be sure to create a gorgeous room that impresses everyone who sees it. In fact, it will quickly become your pride and joy.

Can you share with us your dorm room decorating tips dos and don’ts?

Typically college dorm rooms include only some necessary things and minimal accessories. It is normally a 15×15 room with one window and detached of personal touch. Dressing up a dorm room can be overwhelming, especially when you are left with little money after paying for books and school fees.You can try these means to do the job at less cost.

Image via: Mapsoul

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Dress up the Bedding

As the bed is the biggest thing in the room and the place where you will spend a lot of time, make it the focal point of the room. Look through thrift stores to mix and match items like comforter, matching sheets, accent pillows, and pillowcases for your dorm room bedding.

Use Affordable Curtains

As dorm rooms tend to be small, use curtains to make your room visually bigger. Buy some dropcloths and fabrics from hardware store and replace them with dorm room curtains. To create an illusion of space, hang them from the ceiling down to the floor. Avoid dark colors and busy patterns on the fabrics because they will make your room look even smaller.

Decorate the Walls

The walls of the dorm room are a great background to make a grand change of the entire décor. Fill up some of the wall space with a tangible semester planner and a year calendar with beautiful images. Use artworks made by friends, cheap postcards, posters, and personal pictures of your friends, family, or dog to fill up the rest. You can also frame the postcards and the posters in grids. Use removable hooks to hang them, as most dorms do not allow screws or nails in the walls.

Image via: Dabito

Green Plants

Nothing may possibly brighten up a space more than something that grows. Choose some houseplants that will grow well inside the shade of the room. Even if you are not good in handling with greenery, a cactus garden on the windowsill will be almost impossible to kill. Moreover, cactus plants do not need much water or care.

Search through online classifieds

Craigslist is the perfect place to get accessories, small furniture pieces, and appliances at less cost. You can get crazy deals on some necessary things like a study desk, side chairs, and desk lamps if you are patient. You can also get small appliances like microwaves and min-fridges that usually pass inspection in the dorm.

Go for Less

A dorm room has very small space. So, try not to stuff it with a lot of things. Use less and simple possessions to make the space more livable. You can also use multi-functional furniture to save space. Buy a futon that can be used as a sofa during daytime and a full bed at night. Open shelving can be used for storing books and kitchen utensils. A loft bed will also save valuable floor space.

Image via: HGTV

These aforementioned tips will possibly help you to transform your dorm room from a lifeless, dull crash pad to an inviting and warm room where everyone wants to hang out.

For more college dorm room ideas on Stagetecture, click here.