As snow begins to sprinkle the ground and those 9AM classes are becoming harder and harder to attend, we all know winter’s knocking on the door. But with the cold weather comes the most wonderful time of the year! As the holidays kick into full swing, UMass Collegiettes are looking to spruce up their dorms in the spirit of everyone’s favorite time of year. Unfortunately, Pinterest and Tumblr don’t always take into account the fact that college students are on a tight budget, so their suggestions can be a little too spendy to be worth it.
There are still so many things you can do! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1. Christmas Lights (DUH!)
Lights immediately spruce up the room and are typically under $5. Putting them up with tape or command hooks makes it an easy process and you can make awesome designs to add some originality to it! Take them down after the holidays or leave them up all semester long, they look great either way.
2. Wrapping Paper
It sounds a little odd at first but it can be cute and just as festive! Covering your door with your favorite pattern or holiday print and slapping a big bow on it makes your room pop. It’s an easy put up and take down, which is definitely a plus. Buy a roll and share with friends, floormates or housemates.
3. Paper Snowflakes
Let’s go back to elementary school and everyone’s favorite activity when it was too cold for recess. A stack of paper, whatever color, and some scissors are all you need. Get together with your girls and go to town. You can tape them to the walls, the door, the desk, or hang them from the ceiling like a festive-chic mobile.
*Alternate option: Hang tree ornaments from thread or string and it’ll have the same stunning effect!
4. Candy Cane Wreaths
This might be my favorite, considering it doubles as a midnight (or hourly) snack. While this takes a little bit more time, it’s absolutely worth it. Using the lid of a Mason jar and a hot glue gun, simply apply glue to the hook of the candy cane and let it adhere to the lid. You can leave it uniform with all the same type of candy cane or mix it up with different flavors! Beware: Your dorm will definitely be seeing more visitors when people realize you literally have candy hanging in your room. Do not get in between a Collegiette and her candy.
5. Paper Plate Garland
This wouldn’t be the holidays without tinsel. Festive paper plates with letters glued on can send any holiday message, “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” “Happy Kwanza,” or “Happy Holidays” can easily be displayed. Using a hole puncher, punch 2 holes a few inches apart from each other on each plate. Threading the tinsel, or ribbon if you so wish, through the holes will hold it together after you write any message on the plates. As festive as it is pretty, any dorm can hang it in the middle and everyone who comes in will love the warm and fuzzy holiday vibes.
Whether you want to go all out and try all five or keep it simple with a few, find new traditions to celebrate the holidays in your home away from home with your dorm family. Keeping it cozy and light during the cold winter months makes it that much easier to relax in your dorm while you prepare for finals (eek) and take many Netflix and Pinterest induced study breaks. So get your girls together and make a day of it, your dorm and inner Cindy Lou Who will appreciate the effort.
Happy Holidays Collegiettes!