Decorating Guides
Last-Minute Dorm Decorating, Part 2
Make your college dorm room go Bohemian Chic or Minimalist with 5 easy pieces
Earlier this week you learned how to create a quick and budget-friendly Preppy or Urban look. But if neither of those styles spoke to you, read on for the second part of my 5-piece decor formulas for the dorm. Today I'll cover Bohemian and Minimalist styles. Read on to see which style you like best, and how to add it to your room.
More: All-American Prep and Urban Modern dorm styles
More: All-American Prep and Urban Modern dorm styles
Crochet Pillow Cover
Seven dollars, seriously? Grandma chic mixes well with your eclectic bohemian look. A touch of the world world traditions provides texture without color — a nice balance to colorful ethnic prints without being too frilly.
Ikat Woven Tapestry
Ikat patterns are not going out of style anytime soon, so tap into the trend with this affordable tapestry. It can be used as a bedspread or a wall hanging, depending on your vision. The subtle ikat fabric feels exotic and ethnic without being too colorful or over the top.
Diamond Kilim Rug
The kilim-style design of jewel-toned diamonds add a richness and elegance to your floor. The colors and patterns go well with the ikat bedspread without being matchy matchy — a relaxed and layered global motif is the ultimate goal.
Polish Art Center - Pajak - Mobile of Paper and Straw
The traditional Pajak (a paper flower and straw mobile) is a colorful Polish folk decoration. It will look anything but traditional as decor and function as quite the conversation starter. It will make you happy every time you look at it, and if you are feeling ambitious, you can tackle on a DIY version.
Verilux Princeton Natural Spectrum Desk and Table Lamp
Here's an elegant lamp with an antique brass finish that hints to early 1900s bankers' lamps. The appeal of the lamp is that it looks older and adds another level of storied background to the room you are building.
The Architectural Minimalist: You wear Zara and H&M, but aspire to Prada and Helmut Lang. You aren't super fussy or caught up in trends, but that doesn't mean you don't care about how things look. You like things neat, simple, and uncluttered but with precise lines and architectural geometry. You lean towards bright whites, grays, khakis, and some black with very few color accents.
AREAWARE Gorilla Pillow
Designed by Ross Menuez, these fauna pillows come in an assortment of animal choices and colors (in case baby gorillas aren't your thing). Think of it as a grown-up version of the stuffed Teddy bear you left at home. The monochromatic high contrast images add an element of playfulness and just the slightest touch of color.
Divatex Cotton Club Stripe 250-Thread Count Duvet Mini Set
You can't go wrong with stripes or a white-and-gray color combo. They are timeless and effortless and will literally go with any color sheets or accent pillow. I like the thick stripes. Think about pairing these with thin-striped sheets. The wrinkle-free cotton is very appealing when you have better things to do with your time than iron.
Black & White Diamond Chenille Rug
Wow, another steal at only $20. The black-and-white diamond chenille rug is simple in its geometry and will unobtrusively blend in with any other decor items already in the room. The chenille softness will add lusciousness to your floor, and your feet will thank you.
Perfect Twist Poster
A large (36" x 48") black-and-white poster printed in halftone on bond paper, via a plotter as used by architects for construction documents and engineering prints. A very unique art piece that screams cool. This same Etsy shop has many other prints available in a similar format.
Moderne Brushed Steel Finish Table Lamp
A contemporary lamp that does its function, but is also attractive to look at. The architectural starkness of the white drum shade is accented by the feminine and fluid brushed steel lamp body to create a nice balance. It's on sale through the end of September — perfect for back to school.
More: Affordable Finds for College and Beyond
Dorm Life: Cool Stuff for a Music Lover's Room
More: Affordable Finds for College and Beyond
Dorm Life: Cool Stuff for a Music Lover's Room
This look is probably my favorite. A worldly and interesting bedroom can be created by appreciating older objects, the traditions of other cultures, and pieces with a folky feel.