Maybe you’ve been browsing photos on Instagram or Pinterest, looking for a few great dorm room ideas. There is plenty of inspiration out there. But there’s just one problem with most of it: Those glam rooms just aren’t doable. They either require a larger-than-dorm-room-sized space or are simply far beyond your budget.
If you’re worried that you’ll never figure out how to decorate your room, rest easy. This article lays out a few simple steps to creating a dorm room you’ll love — one that is pretty enough to post on social media, but practical enough to actually make happen.
Start With the Rules
It’s not the sexiest tip, but it is the most important: Make a dorm décor plan that fits within the rules of your school’s housing. You might be surprised by what you can and can’t do. Check your school’s website and find out what furniture is provided and whether you can bring in your own, along with the rules regarding what you can put on your walls, windows, floors, and light fixtures. Approach the restrictions as an artist, and use your new dorm room to express your creativity.
Share Dorm Room Ideas With Your Roommate
Another key aspect of dorm-room décor that’s not captured in a typical post on Instagram — your dorm décor has to work for you and for the person you’re sharing your room with. Before you buy anything for a dorm room you’re sharing, check in with your roomie. You can divvy up who brings which big-ticket items, agree on the layout of the furniture, and maybe even choose a shared style and/or color scheme. You might even go all out and coordinate your bedding or your wall décor.
Make It Unique by Making It About You
The best way to create a look that no one else can have is to incorporate things that no one else has: your history, your family and loved ones, and your passions. Customize the items in your room with photos that mean something to you. You can create a wall tapestry that showcases your favorite people and things, bring them in as a pattern on the dishes and drinkware you use, or even create a custom welcome mat or outdoor rug outside your room’s door.
Adjust the Lighting
Most dorm rooms have plain lighting with no sense of mood or style. You can completely transform a room by changing up the lighting in the space. Bring in warmer illumination with lamps, avoid nighttime accidents with a one-of-a-kind nightlight, or even switch out harsh bulbs with softer light (if it’s allowed).
Find Pieces That Multitask
You’re not going to find a lot of empty space in a dorm room, so look for gear that does more than one job stylishly — think storage ottomans that can keep your room neat and make seating space for guests, an array of pillows that transform your bed into a sofa or the floor into a space to hang out, or bed risers that create storage under your bed and have outlets that you can access more easily than the ones on the wall.
Choose Patterns That Hide Wear and Tear
Are you planning to spend much time cleaning? Probably not. Set yourself up to hide the everyday damage that your room will take by choosing gear that has patterns to hide the occasional spill or stain. Use multicolor patterns for your bedding and rugs, and pick items that you can toss in the washer (and dryer!) if you spill your coffee during a late-night study session.
What’s your favorite dorm room design secret?
Zazzle’s Lifestyle Expert is here to help create life’s best & most important moments. Discover unique ideas and endless inspiration to create meaningful memories with family, friends and your community.
i live in a nursing home right now — even thoughI’m 62. Many of these ideas apply to nursing homes too. Privacy, space, and personalized decor are at a minimum! Check with doctor, nurses, and administration to find out what’s allowed in your situation. Start by adding your own bedding that can be cleaned and is stain resistant. I’m allowed to use activated charcoal to remove those bathroom or sick person odors. They last a long time and are relatively inexpensive. Again, check with medical personel. Custom lap blankets, supply containers for necessities, cards (with holders for display or storage), and envelopes are greatly appreciated. My family doesn’t live close so a cell phone with holder for it and charger are invaluable. Don’t forget the holder for remote and glasses! Thank you for products! They make my day! — DS