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Freshman Survival Guide: Dorm Room Decor

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Oregon chapter.

Summer is quickly coming to a close, and for freshman the beginning of your college experience is  approaching. This includes the dorms, new roommates, and exciting dorm life. One of the new exciting parts of freshman year is living in the dorms and sharing a space (and memories) with other roommates. Nothing can prepare you for this whirlrwind of an adventure and some may argue, the best years of your life. However, you can be prepared with the necessary dorm room essentials with these helpful tips from Her Campus Oregon. Here are a couple of Dorm Room Décor ideas to help transition your future dorm room to your personal oasis.

Cute Bedding

Because dorm rooms are ridiculously small there is not a lot of space for intense decorating. However decorating your own space is not only fun, but a great way to showcase your personal style. Your bedding is probably going to be the biggest statement piece in your room. Whether a fun colorful print or a vivid solid color- your bed spread is a great place to start. Picking a great statement bed spread and using colors within the bedding for other room decorations is a great idea. Revolving around a color-scheme is an easy way to have a room that looks put together without being too “matchy-matchy”.

Also this is a great starting place to communicate and coordinate with your roommates as to who is bringing what into the room( think appliances, rugs, and fun decorations). There is no need for overly decorated dorm rooms, but décor can be a fun and easy topic to discuss with your new roommate.

Photos

Another key essential is to bring pre-printed out photographs of your friends and family. Living in a dorm room away from home can sometimes be lonely during those first couple of weeks and having photos of people you love makes them seem not that far away and help comfort you. Tip: Don’t spend money in frames instead try using wall adhesive to form cute designs such as the heart.

Sparkly Lights

This is a cheap and easy way to make a dorm room seem homier. Plus it is fun to see the twinkling colors during a cold dark night. These sort of lights are easy to put up and when framed on a wall can make a big impact.

White Board on Door

There’s nothing attractive about the exterior of a dorm room door, however an erasable white board is a fun way to communicate with other freshman in your hall.  Walking back from class and seeing a personalized message from a friend is a great way to brighten someone’s day.  Also it is a great place to leave those last-minute reminders to yourself and notes to friends when you’re away.

Succulents

These no- maintenance plants are an easy way to add “life” into a boring dorm room. Best part is that they are very low energy and only need to be watered once every couple of weeks. Perfect for dorm room décor. Tip: Here is a Link to a great DIY for planers for your adorable new plants.

Cozy Throw Pillows

These will not only look adorable on your bead but will come in handy when you are trying to fit ten people within this 10-foot space. Having a space where you can relax and snuggle up with comfy pillows and blankets is important. Whether a stressful snuggle session or a low-key movie night, comfort is key. Invest in the pretty throw pillows.

Cute Organizers

Having stylish organizers and different compartments makes your room seem less small while being put together. Some useful organizers include an organizer for school supplies on your desk and larger ones for miscellaneous cold weather clothes or extra bedding that can fit under you bed. These will be both practical useful.    

Bulletin Board/Idea Wall/ Mood Board

Wall art or having some sort of space, whether a cork board or a place where you can tack up ideas, important dates, concert tickets, etc. is a great and easy way to add a design element to your dorm room. Clipping fashion pieces from magazines or printing Pinterest pins into one organized area on your wall is a great statement piece.

Have an idea for our Freshman Survival Guide Series?? Let us know in the comment section below!

Rachel is a Junior at the University of Oregon studying Journalism, Advertising, and English. She is on the writing team for HCO. She aspires to become an editor of a fashion magazine, a food writer, or creative strategist at an advertising firm. Rachel has always loved the freedom of writing and loves all things creative, makeup, fashion, food and Art History. When not studying for school, she enjoys the beach, traveling, dancing, and eating Nutella.
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