We all know how scary and nerve-wrecking it can be to move away from the comfort of your home and into a new place in a new town. Making your dorm room feel like home is something that can help calm your nerves and gives you a place to feel truly relaxed when things are causing high stress. While having a fresh start is always great and important, feeling comfortable in a brand-new place is just as important for our well-being.
BRINGING HOME TO COLLEGE
The most important aspect of decorating your dorm is making it feel like home. You want it to be a place that brings you harmony. While it is always a great idea to buy new and trendy things for your room, bringing memorable and comforting things from home is something everyone should consider doing. Whether it’s a favorite stuffed animal, sweatshirt from someone close to you back home, or just pictures of you with your loved ones, it will all do the trick to helping you adjust to college life. The process of transitioning into a new place is not an easy thing–however, you can ease a little bit of that tension by bringing home with you.
Some items that I have personally brought with me to college over the last couple of years are shirts of my boyfriend’s, a little bit of his cologne, pictures of me with loved ones, and a few storage items that I used in my bedroom back home. All of these things each did a little part at helping me adjust despite how difficult it was for me.
IT’S GIVING YOU VIBES
A huge part of being in college is discovering yourself. You learn who you are and what defines you. Make sure that the room you decorate reflects your amazing personality! Something that I have learned about coming to college is that people accept you for who you are, and you should be proud to be your unique self. Don’t ever feel ashamed to let your personality shine, in and out of your room.
Choose decorations that represent who you are, furthermore, making it the ultimate place of joy for you. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered how much I love having plants around me in my space–this caused me to purchase two pots of plants to put on my desk in my dorm. You are always discovering new things about yourself, let your room change with you!
SPENDING TIME IN AND OUT OF YOUR DORM
No matter how much time you spend decorating your adorable dorm room, it is unhealthy to spend all of your time couped up in there. I cannot stress the importance of getting outside and breathing some fresh air. Do not spend all day in your dorm for days at a time!
Get involved in clubs and organizations at your school so that you have the opportunity to spend time outside of your residence hall. Though it may take some time, getting involved on campus will be one of the best decisions you can make as a college student (trust me)! Even if you go outside just to lay out in a hammock and read a book, it will impact you positively. Only going out for class and for eating is the bare minimum. Make sure that you are always taking proper care of yourself. This is something that can be hard to maintain in college – but you can do it.
While your dorm is meant to be a relaxing and comforting place, you are not meant to sit in a little room all day long. Do what it best for your health!
AFFORDABLE DECORATING
- Amazon. You can find just about anything on this app and can even search for “dorm essentials.” Not to mention that students can have a Prime account for free!
- Target. Needless to say, this store has all the trendy items. Also, that dollar section when you walk in is always restocked with new, simple things that you may never know you need or want until you see it!
- Walmart. While this isn’t really a fan-favorite, it is cheaper than Target and has a lot of things that can be useful in decorating and organizing your room.
- Shein. This website doesn’t only have cheap, cute clothes, but also cheap, cute decor! I found several things on this app before I started my freshman year like my cute string of pink roses and leaves, mini dustpan, and touch-activated light (that BTW has three brightness settings, a compartment for writing utensils, and a 100% flexible lamp arm).
Above all, make sure your dorm aligns with your comfort zone and your personality. Give yourself a place that you can really call your home away from home. While it may take some time to get adjusted to being in a new place, making your dorm room a place of peace can help tremendously in this journey.