Back to Campus: Dorm Room Essentials
Dorm room bedding, furniture and design ideas
Sixteen (!) years ago last week, my parents packed me off to college for the first time, armed with a clunky computer, a lot of pictures of my high school boyfriend, and a plaid bedspread that, as it turns out, most of my freshman hall also had.
I still remember that beginning-of-college feeling - the combination of nerves and excitement. Of course, I also remember just how really, really ugly my dorm room was.
At my school, we weren't allowed to move the heavy, hideous, wood veneer desks, dressers and armoires from the rooms, so we had to work within the system to decorate. My freshman year, that meant I mostly gave up and let my two roommates cover the walls with Disney posters (wish I was kidding). My sophomore room was outfitted in total collegiate stereotypes - an Absolut ad border illuminated by year-round Christmas lights. After that, I think I just gave up.
But if I had it to do over again, I'd do my best to personalize my room (inexpensively, of course) and to maximize its usefulness. Here are some ideas I'd take with me as inspiration:
I still remember that beginning-of-college feeling - the combination of nerves and excitement. Of course, I also remember just how really, really ugly my dorm room was.
At my school, we weren't allowed to move the heavy, hideous, wood veneer desks, dressers and armoires from the rooms, so we had to work within the system to decorate. My freshman year, that meant I mostly gave up and let my two roommates cover the walls with Disney posters (wish I was kidding). My sophomore room was outfitted in total collegiate stereotypes - an Absolut ad border illuminated by year-round Christmas lights. After that, I think I just gave up.
But if I had it to do over again, I'd do my best to personalize my room (inexpensively, of course) and to maximize its usefulness. Here are some ideas I'd take with me as inspiration:
Fantastic bedding is one quick way to personalize your room. I love this colorful quilt and I REALLY love the DIY book headboard (found in the comments of this ideabook from Becky.)
Pictures of old friends and family not only personalize dorm rooms, they're also comforting, especially those first few weeks away from home. I love this mix of sizes and frame color - it makes for a fun gallery.
Cool posters go a long way to personalizing a room, too. I like these simple vintage lines - they're fun, but way more sophisticated than John Belushi.
A little bit of extra seating can be a godsend in a dorm room - just one extra chair (especially a fun one, like this) can make a room much more inviting. And everyone wants to have the party room, right?
Floor lamps are equally welcome. Anything to avoid that nasty overhead glare.
Storage is at a premium in college rooms, so nice-looking storage boxes are a great find.
IKEA is the college student's best friend. This easy IKEA hack involves covering Expedit shelves with wrapping paper - it's simple and pretty and makes a dorm room a little friendlier. Depending on the school's rules, this wrapping paper cover technique might also be a good way to disguise ugly college-owned furniture, like dressers and armoires.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to bring my own desk - but if I had been, a tiny little one like this would've been a good choice - it's cute and also saves space.