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A WALLPAPER THAT WILL MAKE A STATEMENT
With the ability to transform any room from drab dorm to fab dorm, wallpaper is a must-have for your new college home. If you’re scared about making your dorm room look like a grandma’s living room, don’t worry! There are tons of options that are funky, cool and modern. Take this geometric style for example. It has all the drama without being overwhelming.
If you’re worried about having to commit to a permanent design choice you may regret later on down the road, we recommend using peel and stick removable wallpaper. This way you can go big without any regrets! If you want something more simple, use a neutral color palette with small pops of pattern so it’s not too distracting in your space.
ORGANIZATION
Let’s be real, a dorm room is probably not the biggest space you will live in. It’s only natural that space efficiency is important to you, and that’s great! The best way to make sure your small space is functioning perfectly for your needs (and looking adorable) is by getting organized.. Here are some of our favorite organizational products:
You’re going to have a lot of shoes. Keep them all organized and out of the way with this affordable shoe rack.
Keep all your snacks in one place with a tiered shelf! You can put it on your desk or next to your bedside table, and it’ll easily store those bags of chips and boxes of mac n’ cheese that you’ll want at 2 AM during midterms week.
Having a hanging organizer by your desk or bed will help keep all those small items—like pens, notebooks, chargers, etc.—organized so they’re easy to find when you need them most. This one also has mesh pockets so everything stays in view!
Use this desk organizer as an affordable alternative to a wall organizer or corkboard—it’ll give you plenty of places to hang notes and photos while still freeing up some precious floor space.
If you’ve got books galore but no place for them, consider buying an extra bookcase for under-the-bed storage! It’ll keep the piles from taking over your floor space but still let you keep those beautiful books on display along with any other home decor items (like plants!).
LIGHTING
LIGHTING is a major component of dorm room decor! LED lights come in so many shapes and styles now—you can find everything from light strips that you can run along the valance of your bed to fairy lights, table lamps, string lights, and more. Of course, don’t forget the fun light-up signs and letters that are all over Instagram these days! You can even get lighted wall art if you want to take things up a notch! I found my fairy lights on Amazon but definitely check out Target as well.
COMFORTABLE BEDDING
After your dorm room transformation is complete, the last thing you’ll want to do is crawl into a crummy bed. Getting the necessary bedding for college is one of the first things to cross off your shopping list. Without comfortable sheets, pillows, and blankets, you’ll find yourself tossing and turning all night long. Luckily, there are hundreds of options to choose from!
First up on this list of comfy bedding essentials: a mattress topper! Because most dorm beds aren’t exactly top-of-the-line in comfort or quality (read: they suck), adding a mattress pad will help make your bed slightly more bearable. Beyond that, it’s equally important to buy pillow(s) specifically for sleeping, along with new sheets and blankets that fit all of these components together cozily. Don’t forget about finishing touches such as throw pillows!
POSTERS TO HANG ON THE WALLS
Add some art to your walls! Posters are a great way to show your interests, add color to one of the most visible surfaces in your space, and make it feel more like home. They’re also easy to take down when you move on. Whether you want to display a favorite landscape or celebrity crush, posters can help personalize your room.
Tones of inspiration:
- Urban Outfitters (hipster)
- Target (modern)
- IKEA (classy)
Incorporate some of these ideas into your space and you’ll be the best-decorated room on campus!
With all of these dorm room decor ideas, you’re sure to love your new space on campus. So, what are you waiting for? Start shopping now for all the essentials. Or don’t, and be the person who gets stuck in a tiny room with a desk chair and twin bed. Your choice!