Dorm Room Decorating Tips: Almost-Free Ways to Make Your Dorm Room Livable

Meg G.
Dorm decorating tips ensure that your small humble college abode will feel as warm and cozy as mom and dad's pad. When living in a small space, organization and creativity is key to crafting a livable and enjoyable dwelling.

Dorm decorating tips were unheard of when I went away to college. The Internet, although present in day-to-day life was not as full of decorating tips and trends as it is today. Despite the lack of decorating tips available to me, I was still able to create a relaxing oasis that I loved to seek refuge in.

Dorm Room Decorating Tips #1: Use Postcards for Decorations

During my high school years, I traveled extensively through the US, Canada, and Japan. I also had many friends that visited places such as England, France, Germany, and other parts of Europe. I had an extensive collection of postcards. I arranged these post cards on the wall in my dorm room above my bed using sticky tack. The walls in my dorm room were made of painted concrete blocks, so I didn't have to worry about sticky staining my walls. Using postcards as decorations is a free and easy dorm room decorating tip.

Dorm Room Decorating Tips #2: Plastic Bins are Your Friends

Cheap plastic bins may look tacky, but they can really help your dorm room stay organized. My dorm room bed was molded in to the wall, and I could lift my mattress up and have a large space to store plenty of things. I bought some plastic tubs and stored my shoes, accessories, and personal goods under my bed.

Dorm Room Decorating Tips #3: Add Color Using Construction Paper

My dorm room was very bland with off-white painted cement blocks and a white built in desk. I added color to my dorm room walls by cutting out pieces of construction paper in the same size as the cement blocks in my dorm room walls. I used sticky tack to secure the construction paper to my dorm room walls. These construction paper colored tiles created a wall for me and my friends to sign and doodle on.

Dorm Room Decorating Tips #4: Flowers

Flowers are a cheap dorm room decorating accessory that will brighten your room and make you feel at home. You can buy silk or fake flowers or you can choose to buy fresh flowers each week. You can make an inexpensive vase by taking a baby wipe container and covering the outside with decorative wrapping paper. If you got tired of the flowers, the container could double as a pencil holder or cosmetic catch-all.

Dorm Room Decorating Tips: Glow in the Dark Stars

Ever wish you could sleep underneath the stars instead of in your dorm room? Glow in the dark stars are available at several specialty stores. Apply them to your side of the dorm room on the ceiling using white sticky tack. Every night when you go to sleep, you can look up at the stars and pretend you are out in the wilderness instead of in your dorm room.

Dorm room decorating tips have come a long way since I was in college. There are far more dorm room accessories and all-inclusive packages available at various department stores. However, my dorm room decorating tips are creative and individual. For the most part, these dorm room decorating tips are very inexpensive. College students are broke as it is - they don't need to get in even more debt to decorate a dorm room.

Published by Meg G.

Meg G. is a financial professional. During her previous life, she ran a contracting business with her husband. Now, she likes to share late breaking news, financial advice, and do-it-yourself tips with her d...  View profile

2 Comments

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  • jerry8/10/2009

    :')

  • Malina Debrie8/9/2009

    These are great tips for those with limited funds. I was shopping at Target recently and saw all of the beautiful colors available for dorm rooms. Could come to quite a penny!

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