How to Decorate a Dorm Room on a Budget
Decorating a dorm room on a budget should always incorporate some comfortable and stylish seating if at all possible. Most dorm rooms are outfitted with the standard wooden desk chair and your bed. Neither of these options if exactly comfortable or fashion forward. Websites like www.target.com, www.ikea.com, and www.walmart.com offer great colorful and stylish seating on a budget. You can also visit your local Salvation Army furniture store, Goodwill, thrift shop, and even check online at www.craigslist.com for cheap used couches and chairs. Look at the lines of the couch and see if it is something you can buy an inexpensive slipcover for. When I was in college my roommate and I bought the world’s ugliest and most comfortable couch for $25 at a local furniture salvage center. We bribed some cute guys to deliver it. They thought we were insane. The next time I was out at Target I checked out some of the inexpensive heavy-duty bed covers. I bought a few that I knew would not unravel when I cut them. They were solid colors. I cut pieces to fit over the body of the sofa and staple gunned them to the wooden frame of the sofa. For the cushions I used No Sew to make square fitted pillowcases. Presto, a new sofa that had everyone thinking we were loaded college students with money to burn. Best of all it cost under $50 total and it made a huge impact on the room. Try buying solid color heavy-duty fabric. This will insure your budget dÃ?©cor lasts a long time and is easy to assemble.
Paint is one of the most inexpensive and budget friendly decorating tools. Paint on the walls can completely transform an entire space in a matter of a few hours. Of course you may want to check with your RA to find out the rules for painting your dorm room. You should be ready to agree to paint your walls back to the neutral color they began once the school year is over. For extra design flare try painting some unique, retro, and contemporary designs on the wall. A two-tone wall painted in alternating diamonds of color is a great way to add some flare to your plain room. If you have great school spirit try using your school’s colors for this project. Start by painting the wall completely with the lighter color of the two paints. Once it has dried use blue painters tape to mask off the diamond shapes. Fill in with the second color.
Curtains are a great way to decorate a college dorm room on a budget. This can be an especially effective means of decorating if your RA says school rules will not allow you to paint under any circumstances. Fabric can be cheap if you know what to look for. You don’t even have to own a sewing machine to create custom curtains. Look for great sheets at trendy stores like Target and Ikea. Buy the king size sheets and you will have a large amount of fabric perfect for creating colorful custom curtains. Use a product like No Sew to iron crisp hems at the appropriate dimensions. Many custom designed homes have created beautiful interiors using white and cream neutral walls that are made exciting with colorful accents, curtains, and furniture. Use a tension rod to hang your curtains and you won’t leave any holes in the wall either.
Look for complete bed in a bag ensembles to decorate your dorm room on a budget. These usually run under a $100 for a twin size bed and can make a huge impact on your room. Most dorm rooms are not large and the bed can often be the largest focal point in the room. This is a great way to add color without committing to painting the wall.
Finally, for a final way to change the d�©cor of you dorm room on a budget, simply change out the light bulbs. This is a small item that many people over look. Overhead fluorescent lighting is not flattering to anyone or anything. Put a few lamps throughout the room and your will have an instant homey feel.
