Making Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home

This week on the Blog, Julia Abriola, our talented Design Intern takes over and discusses her thoughts on designing your dorm room to feel like home.

Going away to college is an important milestone in everyone’s life. It’s the first step to adulthood, which is exciting but can also feel daunting; learning to live without any supervision can be a challenge for many students. But one simple thing you can do to put yourself at ease is design your dorm room to feel more inviting and functional. Adding your own style and personal touches to your drab, outdated dorm furniture will make this new experience more comfortable and exciting. Just because it’s a small box of a room doesn’t mean it can’t feel like home.

Maximize your space.

The average dorm room is about 130 square feet, which is about the size of a small bedroom or office. That may seem fine at first because it is a bedroom, but remember that dorm rooms are meant to be bedrooms, offices, living rooms, and kitchens—and don’t forget that you’ll probably have a roommate! So in order to get the most out of your room, be sure to find the best layout for your furniture. If possible, loft your bed and fit your desk or dresser underneath. If you can’t raise your bed that high, try buying bed risers like these from Target; they will still give your bed a little lift, allowing for more storage underneath.

Add pieces that are dual-purpose.

Another great way to save space in your dorm room is with furniture pieces that function as many things. An ottoman with storage inside can double as a seat and a storage bin, as well as a small table and a footrest. If you have the space for it, a futon can fold out and serve as another bed if friends come to visit.

Boxes, bins, and baskets are your best friends.

To instantly make your room less cluttered, hide everything away so it’s out of sight. If everything has its own place, it will be easier to get ready and find things when you need them. The Container Store is a great place to find the perfect storage bin for your style. Vertical storage like this storage tower from Amazon is also a great idea; stacking your boxes and bins is an easy way to save space.

Personalize with more grown-up artwork.

It can be daunting to figure out how you’re doing to decorate your dorm room walls. Plus, many dorms have cinderblock walls, which are not the most attractive. A great way to cover your unsightly walls is to go big; try hanging a tapestry or a flag. You can also create a gallery wall with lots of prints and posters. For a more grown up look, pick up some simple and inexpensive picture frames to instantly elevate your artwork.

Image Source: Pinterest

Get more work done by organizing.

Don’t forget that you’ll have to get some work done at college, so you’ll need a comfortable and organized desk space. Consider hanging a memo board to keep track of all your assignments; it will also serve as a place to pin photos and reminders. Keep all your books, pens, and papers in one place with desk organizers, like these from Poppin that will add a pop of color and maybe—just maybe—put you in the mood to get some work done.

Image Source: Pinterest

Get crafty.

One of the downsides of living in a dorm room is that you cannot make any permanent changes to your space. But there are lots of ways to add color and personality to your room that are temporary. Using washi tape, for example is a quick and easy way to decorate. Makeover your drab door by taping up a cool design, or add 2D “frames” to the photos on your wall.

Image Source: Fatare

Add pillows for an instant style boost.

A fun way to brighten up your room is with your bed linens. PBteen is a great place to find bed linens for twin beds in all different styles, colors, and patterns. They even offer a monogramming service if you want to add a personal touch. To instantly make your space more comfortable and inviting, load up your bed with lots of fun pillows. You can even coordinate with your roommate to make your room balanced and put together.

Image Source: Dormify

Bring a little bit of home with you.

College is an exciting time, but you of course can’t forget about your friends and family back home. To help ease your homesickness, bring lots of family photos so you’ll always feel at ease. If your university is in another state or across the country, add personal touches of your hometown through artwork. Etsy is a great resource that offers lots of handmade pieces, like maps, signs, and posters, so you’ll always be reminded of home.

Image Source: Home Depot