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Are you about to move into your first college dorm? This can be an exciting and stressful transition in your life, but something that shouldn’t be difficult is creating your own space. Decorating your dorm should be one of the most exciting parts of this new journey.
This Moving Help® guide provides you with dorm decorating tips to ensure your space feels like you. Whether it’s transforming the space or trying to cause the least amount of damage possible, this article has tips to help you.
Wall Decorating
Dorm walls are plain and usually a dull cream color. That’s why decorating them is crucial to transforming the room. Here’s some tips are how you can decorate your dorm walls.
Adhesive Strips
Adhesive strips and hooks can be essential to a college dorm. One way you can utilize adhesive hooks is by using your accessories as decor. You can use them to hang up your necklaces, scarves, and hats.
Hooks also can be utilized to hang string lights around the room, or even a hanging plant.
Adhesive strips are useful for hanging pictures with frames. Just make sure you check the weight that the adhesive hooks/strips can hold, so you purchase the correct size. Nothing is scarier than hearing items fall off your walls in the middle of the night.
The only issue with adhesive strips is they can rip the paint off the dorm walls. Though they’re the strongest option, if you want to avoid wall damage, painter’s tape may be the option for you.
Painter’s Tape
If you’ve ever had a room painted before, you probably noticed the bright blue tape used to outline the project. This tape is sticky enough to stay on the walls without ripping off the paint. When hanging lighter items (like posters), painter’s tape is a great option to keep them on the wall.
Sometimes, people even put painter’s tape on the wall first, then put the adhesive strip on top of it to avoid ripping the paint.
If you’re hanging posters that you don’t want to rip or damage, you can even put a sticky note on the back and then put the painter’s tape on top of the sticky note. This allows it to stick to the wall, not your poster.
Thumbtacks
Another way to hang items is to use thumbtacks. While they’ll leave a small hole in the wall, they’re usually sturdy and won’t fall out.
You also can buy a cork board for your wall to use thumbtacks on. This way, you can hang pictures and other items on the cork board. You can find plenty of fun corkboard inspiration online as well.
Print Posters
You may want to create a fun wall full of posters and pictures, but what if you don’t have any posters? Luckily, many drugstores, like Walgreens and CVS, have photo printing options. You can look on Pinterest for fun posters, download them, and order them as prints. Typically, many size options exist, so you can create the best display for your wall.
Another item that works well for wall decor are albums and vinyl. If you have a collection, displaying them on your wall can show off your favorite artists while making great decor.
Other Dorm Essentials
Dorm decorating goes beyond just decorating the walls. You can find plenty of items to add character to your room while also providing function.
Storage Ottoman
Dorms beds can be high up off the ground. It’s a good idea to buy an ottoman to help you step into bed. It’s a good way to avoid hurting yourself when getting up and going down. You also can find one that matches your room theme to act as decoration. It also provides you with some extra storage and seating.
Trinkets and Plants
If your dorm room has any shelving or a windowsill, you can display any cute trinkets you may have with you. If you’re a plant person, this also is a perfect place to put them. Fake plants and succulents also work for decoration but without worrying about keeping them alive.
Lighting
Dorm lighting isn’t always the most aesthetically pleasing. Fluorescent lighting makes it seem like you’re at the dentist, not in your bedroom. Buying a floor lamp or a desk lamp can be a good idea, so you have a more comfortable environment, and you can see the homework you’ll complete.
You can even get other kinds of lighting options to create a more exciting space. Sunset lamps provide different colored lighting that mimics a sunset and creates a calming environment.
Fairy lights and string lights can even provide a more whimsical vibe to your dorm room, and sometimes their colors can change.
Inexpensive Decorations
Sometimes dorm decorating can get pricy. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to add character to your dorm, here are a couple of ideas:
DIY Decorations
Creating your own decorations for your dorm doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. One idea is to create paper chains or streamers to use as garland to hang around your room. Using crafts as decor is a great way to add uniqueness to your dorm room.
Other DIY projects you can display include paintings, pottery, and even Lego flowers. Finding easy projects that aren’t damaging to your walls is a great way to decorate.
Thrifting
Another way to acquire cute dorm decorations is to go to the thrift store. Thrifting can be hit or miss, but sometimes you can find some hidden gems that won’t break the bank.
While you can find almost anything at the thrift store, some items they usually have are wall decor and picture frames. If you’re also looking for cute mugs and dishware, thrift shops are a great place to look.
Dorm Decorating
Going into college move-in week with a plan for your dorm room is essential to reducing the stress of starting college. By using this Moving Help guide, you’ll be prepared for dorm decorating to make the most out of your room.
