Back to College: Dorm Room Design Tips

Considering the fact that 80-90% of a college student life is spent in the confines of their dorm room, the overall look and feel of the room is very important. Style and design has proved over the years to contribute to the moods of those who reside within. Adding a coat of your favorite color paint, for instance, can make you feel more comfortable in a new surrounding, or rearranging furniture can instantly make a drab area more attractive. Unfortunately, most dorm rooms do not give you these cushy options. Most furniture is built right into the wall, and under no circumstances, are you allowed to use nails much less coat the walls with paint!

The rules and regulations leave little room for creativity and personal style in dorm life living. However, there is a bright side! There are things that you can do to savvy up your dorm room a bit, that will not interfere with the laws of the land. Be certain to check your rules and guide books before attempting to use any ideas presented here, we do not want to get anyone in trouble with their Resident Advisor!

Add a splash of color!
Thought painting is a no-no in many of the dorms I have lived in and visited, there are many schools and universities that may allow it, provided it is a light color that will be effortlessly concealed by a coat or two of white paint when you move out. If you are lucky enough to be allowed to paint, take advantage of this opportunity. If you are not allowed to paint, some schools and universities will allow you to put contact paper on the wall. If that too is not an option for you, don’t forget the more traditional means of decorating! You can go to a second-hand or thrift store and pick up attractive scarves, tapestries or other fabric, which can easily be hung on a wall. You would be amazed at the simplistic beauty of this project.

No Nails!
Almost every place I’ve ever seen has a no-nail policy. You are readily limited to push pins, and most of the time the walls are much to hard for even those! There is hope, however! Wonderful places like Staples and Office Max normally carry an assortment of fancy push pins and tacs. The wild variety may surprise you. You can also find adhesive hooks to hang things. They work great, and most won’t strip the paint off when you remove them.

Organize!
One of the most important elements of a good dorm room, is the organization. If you are a clutter freak, try grabbing some of those clear storage bins at walmart. A large drawer type container has 6-8 separate compartments and costs as little as $21.99. These are handy for just about anything. They are a great way to store materials for each of your classes, or even clothing articles that wouldn’t fit in your drawers. There are also numerous smaller containers that you can store on shelves, and desk organizers for your homework station.

Throw a Rug!
Large area rugs can be expensive for a college student’s budget, but Sears and J.C. Penny’s often carry awesome smaller rugs that match some of the bedding sets they sell. You can get some crazy fluffy rugs or any kind of colorful rag type rug you so desire. Put a rug next to your bed or in your bathroom.

Accessorize!
It is often hard to accessorize such small living spaces such as a dorm room, but it can be done. Remember that though you may not have room for a couch, you can always use your bed as entertainment seating. Simply convert your bed by throwing on a new duvet cover and padding the extra space with pillows. Pillows run cheap and you can mix and match for affect!

Love the Space You’re In!
This is the final note. Remember that though it may be difficult adjusting to such small quarters, don’t lose hope. You can make any space your own just by adding a little bit of your own style and personality to it. Fill the space with the things you love. Tac up pictures of your family or create a collage of all the places you want to go or do or see. Remember that your room is a reflection of you, so put as much of yourself into it as you can!