How to Decorate a Dorm Room on a Budget

Make Your Dorm Room Comfy and Cozy

You have ventured into your college dorm room to see that it is drab, white and uninspired. This is a common problem on university and college campuses around the nation. It can be difficult to get excited about the move knowing that, as a college student, very little of your budget can go to room decorations. The good news is that your room does not have to remain plain and boring. By following the steps in this article, you will be able to put together a fun and stylish dorm room on a college student’s budget.

Things You'll Need

• Reversible Comforter
• Fabric
• Drapery Rod
• Beads
• Glitter
• Plastic Crates
• Bulletin or White Board
• Newspapers Ads
• Construction Paper
• Photos from Home

Instructions

Choosing a Theme

1. Choose a reversible comforter from a discount store. The bed is the focal point of any dorm room. It should be decorated that way. Choose a color scheme that represents your personality. A reversible comforter can be changed to suit your mood, but it will still have the same color and theme that works with the entire room.

2. Venture to your local craft store. Look for bargains on fabrics that fit in with your color scheme. Mix and match the colors. The fabric can be used in various ways. First, you might want to get a large swatch of plain fabric in one color to tack over one wall in your room. Most dorms will not allow you to paint, but this is a way to add a pop of color without damaging the walls. Purchase a drapery rod (after you have measured your window). You can easily drape fabric over the rod to make your windows stand out from the wall.

3. Purchase beads or glitter that match your theme while you are at the craft store. They will be used later.

4. Choose distinct but budget-friendly crates or baskets from a local discount store. They can be used to store things, but they can also be stacked on top of one another for an easy bedside table. Often, the crates/baskets come in all shapes and sizes. The main thing, again, is to stick with your theme. If you can find them in colors that compliment your comforter, it's all the better.

5. Purchase an inexpensive bulletin or white board. These are often on sale in the summer before school starts at office supply stores. Besides being able to put pictures and things on the board, you can also take your glitter and beads. Glue them around the edges of the board adding interest. This can also be done around the edges of your fabric on the windows. This will tie everything together. Now you have the base of the room, and it’s time to add accessories.

Adding Accessories and Style

1. Decorate your room with accessories to make it feel more like home. The best thing to do is to get out your local paper. Look at the classifieds and the weekly circulars of the major stores like Target. Look for garage sales and thrift stores in your area. These can be gold mines for accessories. See if you can find funky glasses or vases that match the color scheme you have chosen. These can be placed on your dresser, desk or windowsill to add touches of color.

2. Check out the poster sale at your university during the first week of classes. Most schools provide this for their students. You can find pretty inexpensive art. Look for modern pieces that will coordinate with your comforter on your bed. They don’t necessarily have to be framed. Find cute tacks at your office supply store. Use sticky tack. One major piece will draw attention and not clutter the walls.

3. Search for an inexpensive floor rug. Dorm rooms will have tile or outdated carpet. By finding a cute rug that goes with your color scheme, you can cover this flaw. Make floor as stylish as the rest of the room. This ties everything together.

Projects

1. Hunt for garage sales around your city. Garage sales can be great for small pieces of inexpensive furniture such as a small table, chair or ottoman. Keep in mind you don’t have a lot of space! However, small items can be great buys. Often, with just a coat of paint, they can look brand new.

2. Choose photos that remind you of friends and family at home. Make cheap frames out of construction paper that coordinate with your theme colors. These can be placed in a cute collage on your bulletin board or over your desk. You can have ties to home right there in your room.

3. Scour the sales in your newspaper to find a good deal on a nice lamp. Lighting is one of the major problems in dorm rooms. The fluorescent glow makes the room feel very institutional. However, soft, ambient lighting can turn the space into a cozy haven.

4. Sit back and enjoy your new space. Remember, your dorm room will only be home for a little while, but it is important to relax in your space. Enjoy it while you can.

Tips & Warnings

• By sticking with a common theme and colors, the room will feel more organized and polished.

• Remember your roommate! Shop together for a bonding experience.