1. A Color Scheme
You won’t always be able to collaborate with your new roomie for the Pinterest perfect room but even if you can keep your half of the room to a theme the space will seem more organized.
2. Curtains
One of those things that you have in your house and never think about, they really do make a difference! If you are sticking to a color scheme they can be the final link that brings everything together but if you’re just looking at a more practical standpoint, you’re going to wish you had them when the sun is coming up at 5 am on Saturday, the only day you get to sleep in. Hint: expandable shower rods work well
3. Storage
Utilizing all available storage makes the closet sized room that you’re living in more efficient. Under bed storage drawers, closet organizers and cubby style nightstands all provide extra space for things you just couldn’t leave behind. Whoever invented dorm closets must have been going through a seriously psychotic minimalist phase.
4. Lights
Chances are your dorm lighting is overhead, shockingly bright and has that orange huge that makes the whole room look like a shady gas station that’s open all night and only sells knock off brands of chips. Bring your own desk and bedside lamp to bring some soft usable light into the room and allow for your own lighting when your roommate wants to go to bed at 8 and you have a nights worth of cramming ahead of you.
5. A Carpet
So your bedroom at home had awesome wood floors and now you’re stuck on laminate tile that you don’t even feel safe walking across barefoot. Bring some more color in the room and save your feet from potential diseases by laying a carpet across the floor. I ordered 6 carpets to my house before I found one I liked, the fluffier the better!
6. Fun Pillows
If you’re like me and sleep with at least four pillows you might as well make them cute! Bring more of your personality to the room with cute slogan or patterned pillows. For a cheap fix buy sale pillows of any pattern and cover them with low cost pillow covers (much cheaper than a $75 designer version).
7. Door Decorations
I thought I was ahead of the game on this but when I got to school I saw so many people had decorated their doors as a fun way to let people see a glimpse of their style! A whiteboard for messages as well as pictures of you and your roommate are a good start. If you don’t have the time for this, the fruit with your name on it that your RA leaves on your door will have to suffice.
8. A Mirror
Another thing you take for granted at home. Full body mirrors with over the door hanging brackets can be found for less than 10 dollars. How else are you going to keep up on the OOTD posts?
9. Photos
Leaving behind your family and friends for the first time is difficult no matter how far you are from them. Make collages or fill cute frames with pictures of your loved ones. Keeping the fun memories in mind will help to get you through the not so fun days of studying.
10. Signs
I would like to meet whoever decided that concrete walls were suitable for anything besides a prison cell. Cover them as much as possible with a lights, tapestry, fun signs, whatever speaks to you!
11. Command Hooks and Strips
Not interested in fees for ruining your dorm walls? Even more uninterested in the bare concrete walls previously mentioned? Command Strips are for you! Easy to use, mark free and super versatile; I used Command Strips for just about everything in my dorm. My signs, collages and calendar are all hung up with them. I also was able to find extra space in my closet by putting them on the insides of the doors for jewelry & purses.
12. Calendar
The school year is such a busy time and I am sure to forget things if I don’t write them down, keeping a big calendar in my room reminds me of what’s coming up so I don’t miss a single event, test or meeting! Check out this awesome inexpensive DIY paintchip calendar I made for my own room inspired by All Created!
13. FANS
Unlucky number 13, if you are one of the many not living in an air conditioned dorm you will need a fan, likely multiple fans. Not cute but very necessary as most dorm residents are subject to the woes of rooms hotter than the Sahara and windows that barely open enough to stick a piece of paper through.
14. EXTRA STORAGE
Small plastic bins work as awesome organizers for desks. For me, organization is key and everything has a place. Various sizes of bins help me keep everything in that place. In small rooms it is essential to make the most of every inch and don’t forget about all that space under the bed. Be sure to ask about options to loft or raise your bed, I fit extra clothing storage under my bed and my roommate even fit our fridge under hers!
15. YOU
This is what I found essential in my dorm to make it as homey as possible but it is in no way an all inclusive guide. Bring the things that make you comfortable and decorate to your own style. You’ll have to spend the next 8 months in this space and when school gets tough you’ll be grateful to have a cute comfy place to destress.
(All gifs from Giphy.com)