When your busy life as a collegiette starts to get crazy, your dorm becomes the oasis you retreat to in order to escape from it all. Sometimes, though, your messy dorm room can lead to even more anxiety—a cluttered room is a cluttered mind, as they say. We here at HC want to help you feel as relaxed as possible, so we put together a few dorm room DIYs that will make you 100 percent less stressed this semester.
1. Curtains to hide your clutter
You couldn’t possibly fit all of your stuff in your room without lofting your bed—but seeing all of that clutter underneath totally stresses you out. Using table top curtains as an alternative bed skirt is the perfect way to hide the clutter and stay sane! All you have to do is tie the curtains to your bed frame with ribbon or twine. Make sure you measure the length and width of your bed so that you buy curtains in the right size.
2. Comforting candles
Candles infused with essential oils are a form of aromatherapy, and candlelight also creates a peaceful ambiance within your room, which can totally help you de-stress after a long day. Beyond smelling amazing, lavender is known to help relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia. Make a few of these DIY lavender candles, and you’ll be on your way to relaxation station in no time!
3. Soothing string lights
The soft, dim glow of string lights is just what you need to unwind after a long stressful day. The harsh lighting of the typical fluorescent overhead bulbs found in dorm rooms can give you a major headache. Instead of subjecting yourself to that, come home to your dorm and enjoy the ambiance of lamp-light with a nice cup of tea.
4. Succulents & other indoor plants
There are so many benefits to keeping indoor plants in your dorm room! Keeping indoor plants increases oxygen levels in living spaces, simply through the process of photosynthesis. Plants also purify the air, since they naturally take in toxins, and they release moisture into the air, which can prevent dry skin, colds and sore throats. Beyond that, it’s scientifically proven that being surrounded by plant life boosts happiness and reduces stress. Bonus: succulents are low maintenance (they only need to be watered every few weeks) and are super small—you can fit them anywhere in your room!
5. Binder clips to organize your cords
Having to search for charger cables is so annoying. You come home after a long day, and all you want to do is plug in your laptop and phone, but you can’t find your chargers anywhere—or if you can, they’re all tangled up. Thankfully, you can use binder clips to completely alleviate this problem! Learn how here.
6. Wall calendar to keep your life together
Your planner literally saves your life daily, but it’s also nice to have your important events and deadlines hanging up on your wall as a constant reminder. Keep your life organized and stress-free by creating a DIY calendar for your room, like this one. You’re sure to be on top of all of your deadlines!
Related: 11 Dorm Roo Hacks to Keep You Organized This Year
These dorm hacks will help you unwind after a long day, and they’ll help to get you through the week without losing your mind. Happy relaxing, collegiettes!