You’re all moved in, classes have begun, and you’re starting to settle into a routine. With all that uncertainty out of the way, you now have time to really personalize your living space! Decorating my dorm room was one of my favorite parts of college living. Here are some fun ways to spruce up even the smallest space—like the open double I lived in.
• Get a whiteboard or chalkboard for your door. It’s a stereotypical college standby at this point, but it’s still fun! I loved getting messages from my friends on my door when I was in school. Even though it might seem cheesy and overdone, it’s still a must. You’ll enjoy it—I promise. Put a twist on the tradition by buying a funky-shaped whiteboard or getting a wide array of colored markers.
• Hang lots and lots of photos. This doesn’t have to mean buying expensive frames and putting holes in the walls. A friend of mine stuck a long, colored thread on her wall with two thumbtacks and hung pictures on it using clothespins. Another friend hung ribbons on the wall with thumbtacks and glued photo prints to the ribbons. No matter how you choose to do it, seeing pictures of your family and friends from home will always make you smile.
• Use the internet to find posters that are meaningful. Lots of schools have poster sales, but don’t just hang posters for the sake of hiding bare walls. Use the internet to find or create posters that are meaningful to you. Is there a quote that you love, or a movie that’s made a difference in your life? Having these things surround you in your living space will ultimately make you feel better than bunch of generic posters ever could.
• Show some school spirit. One thing that got me really excited for dorm living was buying a bunch of stuff with my school colors and mascot on it. Most college bookstores have pretty much anything and everything you could ever dream of in the school’s colors, and the internet can help you find even more. If you had a great high school experience, don’t be shy about displaying memorabilia from your favorite high school teams or experiences! These personal touches will make you feel more at home than generic decorations.
• Browse Pinterest to find styles you like. I so wish Pinterest had existed when I was in college. I’ve used Pinterest to find some amazing space-savers and decorating ideas for my apartment—do the same for your dorm room! Everyone’s style is different, and the large Pinterest community offers a huge variety of creative ideas for personalizing your space.
How have you given your dorm room a personal touch? Let us know about your creative touches in the comments!
