How to Decorate Your Dorm so It Doesn’t Feel like a Dorm

It can be tough to make your dorm room feel like home. You want it to be cosy and comfortable, but you don’t want it to feel like you’re still in college. Here are some tips for decorating your dorm so it feels like your own space.

What is the Best Way to Transform a Dorm Room?

There are many ways to transform a dorm room into a comfortable space that feels like home. One popular option is to add curtains or drapes to help divide the room into separate spaces. You can also choose furniture and decor that matches your personal style, and add personal touches, like pictures or posters, to make the room feel more personal.

Another way to make a dorm room feel more like home is to install a bed frame with storage space underneath it. This type of bed can be used as an extra sleeping surface if needed, or it can hold extra clothes, books, and other items. Adding built-in storage to a dorm room can make it more comfortable and functional, while also giving you some peace of mind when packing for college.

How to Organise Your Dorm Room to Elevate Your Space?

When it comes time to pack up your dorm room, make sure you are taking advantage of all the space you have. Here are a few tips on how to organise your space to make it look and feel more spacious:

• Get creative with your storage solutions: You don’t need a lot of furniture or shelves in your dorm room, so use any extra storage space to maximise its functionality. For example, hang extra clothes on the walls using hangers or put magazines in wire racks that can be pulled out when needed.

• Arrange your furniture strategically: Put all of your bedding in one corner and all of your books in another corner. This way, you’ll know where everything is at a glance and won’t have to search for anything while you’re trying to sleep or study.

• Use natural light as much as possible: If possible, aim some light fixtures towards the ceiling so that sunlight can stream through during the day and cast an uplifting glow at night. This will help brighten up the room and create a sense of openness and spaciousness.

Ideas for How to Decorate Your Dorm so It Doesn’t Feel like a Dorm

When you first move into your dorm, one of the biggest complaints is that it feels like a dorm. You’re stuck living in small spaces with people you may not even know, and decorating can make a big difference in how comfortable and homey your room feels.

There are a few ways to go about decorating your dorm without spending a fortune. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Get Crafty with Peel and Stick Wallpaper
2. Upgrade the Lighting
3. Add Some Plant Life
4. Yes, Duct Tape is a Must
5. Declutter the Cords
6. Organise Your Space into Zones
7. Make Your Sleeping Area Multi-Functional
8. Give Everything a Home
9. Don’t Forget the Bathroom
10. Prioritise Your Schoolwork

1) Get Crafty with Peel and Stick Wallpaper

When you’re looking to spruce up your dorm room without any permanent damage, peel and stick wallpaper is a great way to go. This type of wallpaper is removable and can be replaced with different designs or colours as you please. Here are some tips on how to choose the perfect peel and stick wallpaper for your needs:

First, decide what kind of design you want. There are many different options available, including floral patterns, abstract patterns, and even animal designs. Once you have chosen a design, find a matching border or backing paper. Some backings include wood grain or distressed textures, which give your wall a more finished look.

Next, gather all of the materials you will need to apply your wallpaper: an applicator gun with adhesive tape (peel and stick is applied with adhesive), a smooth surface to put the wallpaper on (such as an adjoining wall), and enough paper strips to cover the desired area. Apply one strip of adhesive tape at a time to the smooth surface, then place one piece of wallpaper over it. Press down firmly so that the adhesive adheres to both the wall and the paper strip. Repeat until all of the wallpaper is covered.

2) Upgrade the Lighting

Upgrading your lighting can improve the appearance of your dorm room and make it more comfortable. There are a few different types of lighting available, and each has its own benefits. Here are some tips for upgrading your lighting:

• Choose fixtures that complement the style of your home. Many homeowners upgrade their lighting to match the style of their home, whether it’s contemporary, traditional, or coastal.

• Consider fluorescent lights as a low-cost option for upgrading your lighting. Fluorescent lights are affordable and come in a variety of colours and styles to suit any décor.

• Consider LED lights as an investment for your home’s long-term security and quality of light. LEDs last up to 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs, require less energy to operate, and emit no heat or fumes. They’re also quiet when switched off, which can save you valuable floor space in a noisy home.

• Choose dimmable light bulbs if you want to control the level of illumination in your room without using switches or lamps. Dimming technology is becoming more common on newer lamps and bulbs, making them easier to use and adding convenience to your life.

3) Add Some Plant Life

If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your dorm room without spending a fortune, adding some plant life is definitely an option. There are plenty of easy and affordable ways to inject some greenery into your space without having to go overboard.

One popular option is to install a potted plant. This is a relatively straightforward process that doesn’t require any special installation or care. Simply take the pot out of the box, fill it with soil, and add your plant! Another simple option is to buy artificial plants in either fresh or dry form. These can be placed on shelves or simply left on the floor as part of a centrepiece.

Alternatively, you could try growing your own plants. This is a great way to get involved in gardening and learn about different plants while also adding some greenery to your room. If you don’t have much space, consider growing herbs or flowers inside containers rather than planting them directly in the ground.

4) Yes, Duct Tape is a Must

For a dorm decoration that will make your room feel less like a dorm, duct tape is a great option. You can use it to create patterns on the walls or ceiling, or to decorate individual pieces of furniture. Here are some tips for using duct tape to make your dorm look good:

• Choose a pattern that will work with the décor of your room. Some popular duct tape patterns include flowers, stars, and stripes.

• Start by marking out the area you want to cover with duct tape. Make sure the edge of the tape is lined up exactly with the edge of the wall or piece of furniture you’re attaching it to.

• Apply pressure to the adhesive side of the duct tape and start pulling it off the surface it’s attached to. Once you’ve covered your entire area, let go of the adhesive and carefully smooth down any wrinkles or creases in the tape.

• Repeat steps 2-3 until your decoration is finished. Remember to hold back some extra duct tape so you can easily attach new items as needed!

5) Declutter the Cords

When you move into your dorm, one of the first things you’ll want to do is declutter the cords. cords can be a huge eyesore, and they’re not necessary in every situation. Here are some tips on how to decorate your dorm so that cords don’t feel like a necessity:

• Remove excess furniture: When you move into your dorm, take everything out and evaluate what you need. If there’s something that you don’t use or don’t want, remove it! This will make the room look more spacious and less cluttered.

• Use wall space wisely: One of the best ways to declutter cords is to use wall space wisely. Instead of having cords running all over the place, try hanging photos, posters, ornaments, or anything else that will give your room a focal point. This will make it look cleaner and more organised.

• Hang curtains or drapes: Another way to declutter cords is to hang drapes or curtains from the ceiling and walls. This will create privacy for yourself and your roommates while still letting in light and air.

6) Organise Your Space into Zones

When you first move into your dorm room, one of the most important things to do is to organise it into zones. This will help you to feel more at home and less like a prisoner in your own space.

The following are some tips on how to organise your dorm room into zones:

• Zone 1 should be for sleeping, studying, and relaxing: It should be free of any distractions so that you can focus on your studies. You may want to put away all of your personal belongings in this zone so that it feels like a sanctuary.

• Zone 2 should be for hanging out with friends: This should be the place where you can relax and have fun. You can put up pictures of your favourite celebrities or posters from your favourite movie series here. Make sure that the walls are colourful and full of excitement!

• Zone 3 is for working on school papers or doing homework: This zone should be clean and organised so that you can get work done without any distractions. You may want to set up a separate desk for work in this zone if possible.

• Zone 4 is for sleeping and relaxing again: This zone should be quiet and dark so that you can rest peacefully without being disturbed by noise from other parts of the dorm room. You may want to put away all of your electronics in this zone so that you can get some shut eye!

7) Make Your Sleeping Area Multi-Functional

One of the best ways to make your dorm feel less like a dorm room and more like your own home is by decorating it in a way that makes it functional. By doing this, you’ll not only reduce the amount of time you spend in your dorm room, but you’ll also be able to improve your quality of sleep. For example,

Hang a curtain or a partition between your bed and the rest of the room. This will give you privacy while still allowing you to share space with roommates.

Hang aArtwork or posters on the wall near your bed to inspire you during those long nights studying for exams or trying to get some sleep.

Install a storage unit under your bed so that you don’t have to waste space on top of your bunk bed storing unnecessary items. This will also give you extra storage for clothes and other belongings when you’re not using it as a bedroom.

Install shelves above or below your bunk bed so that you can store books, laptop, and other personal belongings without having them take up space on top of your bunk bed.

8) Give Everything a Home

The last thing you want to experience when you first go into your dorm room is the sensation that you are in a dorm room. Begin by decorating it with items that are personal to you and your interests so that it seems more like your own place. 

Find things that make you joyful or things that remind you of home and provide you comfort. If you have a lot of personal possessions, you may want to store them somewhere else until the day you move in, and then you can put everything on display at once. Last but not least, you need to make sure that you get rid of anything that does not belong there. This includes furnishings from your previous life as well as clutter.

9) Don’t Forget the Bathroom

When it comes to decorating your dorm room, make sure you don’t forget the bathroom! There are a few simple things you can do to make it look less like a dorm and more like your own home.

Start by installing a closet organiser near the bathroom. This will help contain all of your clothes and make it easier to find what you’re looking for when you need to take a shower or get ready in the morning.

If you have a shared bathroom, consider investing in some nice toiletry organisers. These will help keep your bathroom clean and organised, and they’ll also look great in the room!

Finally, be sure to add some decorative elements to your bathroom walls. This can include framed photos of friends or family members, inspirational quotes, ornaments, or even colourful mats. Doing this will give your room a personalised touch and help it feel more like your own home.

10) Prioritise Your Schoolwork

There are a few different ways to make your dorm room feel like home. One way is to decorate it with your favourite pieces of art or memorabilia from your past. Another way to make your dorm feel more like a home is to set up a comfortable area where you can relax and study. Some simple tips for prioritising your schoolwork while in college include:

• Establish a bedtime routine and stick to it as much as possible. This will help you get more rest and focus during the day.
• Create a specific study space where you can be undisturbed. This might be in a quiet corner of the room, or within walking distance of other supplies you need.
• Make sure all distractions are eliminated before you start studying; this includes turning off all electronics, shutting down all noisy roommates, and shutting off notifications on your phone.

Visual Ideas to Decorate Your Dorm so It Doesn’t Feel like a Dorm

Conclusion

So, take a deep breath and get started. With just a little bit of effort you can create a space that feels like home. And once you do, we promise the semester will fly by. What are some of your favourite tips for decorating on a budget? 

Frequently Asked Questions