Decorating a
small bedroom creates
some specific challenges — especially when you’re sleeping, studying,
entertaining and relaxing there. Add a roommate, and those challenges
can increase exponentially.
In the not-too-distant past,
dorm room ideas
for decorating were limited to not much more than posters, bean-bag
chairs and a shelf for books (and ramen, of course). But
today’s tech-savvy, eco-savvy and design-savvy college students
naturally want their dorm room to reflect their design sensibilities.
1. Create Space By Lofting Your Bed
Most dorm rooms have the capacity for
loft beds. Take advantage of high ceilings by raising your bed loft-style; doing so gives you a sizable amount of space below your bed.
The
possibilities for that newfound space are almost endless. Do you want
to make it a comfy lounging area? A workspace with a desk and storage?
If you and your roommate both loft your beds, your room will be twice as
spacious.
Don’t forget to add a little storage up high so you aren’t always climbing down to answer your phone or get a glass of water.
2. If You Can’t Loft, Then Lift
The
majority of dorm rooms are on the smaller side. If you are unable to
loft your bed to gain some extra space, try using bed risers to lift it.
Those few extra inches of storage space can make a huge difference when
you are living in one room.
Consider repurposing old dresser
drawers by adding wheels to the bottom and sliding them under the bed
for organized, hidden storage. Find some inexpensive fabric or an
extra-long bedskirt to keep your items out of sight and your bed looking
today.
3. Personalize Your Dorm Room
When
your room was cleaned over the summer, the furniture probably went back
into a standard layout. Don’t be afraid to rearrange it; try putting
two desks together, moving the dressers into a new configuration or
putting your bed by the window.
Consider covering an accent wall in some
removable wallpaper,
or using it to cover your dresser drawers. Alternatively, mirrors are
a great way to give your room a sense of space and light, so you could
cover one wall with framed mirrors. If you can’t put holes in the walls,
opt for decorative peel-and-stick mirrors.
If you have someplace
off-campus to safely store that utilitarian dorm furniture (and your
college doesn’t mind), replace a few unnecessary or undesirable
items with things that you love. Just make sure to bring the school’s
property back at the end of the year.
4. Use Multi-Functional Furniture
Small
spaces have some big challenges. First and foremost: How do you make
room for everything? One of the best ways to solve that challenge is to
ask more of your furniture.
A small table for your entertaining
space is great — but a pouf that can be used as a table, a seat or
an ottoman is three times better. Ottomans with
hidden storage are another great option.
Your
furniture must be able to serve more than one function in your space.
Even making the top of your dresser into a vanity can save space and
make your dorm room more user-friendly.
5. Coordinate with Your Roommate
Note that
we said coordinate, not match. While some roommates may have the desire
to make their dorm room look like a Freshome post, don’t feel like you
have to go that far (although more power to you if you want to do that).
To
prevent things from clashing, make a plan with your roommate before you
move in. Choose a color palette that works well together in a small
space but allows each of you to show your own personality. Solid-colored
bedding gives lots of options for coordinating.
If it’s important
to both of you that your styles mesh, forego buying your comforter,
pillows, curtains and similar furnishings until you get to school so you
can pick them out together.
6. Temporary Wall Art Works Wonders
Dorm
rooms have their limitations; you usually can’t paint or nail things to
the walls. But that doesn’t mean you are forced to spend a year looking
at those boring white walls. There are plenty of options for adding
wall art to your dorm room that can be removed quickly and easily at the
end of the school year.
Temporary wall decals come in a wide
variety of shapes, colors and images. If you don’t find anything that
inspires you, make custom art using
washi tape; clip
Instagram pics on a clothesline held up by removable hooks or wooden
clothespins; or suspend a large piece of decorative fabric on a tension
rod to create a
feature wall.
7. Keep the Clutter Contained
Nothing
shrinks a space more than clutter. Keeping your items put away will not
only make your mom proud, but also make your room feel bigger. Give
your belongings a home by using baskets, trays, bins or boxes; storage
can be cute and functional while not detracting from the design of your
room.
To keep your accessories contained and organized,
take advantage of unused spaces by hanging shoe organizers in the closet
and hooks over the closet doors. Don’t forget to embrace
the space under the bed and desk.
8. Soften the Harsh Lighting
It’s possible that the
lighting
in your dorm room will consist of one overhead fluorescent fixture.
Many dorm rooms offer only that and a small window; some might have the
added luxury of a utilitarian desk lamp.
If that overhead
fixture is the only light source you have, you’ll need to supplement it.
You aren’t going to be able to keep it on while your roommate is
sleeping, no matter how much you need to study.
Get a functional
and fabulous desk lamp for your after-hours use or just to add style to
the room. And consider changing out that overhead light bulb to a
lower wattage to bathe your room in more welcoming light.
9. Make Your Bed an Oasis
Your
dorm room is your place to recharge from the demands of college life,
and your bed is a key part of that. Knowing how to make it a retreat
amid all the activity is vital.
At most colleges, extra-long twin
mattresses are the standard bed size. Get comfy sheets, but don’t spend
too much, since you probably won’t need that size after your schooling.
However, you may want to splurge on your comforter; a larger,
good-quality one will last for years and can be used after you move out
of the dorm.
If your bed is also a seating area, consider adding a
stylish throw to help protect your bedding. Speaking of protection, a
fully-enclosing mattress pad also is a good idea. Add throw pillows to
liven up the space, and your bed will become the sanctuary you need.
10. Remember Why You’re There
College
can be a lot of fun, but don’t lose sight of the real reason you’re
there. Your dorm room needs to be an organized, comfortable space where
you can study and work — but it doesn’t have to be boring.
Make those all-nighters bearable by adding some funky desk accessories, stylish storage units or a fun chair. Keep your workspace clean and organized so you can study.
