Ever been flipping through the channels and stumbled upon HGTV or the DIY network and thought, “Hey, that looks kinda fun,” or “Wait, I could do that?” Ever wanted to try some cool projects but never known where to start or what to do? Wait no longer, collegiettes™! There’s plenty you can do in your own dorm room without fancy tools or dumpster-retrieved materials. All you need is a little inspiration and some courage to take that first DIY step, and you can transform your mundane room into one that is homier, livelier and more you!
In the past, a classic dorm decorating method has been hanging band or movie posters and high school pictures on the little wall space you may have in your room. While this approach is tried and true, there are tons of other ways you can spruce up your space to make it more unique.
An easy one first: window and bed curtains. We often neglect window treatments because we just plain forget about them, but they really do make rooms feel less dorm-y and more lived-in. You can also use curtains to artfully hide all that under-the-bed storage you’ve been using to maximize your living space. Katherine Miller (’12) suggests making your own window curtains. To customize her single, she bought 4 yards of fabric, cut the material in half and taped it to the ceiling. If you want to be ambitious, you can buy cute curtains and a cheap tension rod and hang it between two command hooks – so simple! And making bed curtains is even easier; just tuck window curtains or pretty fabric underneath your mattress and let it hang to the floor.
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For those returning from studying abroad, souvenirs from your fabulous travels is a great way to embellish your space. Epiphany Espinosa (’12) decorated her room with trinkets and framed posters that she collected while abroad in India.
“I always put a lot of time and effort in my room because it’s where I spend the majority of my time,” she says.
But you don’t have to go to India to have an awesome room! Epiphany also recommends shopping at Ikea, Target, Marshall’s and thrift and consignment stores to find fun room accents.
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If you live in an apartment or an off-campus house, you have even more DIY options (you know, you’re actually allowed to nail things to the walls). Lauren Martinez, one of our very own HC photographers, designed a chandelier out of a tree branch and string lights – fabulous! If the idea of making your own chandelier makes you feel a little faint, you can easily buy one at a bargain store such as Wal-Mart and paint or embellish it to suit your style.
We’re not finished yet, ladies – oh, no, the possibilities are endless. Use decorative lamps and string lights to set a little mood in your space (you can easily paint a plain white lampshade), or tie-dye your basic white sheets for a super fun and colorful look. Nancy Ronalter (’13) suggests hanging up leftover wallpaper or fun wrapping paper to make your space look less drab. You can also use your initials or name to add a personal touch to your walls. She did this by painting three canvas nautical letters that spelled out her initials. You can then put them pretty much anywhere!
Girls, there are so many ways to improve the look and feel of you room, and these tips are just a few starting points. Use them as inspiration and come up with your own fun do-it-yourself projects to make your dorm your home away from home. Happy DIY-ing!
*Photography by Lauren Martinez