Ideas for How to Decorate a Dorm

Decorating your dorm room can give your living space a real feeling of "home."

Decorating a dorm room can be a challenge due to the limited space, as well as the limitations that may be placed on you by your school's housing department. While painting is an obvious way to enhance your dorm room, many more options may not set your pocket book back much, but can provide a pleasant living area. Remember to keep things simple when decorating your dorm room, as you are limited on what can actually be done, and you may move out of the dorm in the next year.

Wall Liners

Using wall paper or other decorative paper to line the top of your walls can add decorum to your dorm room. Temporary adhesive, similar to that used on Post-It notes can be used, making it easy to change or remove the wall liner. This is also a chance to use some of the colors you wish to base the theme of your dorm room.

Mirrors

Mirrors can add depth to a living space, giving it the feel of a much larger area. This can be especially appealing in a dorm room situation where space is a limited resource. Large mirrors are needed to add any real sense of depth, and should be hung in areas where there are little or no obstruction.

Shelving

Installing shelving not only gives you an area to store your belongings, it is also an opportunity to add decorations or even plants to your dorm room. Shelving placed at or below eye level is ideal for displaying decorations.

Lighting

Small LED lights can be easily mounted on walls, often using a self-adhesive strip. Lighting can be used to enhance or highlight any features of your room you want to draw attention to. This is especially effective with areas displaying plants, vases, photos or centerpieces.

Paper, Ribbons and Cloth

Paper, ribbons and cloth can be used on shelves or tables to add color to your surroundings. These materials are especially suitable for a dorm room, as they are not permanent and can be easily changed to match the season or any special event or holiday.

Computer Desk

Selecting the right work desk to house your books and computer is essential for a well-decorated dorm room. Select a desk that allows you to easily hide messy wires, as well as your computer case. This helps remove clutter from your dorm room so it is easy to keep clean and manageable.

Computer Screen Saver

Screen savers range from dynamic images that constantly change to slide shows. In the case of photo slide show screen savers, this can allow your computer to act as a digital photo frame when not in use. You can select either personal photos or artwork to accentuate your dorm room.

Loft or Bunk Beds

Using a loft or bunk beds is a great way to save floor space, allowing you to use more of the space in your dorm for the things you want and need. Lofts or bunk beds can also be painted to match the color themes you use, or can be decorated using cloth or ribbons. More expensive lofts and bunk beds have built-in storage as well, which can help in keeping your dorm room tidy.

References

• Apartment Therapy -- 50 Cheap Ways to Decorate a Dorm Room
• Rental Decorating Digest -- Cheap Dorm Room Decorating Ideas and Tips