For many students, a dorm room is their first home away from home. So it deserves to reflect their style and look fabulous. As we all know, a college student’s money is tight. But there are several ways collegiettes on a budget can use dollar store items to their advantage when decorating and stocking their dorm.
1. Dessert Trays
Show off your baked treats—at a party or just because—with these DIY cake stands and cookie platters. Stop by the dollar store for cheap (but sturdy!) candlesticks, plates and bowls. Mount them together with hot glue to form these thrifty dessert trays. You can even spray paint them all the same color, and no one will suspect they were handmade.
2. Cork Tile Coasters
Dollar stores always have great corkboard tiles, which can easily be transformed into personalized coasters. Use Mod Podge to paste a few thin tiles together and add a photo on top using acrylic varnish. Or create minimalist geometric designs with acrylic paint.
3. Apothecary Jars
Pottery Barn’s apothecary jars can cost up to $70. Buy a glass vase, glass bowl and candlestick from the local dollar store, and build your own apothecary jars to store candy, snacks, toiletries, beauty utensils or school supplies in—the possibilities are endless!
4. Chalkboard Trays
Adorable vintage-inspired plates and trays now have a purpose in your dorm room. Use chalkboard paint to make your very own chalkboard; then, hang it in your room and write reminders or fun notes to yourself.
5. Picture Frame Greenhouse Terrarium
If you’re handy with a hot glue gun, pick up some lightweight picture frames from the dollar store. With the help of a few household crafting tools, you can store your potted plants in this creative greenhouse terrarium.
6. Toy Bookends
Pick two of your favorite plastic animals or buy a cute variety pack at the dollar store. Then, you can fashion classy bookends using spray paint, glue and photo frames.
7. Battery-Operated Candle Wraps
A lot of residence halls restrict students from bringing candles or incense into the building, but there are still ways to make that romantic, candlelit date night happen. Pick up some tea lights, plastic transparent folders and bangle bracelets at the dollar store, and your artificial, battery-operated candles might just save the night.
8. Faux Iron Wall Art
Don’t be deceived by the iron appearance—this is actually a spray-painted dollar store bath mat! For a chic bathroom or living room wall accessory, try this five-minute craft.
9. Paneled Mirror
Forget splurging on that Pottery Barn paneled mirror and assemble your own using dollar store mirror tiles and a few other basic materials. Measure your design on a foam cork board and use a poster frame as a base to glue your mirror tiles onto. You can choose a symmetrical design or something more original, depending on your style.
10. Laundry Basket Wreath
This brilliant design hack involves some fake flowers and a plastic laundry basket. Remove the bottom of the laundry basket and weave fake flowers through the remaining basket rim. You can use twine or string to strengthen your wreath and simply slip it off the rim when you’re done. Customize a new wreath for every season to brighten up your living space.