As I packed up my room at the end of freshman year, I knew in the back of my mind it would be the last time I ever saw that flowery duvet with its matching accessories. The reason was simple: I absolutely hated my decor. It wasn’t because my taste had shifted, but rather because I never truly liked it.
When I was purchasing all of dorm accessories for freshman year, I made every conceivable mistake. My largest blunder was purchasing every available item in the same print as my bedding. I spent my first year at Bucknell so completely engulfed by flowers that it is nothing short of a miracle I did not become asthmatic.
This year, I was determined to avoid my previous mistakes. While you may be skeptical to follow the advice of someone who made such heinous faux pas, the steps I took to redesign my space into a chic, comfortable, and affordable room were easy and effective.
- Stop trying to save money: This rule needs a bit of justification: It is not a license to splurge. Rather, it is a caution against being wasteful. While shopping for my freshman dorm room, I sacrificed what I truly wanted for a slightly lower price. In doing that, I ended up spending more money rectifying my mistakes. I carelessly turned frugality into wastefulness. It is wise to seek out deals, but they aren’t worth it if the price difference between what you love and what you like is miniscule.
- Remember that this room does not disappear when you graduate: Choose items you actually desire. Just because college will be over in four years does not mean your bedding and accessories cease to exist. Purchase items you can see yourself easily integrating into your own home, or items you believe will be an easy sell at a garage sale or online.
- Personalize it: People put so much time and effort into their bedrooms at home because they want them to feel personal and unique – a dorm room is no different! There are several quick fixes that will make a simple item feel as though it were made just for you. When I got sick of looking at plastic storage crates I turned them from a necessity to an accessory by stringing ribbon through the holes and tying gigantic, girly bows. Even small touches, such as buying cutouts of your initials, can make a generic dorm room seem homey.
- When your taste changes, salvage what you can: While I may have hated a large majority of my freshman year decor, I was determined not to let it sit in my basement collecting dust. I went to Michaels, picked up a few yards of fabric and spools of ribbon, and set to work. The sea of red, pink, and blue flowers was quickly turned into a black, white, and pink bin. All it takes is a bit of elbow grease, a few crafty materials, and you’re set! Rather than trashing perfectly functional items, you can continually repurpose them to fit your style.
- Shop smart: There are great deals hiding everywhere. The greatest gift I received in this process was the knowledge that Bed, Bath, & Beyond lets you use as many coupons if you want – even if they’re expired! Stores such as Target restock constantly, so if you see something you like you can still be patient and wait for a markdown. Michaels is one of many stores that offers mobile coupons merely for vising their website on your smartphone. With so many options, it’s difficult to not get a great deal.
Most importantly, remember that utilitarian items can be functional and beautiful to help create a space you love.
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