Blank, opaque-colored dorm walls and plain 90’s style carpeting with absolutely no sense of creativity or coziness in sight? It sounds like you have just stepped foot into your college dorm room for the first time. If you freaked out trying to think of ways to turn your blank-walled prison cell into a cozy and bright dorm paradise, then you are not alone. If you freaked out yet again when you started to think of how expensive it
will be to actually decorate your dorm in this cozy and spontaneous matter that I speak of, then you are not alone on that one either. No worries though colligates, with these eight go-to dorm decorating ideas you pocket book will be pleased and your dorm will be swagged out to a T.
1. Cork Board is your friend. Not only is cork board cheap (about $3 a roll) but it is extremely versatile. Stick pictures, magazine clippings, cards, etc. and make your dorm much more personal for almostnothing. Not to mention, cork board can easily be cut into different shapes like a heart or your college’s logo. So many options, so little money.
2. Rack city chick. For those of you staying on a western college campus or for those of you who just care about your future eyesight (and wrinkles ?) in general, sunglasses are a must. What better way to store those puppies than to hang them up on a rack! To create this rack, simply hammer in the nails and tie a string or wire around them (or, if nailing is prohibited look for the stick-on hooks in the utility section of your nearest shopping center.) You can get more creative with this by using it to hang and organize your clip-on hair accessories or display loose photos on the string with mini close pins.
3. There is a reason closets have doors. And apparently the majority of today’s dorm constructors missed that little memo. Not to worry though, you can improvise with an inexpensive tension rod and a cheap window or shower curtain. This is also the simple answer to hiding all that stuff you don’t want your dorm guests (i.e., hot guys) to see. Nobody is interested in your extensive vitamin collection, all those pictures of your cat, the sweater your ex-boyfriend gave you that somehow made its way with you to college, etc. Curtain it up.
4. BYOA. (Bring Your Own Art). Crayon art is in and it is super easy to make so the “I’m just not creative/artistic/blab la blah,” is no longer a valid excuse. A hairdryer, a pack of crayons, and some canvas are all you need to give your dorm some fun color without paying a not-so-fun price. Water color art, oil pastels, and even just glitter and glue are some other options. Not only will no one else have the art you create but your savings account will write you a thank you after graduation.
5. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Unpack those Christmas lights from your attic and use them in your dorm. You can string them on your window, frame them around a poster, wrap them around your dresser, the possibilities are endless. These little lights make a big difference and are low in cost.
6. Viva La Poster. Yes the timeless classic will forever remain a go-to for hiding vast amounts of blank white dorm wall. Take it to the next level and stick it to your ceiling or cut the poster into separate squares for a more modern twist. You just can’t beat the classics.
7. Let your wall do the talking. These vinyl stickers cling to your wall with little effort and are pretty low in cost. Decals are a simple way to make any dorm space look much more sophisticated. Available almost everywhere now, from Walmart to Ebay, it is easy to find exactly which quote you are looking for. Vinyl wall decals also are available in picture form, anything from a giant ice cream cone to a simple tree, and at the end of the year you can just rip it off the wall. If only everything else was this cheap and effective in college.
8. Feathers make it better. Not just feathers: boas, leas, beaded necklaces, and anything else that’s cheap and flashy is a must for your dorm room. These little guys are all easily found at the dollar store and add a lot more festivity to any plain-Jane dorm room. The dollar store will thank you for your business and your roommate will thank you for outstanding tastes in all-things-girly.
All photo credit belongs to Jamee Lind © 2012.