I know that the school year hasn’t finished yet, but between waiting for the college acceptance letters and summer vacations the time flies by so it’s a good time to start considering your kid’s housing options for college. If you decided to choose a dorm, this post is for you!
With their tan or white color schemes and modest wooden furniture, dorm rooms don’t leave you much to work with. College costs a lot and putting money towards sprucing up your student’s room shouldn’t be at the top your to-do list.
However, with a bit of creativity, you can transform your child’s dorm room into a functional, beautiful, exciting oasis—without all the cost. Check out these tips for a dorm room on a budget!
1. Think Color and Theme
Before you head to the store or search online shops talk with your student about what kind of dorm room might be appealing. For some, moving out of the house is the perfect time to shed outdated, juvenile patterns. Suggest mature ideas like minimalist black-and-white, shabby chic, or a ‘30s “flapper” look. The choice of color and/or theme will dictate the rest of your shopping list. Be sure to remember that dorm rooms are minuscule when you are making your shopping list and also try to avoid these shopping mistakes.
2. Prioritize Bedding
Bedding is the first thing anyone will see in a dorm room; it sets the tone for the rest of the room. Look for bedding that is versatile and easy to clean but still possesses that WOW factor! Throw pillows and shams add a grown-up touch while quilts and throw blankets can create a homier feel. Remember that many college beds require twin XL sheets—make sure you know what size your student will need.
Laken’s Dorm Room Redo via Apartment Therapy
3. Spruce It Up!
Looking to add a pop to the room? Area rugs are a perfect way to distract the eye from ugly tiles and bland white walls. You can also spruce up any boring space by adding a removable adjustable tension rod and window treatments. These can also be a lifesaver (or, more accurately, a sleep saver) if your student is sensitive to light or sounds. Whatever you choose, avoid delicate fabrics, which can tear easily and attract dust and lint.
4. Find Stylish Storage
Storing everything your student needs in a small space like a dorm room can be a huge challenge—especially because most functional storage is boring or, worse, ugly. A few DIY touches, however, can turn storage into part of a dorm room theme. You can decorate a shoe rack in a glittering gold paint, DIY a jewelry organizer, or turn a storage trunk into a seating area using throw pillows and blankets.
5. Invest in Accessories
A dorm room can be a great place to start a collection, pay homage to a favorite hobby, or show off one’s fandom. Small, inexpensive accessories can be placed on window mantles, along storage, or even on a bookshelf. If that doesn’t sound appealing, try adding more traditional accessories like small plants, a vase of flowers, or some picture frames.
Small aloe plants in painted cans (Portland Media & Bloggers Lola Nova via Houzz.com)
6. Personalized Touches
Transitioning to independence can be challenging for your student. To combat homesickness, encourage your child to frame pictures of family and friends or to make a photo collage of a big event like a trip or graduation. Look for little items that can serve as reminders of home, such as a favorite coffee mug or a favorite decoration.
Transforming an ugly dorm room can be a challenge. With so much emphasis placed on style and not much space to work, it can feel like there are not many options in dorm decor that works. However, with easy, budget-friendly ideas such as sticking with a theme or adding DIY personal touches, your child’s dorm room can go from bland to fabulous.
Unedited dorm room image by Peter Alfred Hess (CC BY 2.0)
Wow! Thanks for these tips. Though my eldest is just a few years away from college, I know I might need this someday.
These are great tips, I always try to decorate on a budget. Sometimes being thrifty means that you end up with a more unique space 🙂
Great tips. Adding color ( with bedding, decor, furniture) is always a budget friendly way to change up a room.
Not that I have a child in college but thinks these are very useful tips. Integrating Color into a room is always a good idea for any room.
Love this beautiful decor, looks really neat on those eyes, love this cute idea thank you for sharing.
These are some really good ideas. I love the coloring on the bedding that you used. I’m glad I have some time before I have to think about this.
Nice inspiring ideas! It is a nice way to establish your own space. The bed looks very nice!
These are some really cute ideas!!! I always thought it would be so fun to decorate a dorm room. No reason they can’t be super fabulous
The accessories you highlighted in this post are the best. They truly add a TON to the room decor.
Accessories and decor make or break a room, and you’re right, the bedding is the most important since it’s the biggest item and it’s hard to miss! Great tips.
I agree, it’s easiest to dress up a room with accessories and bedding. I love the examples that you included in your post, which show that a dorm room doesn’t have to be a boring space with a bunk bed.
What great ideas and thanks for sharing Bedding always brightens any room giving it personality!
Lots of people will be thinking about dorm rooms soon! You have some great ideas here. I don’t think my son’s dorm room was ever as clean as you’re pictures. lol
This is a great post, I’ll be thinking about all these ideas in just a couple short years 🙁 lol.
This May marks one year since I graduated college and I definitely miss decorating my dorm/apartment! I definitely could have used some of this tips <3
I think accessories can be a fast way to give the room a new look. Stylish storage can also reduce clutter.
it’s such a small space too, that when you pull off a good look it really does make you happy. I like your tips here.
This is so cute! What an amazing way to transform a small, bland room. I miss my college days – and totally wish Pinterest existed when I was in college!