Design Your Dorm Your Way: Tips and Tricks

 I'm currently a senior in college, and trust me, I have a lot of experience decorating dorm rooms. It's not easy! There are rules that you have to follow, things you'll want to avoid, and so much more that goes into making a space completely your own. 

Here are my tips and tricks on how to do just that:

• Photo Wall

• Relatively Cheap 

• Pharmacy’s and places like Walmart usually can print pictures

• Fills the space and isn’t against most college campus dorm rules

• Plants, plants, and more plants

• Talk about the best: Monstera, Aloe, succulents, etc

• Less light and water best, most dorms don’t have a huge amount of natural light

• Freshen and filter the air

• Lighting

• Be careful, could be against the rules

• Battery powered lights

• LED strip lights v. LED color changing bulbs

• Standing light

• Desk lamp

• Closet lamp

• Reading light next to bed

• Storage

• No dorm has a huge amount of storage space

• Easy to put up self standing shelves

• Raise bed, allows for more things to hide and fit underneath bed

• General

• Coffee nook, coffee is expensive and as students, we run on caffeine

• Mirror

• Opens up space

• Want to look good

• Comfy and trendy bedding

• Cozy in bed, your space, functional and stylish

• Couch

• Allows ample seating for friends 

• Separates bedroom/living room

• Tray, to have on bed, for things like drinks and snacks, so they don't spill everywhere

These may not work for you, and some of them definitely didn't work for me. The great thing about decorating your dorm room is that it's not permanent. EXPERIMENT!! Find what design style sticks out to you and which works best for you, which style makes you happy and calm. Pick one or combine multiple, as long as it reflects who you are!

-trav