Moving out of your parent’s house and into your dorm room is an exciting experience. It’s almost like getting your first studio apartment with a roommate. You can make your dorm room feel more warm, cozy and home-like by adding your own furniture and décor. Your dorm room décor should be a reflection of your personality. It should be affordable and most of all, it should be fun. However, keep in mind that dorm room furniture and decor needs to work in small spaces.
Start with dorm room furniture.
Comfortable furnishings for a dorm should be portable. Lightweight furniture is a good idea because many dorm rooms are on the upper floors of buildings and you’ll have to haul everything upstairs. You also may need to rearrange the furniture often, to accommodate your evolving space needs, so lightweight furniture would be best.
Foam furniture is a great option for dorm rooms. It is super lightweight, yet sturdy, and one person can easily move this type of furniture or carry it up a flight of stairs. You can get studio lounge chairs, loveseats and sofas that have a flip-out feature similar to a trundle bed, for an extra place to sleep or nap.
Loft beds with built-in desks underneath are a great space saver for dorm rooms. However, most colleges have requirements for the construction of the loft bed, such as the use of safety rails and 4×4 corner posts. College Bed Lofts.com has a list of common college requirements for loft beds and a list of colleges that they have shipped to.
Bean bags and lounge chairs are great seating options for visiting friends. These types of chairs are lightweight, easy to move around and don’t take up much space. PB Teen has a great selection of these chairs, as well as a great selection of stylish mini fridges.
Another space-saving furniture accessory worth mentioning is called a slouch back. You can find them at DormCo.com. You can use a slouch back on your bed or on the floor to create a comfortable place to sit. It comes with a pre-installed inflatable pump and inflates in about 30 seconds.
Keep your room clean with organizers and storage accessories.
The dorm fridge cart from PB Teen is the perfect accessory for your mini fridge. I actually have a mini fridge in my bedroom and really wish I had one of these to set it on. It elevates the fridge for easier access and has three convenient drawers to store eating utensils, cups, or whatever you need.
Give your dorm room a touch of your own personality and flair with decorative wall décor. One of the greatest inventions for teens and college students alike are peel and stick wall decals, also known as wall clings. You can find wall clings in a wide variety of designs, as well as dry erase wall clings that you can customize. Have a dorm room warming party with your friends, plenty of dry erase markers and some dry erase wall clings to see who will have bragging rights as the best dorm room artist! You can find wall clings at the following places:
Other great choices for dorm room wall décor include tapestries, posters, tin signs, peel and stick mirrors, and cork boards. You can find great dorm room wall décor at:
Lighting – In addition to a desk lamp, which you will need for studying, you can create a welcoming atmosphere in your dorm room with accent lighting. This can be achieved with rope lighting, paper lanterns, string lights, lava lamps and candle lanterns.
Curtains and rugs – Give your dorm room a much cozier feel with curtains for the windows and an area rug. Try to choose colors that complement or contrast with your bedding and other room décor.
Bedding and accessories – You will definitely want a warm, cozy comforter to curl up under each night. You can find twin XL (extra long) comforters and sheet sets in many stores now that will fit your college dorm bed perfectly. Dress up your bed with accessories like decorative pillows, throws and a peel and stick headboard.
With so many great decorating options today, there is just no excuse for a dull and boring dorm room. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can find items at thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales and dollar stores that you can use to create your own unique dorm room décor.
