Since it’s back to school season and y’all are still settling into dorms, some of you for the first time, I wanted to compile a short list of five quick things you can do to make a space your own without breaking the bank or your housing contracts.
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Lighting
This is a big one, guys. Lighting can make a room feel like a sterile doctor’s office or a comfy book nook. I mean, both have magazines on tables. So, invest in some lighting that fits whatever vibe you want your room to have. Luckily, lights can be pretty inexpensive if you’ve got an eye for discounts and good thrifting skills. I know I’m more of a low, warm-toned light person, so my salt lamp was easily one of my best décor purchases ever! But, if you don’t know what you like, look around! Experiment with bulbs, placement, and tones. That last one is super easy to manipulate with the use of a cheap scarf or something draped over a light. Just make sure there are no fire hazards!
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Bedsheets
In most dorms, the biggest and most preeminent piece of furniture in the room is the bed, so make it a good center of focus. Obviously, you can’t change dingy plywood into rich mahogany, but you can choose sheets and comforters that are mahogany worthy! I recommend picking something that matches with a lot of the decorations that you may already have. I know there’s a desire to choose something crazy and interesting as a fresh start when doing your college shopping, but if it doesn’t go with anything else you have, you may want to reconsider. There is nothing wrong with a solid jewel tone or simple black and white geometric pattern. Besides, you can always spruce it up with pillows later. Which leads to my next point.
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Knickknacks
This may sound weird, or unnecessary, but I promise you it is. Unless you’re going for that extreme minimalist vibe or came from a home with that vibe, your room is going to feel strangely unlived in and stiff without a few knickknacks here and there. That doesn’t mean they have to be kitschy Precious Moments statuettes, unless you’re into that, of course. I’m talking about a few books (that aren’t textbooks) with a cute bookend, a potted plant or two, a cool souvenir, or to bring it back to good lighting, a salt lamp. These small touches make a dorm feel more like a home and less like a strange rehab center or bland hotel.
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Wall Art
This one is tricky since schools always have their own policies about what does and doesn’t fly. But, luckily, at Regent, we are given carte blanche to nail away at our walls, so use this to your advantage! I suggest a tapestry of some sort as well as a gallery wall. The tapestry can go up as soon as you get there, making the space feel more lived in, but your gallery wall can grow as you do. It can be really inspiring as well as humbling to see all the little souvenirs and pictures of your semester or year slowly fill up a wall. Plus it adds that personal touch. P.S If you’re looking for some classy pieces for your gallery wall, I suggest looking through your mom’s old magazines. You didn’t hear it from me.
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Everyday Accessories and Toiletries
These are the kinds of things we usually have out anyway, so how about we actually use them to add aesthetic value instead of taking it away. If you have a product that can handle the move, and that you don’t still need the instructions or ingredients list for, I recommend transferring it into a plain bottle. You can usually find them for cheap at a dollar store and whether they’re clear or white, they’ll definitely add a level of unexpected class. You can even get creative with a little tape and gold, silver, or copper paint.
Getting hooks to hang your necklaces on or a grid to hang your earrings on is great, but you can also take it a step further. There are tons of interesting and unconventional jewelry holders and organizers that I’m sure you can either find or make pretty cheaply, especially if you check out your local thrift store. And anyway, scrabbling through a disordered mess of jewelry or products while you’re running late for class is the pits. Having your accessories and daily products set up neatly and aesthetically just improves your life in so many different ways.