EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT DORM ROOM

I am now a junior in college and have gone through two successful years of living in a dorm! I have tons of tips and tricks that I have picked up over the years and am very excited to share them with you.

***I use a lot of links throughout this post so if there is anything you want to see to get a better understanding of what I’m talking about or to shop the product just click the link!

First things first, a dorm is basically a glamorized closet. It consists of your bed, a desk, maybe a dresser, and you (and a roommate). Because of this, the main focus of your room should be your bed and desk; they will help convey your theme the best and easiest.

Color Scheme

My advice is to choose a single color. You can have fun by using different hues of this color, but stick to one color. Then, you can add tiny pops of a differing color (but if done incorrectly this can confuse the space). As a rule of thumb, anywhere you place your pop of color, you should accompany it by your main color (pop of color on a pillow, blanket, etc.)

Bed

The bed is my favorite part of any room. The options are limitless! My favorite way to dress a bed is by using a white comforter/bedspread then adding in color with pillows, throw blankets, and the headboard. By using white as the base, you can easily change out your room theme by switching out a few pillows. I have found beautiful quilt-like comforters from Home Goods, Anthropology (more expensive) and Stein Mart. However, If you have a harder time decorating with pillows, I suggest that you opt for a more dramatic comforter that matches your desired theme and use neutral pillows to accentuate it. Here are a few white comforters I like: Simple, Ruffled, Intricate texture

Headboard

I love DIY headboards for dorm rooms because they are relatively easy to create and less expensive than ones you can buy (they are also 100% customizable!). *click the link to see how I created mine!

Desk

Desks tend to be on the small side in dorm rooms so you have to find ways to create extra space. I was not a big fan of the typical desk shelving that i’d seen in dorm pictures and I also didn’t know how big my desk would be prior to moving in. Because of this, I decided to create a hanging shelf. I found single shelves from Home Depot, drilled 4 holes in each, then knotted twine rope to put them in place. Because I could not use screws to hang decor I used a professional picture hanger. These can hold 100 pounds on their own! (Note: because the shelves are wood they have the potential to sag over time so they may only last a year. My first set sagged but my second did not so I will be reusing it!)

I also found it helpful to have a mirror hung under the shelves to do my hair and makeup! This it the exact mirror I used the past two years from Target: Circle Mirror

Organization

I LOVE organization, especially for small spaces! I also have an unhealthy amount of beauty products that need hiding lol. I use this amazing 10 drawer organizer from Target, but you can also find this same organizer in different sizes at Michaels, Target, Home Goods, and Amazon.

Organizers that fit under your bed are lifesavers for storing clothes, snacks and utensils!! I always choose to use curtains to act as a bedskirt and hide the organizers but there are nicer looking organizers I’ve seen at Target (for the “bedskirt” I just used two panels of curtains on a spring rod and shoved it underneath my mattress until it was the perfect length- this way there is no hemming involved and the curtains won’t slip out from under the mattress).

Since I had to lift my bed in order to fit my dresser and organizers under it I had to get a taller nightstand. I LOVE this nightstand/organizer I bought from Walmart. I also love storage ottomans to use as stools to get onto lifted beds. Mine is similar to this one (you can find these on sale at Walmart and Target).

I also think its important to have some type of organization on your desk. Again, I didn’t want the stereotypical organization so I found a three-tiered tray and used Moscow mules from Home Hoods as the organizers. You can find TONS of these at Hobby Lobby and Home Goods right now! The one I have is currently on sale for $14.99 (linked above).

Wall Decor

Home Goods. Home Goods. Home Goods. My favorite wall decorations are:

Big statement piece. This can be a cork board, painted canvas, art piece, tapestry, etc. It will take up a lot of space and keep your room from looking cluttered. Picture collage (my all time favorite). You can use frames, hang pictures from light strands , or tape them to the wall! Peel and stick wallpaper (I love the look of this so so so so much and if I could afford it, I would TOTALLY do it). For this option you will need to know the measurements of your wall . *They do not have this at Home Goods but I know there are tons of options on Wayfair and Etsy! Flowers. Obviously flowers have to go with your theme but I love all types of wall flower decor (it is very customizable). You can use big paper flowers, tape flowers to the wall, or create a hanging flower piece like I did! Baskets or rings. This option is very simple but has a very impressive appearance. LIGHTS. I love using Christmas lights or outdoor lights to add comfort to dorm spaces! I just bought globe string lights from Kroger for $5 a pack. You can even use lights to make a statement wall. Don’t forget to pack:

-Full length mirror

-Blackout curtains

-Towels

-Trash can

-Plastic bowls and plates