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Moving into your college dorm is such an exciting time in your life, but knowing how to decorate your dorm room can be stressful, so here are some life-changing college dorm room ideas to help you out!
College is one of the biggest times in your life. You get to have your own space (apart from living with roommates), you get to be independent from your family, and most importantly, you get to have fun doing it! You’ll make so many memories in your dorm room and have so much fun making friends with the people in your building.
With all the friends you’ll be making, you’ll definitely need a space where all of you can hang out for movie nights, study sessions, and getting ready for parties. That’s where your dorm room comes in.
A college dorm is pretty depressing to look at initially, but don’t worry, you can turn any space into one you love being in. It just takes some creativity!
No one wants to live in a dorm room that they don’t feel comfortable in, especially if you are going to college out of state or far away from the comfort of your family and hometown.
Lucky for you, these college dorm room ideas will give you inspiration for how to decorate and furnish your dorm, and will help you out if you don’t really know where to even start.
If you love these ideas and want to see more, then check out this complete college dorm checklist with everything you need when going to college to make your experience as smooth and fun as possible.
This post is all about college dorm room ideas.
1. Hang Removable Wallpaper
Dorm walls can be so stale and boring, especially if you live in an older building. No one wants to live in a big boring box 😂. It can also be hard to figure out how to decorate the walls because you usually aren’t allowed to hang things with nails, and the best way to make the biggest impact on your dorm room look is to spruce up the walls.
This is one of the easiest ways to make your dorm room look amazing. Removable wall paper is just one of those things that can look good without breaking the bank, so if you’re on a budget for your dorm room decor, then consider buying removable wallpaper with a cute print to really elevate your space.
There are tons of designs out there, regardless of your style. You can even just put wallpaper on a small portion of your wall to showcase your desk, bed, or lounge area and create a little moment within your room.
2. Put a Hutch on Your Desk
Adding a hutch to your dorm room desk is such a clever idea! Since most dorm desks are small and don’t have any shelves, they can get pretty crowded and unorganized. Using a desk hutch is a great way to add more storage and space to your work area.
College students do a lot at their desks. They work on homework and projects, get ready in the morning, and play video games all at their desk (because let’s be honest, there’s not much room anywhere else in your dorm to do these things, lol).
Hutches give you the freedom to really personalize your space. Add baskets, decorative boxes, or sentimental objects to make your desk display super cute and have a little piece of home with you while you’re away.
3. Store Things in an Ottoman
Another insanely easy and budget friendly way to make your dorm look amazing while also being practical. Adding a bench or an ottoman with storage space is such a functional way to maximize your space and make your dorm room look super organized.
Plus, ottomans, or any furniture with storage space, can double as a foot rest, coffee table, or side table, which is great when your dorm doesn’t have a ton of room to work with.
There are so many options when it comes to storage ottomans. There are kong ones, short ones, colorful ones, different shaped ottomans, and so much more, so you are bound to find one you love and that will fit in your dorm room perfectly!
4. Add a Cute Rug
Rugs are the perfect way to add warmth to your dorm room without changing your style or braking the bank. Having a rug in the space between yours and your roommate’s beds, in a lounge or nook area, or under your desk will make your room feel so homey and comfortable.
There are so many rug styles, colors, sizes and patterns to choose from, and most are super affordable, so you are bound to find something you like! Rug’s are also really easy when you have to clean them, and they cover a portion of that gross dorm floor 😂. Just shake them out and lightly vacuum them when they get dirty.
5. Get Organized with Cube Storage
Everyone loves a good cube storage moment, especially when you are in college and want an easy and affordable way to have cute organization. Storage cubes are easy to transport as well, so when you are lugging all of your stuff into your dorm room on move-in day, you won’t have to worry about how you’ll get that cube organizer through the door.
Put cube storage under your bed to hide your organization and maximize the amount os storage space you have, or place it at the end of your bed to create a cute table with organization below it. You can even out your cube storage between yours and your roommate’s bed to create a coffee station for all those early mornings!
6. Put a Faux Fur Blanket on Your Bed
Throw blankets are literally the best thing to ever be invented, seriously. If you’re like me, and you love a good throw blanket, then add one (or five, lol) to your dorm room bed! Throw blankets elevate your bedding and decor, and make your space look so much more cozy and warm.
If you are going to college in a colder climate, then having throw blankets round your room and on your bed will definitely come in handy for all of those chilly nights. If you aren’t going to college in a cold climate, then you can still add throw blankets to your dorm bedding, just buy lighter blankets that won’t make you overheat (or just use them as decoration 😂).
7. Add a Lamp
The power of lighting is real. Just imagine those cold, sterile fluorescent dorm room lights. Yuck. But you can definitely warm it up with lamps and other types of lighting. The best thing about lamps is that they are small, easy to carry into your dorm on move-in day, and super affordable, so you won’t have any trouble finding one you like.
Put a lamp on your desk for those late night homework sessions, or on the floor to light up the whole room. Regardless of where you put a lamp, or what type of lamp it is, it will make your dorm room look so much warmer and more welcoming!