Author: Jillian Hayward Schaible
It may have been several years since I’ve needed to gear up for decorating my college dorm, but I’ll never forget all of the tips and tricks that I learned over those years. Whether you live on campus or in an apartment, one thing is usually certain for college living- space is tight! I needed to learn how to live in a tiny little area, with way more things than I had space for. I’ve collected some of my favorite dorm decor items for you, and hope it might inspire you to rethink your design this year to make better use of your little space!
Many dorms will come furnished, but for those of you in an apartment, you may need to invest in a bed yourself. This storage headboard is the perfect piece of furniture for a busy college student because you can store your electronics and books right in your headboard after a long night of studying. Not to mention that you could even add a nightlight on there and totally skip a nightstand all together and save even more space!
Pottery Barn
My roommates and I were always having get-togethers and “family dinners” with all of our friends, but never had enough seating for everyone. We bought a few collapsible lounge chairs like this butterfly chair (and a fold-up nest chair), that we would keep in our closet and just take out whenever we needed that extra seating. It saved us floor space only having to take them out when needed, and they were always cute and comfy for our guests!
Target
If you’ve moved away for college, chances are that your friends from home will be crashing at your dorm during a visit or two over the school year. Not only are futons smart for an extra bed, this one even has extra storage on the side! Genius!
Better Homes and Gardens, Available at Walmart
Usually, dorms have pretty bare (and sometimes horribly painted!) walls that will need a little extra life to make your room feel more personal. These cute wall hangers from Ikea are great to add some pizazz to your wall as well as some storage for hats, scarves, or sweaters.
IKEA
Or, try a bright, colorful tapestry like this one to really cover up those walls and make your room fun!
Urban Outfitters
Once again, counter space is usually minimal in a dorm room. Not to mention all the days I woke up late for class and needed breakfast on the go… and quickly! How awesome is this breakfast sandwich maker?! I wish I had found this when I was still in college!!
Target
With computers, phones, iPads, stereos, and TV’s, my roommates and I had cords hanging in every direction. Something like this would be perfect for the back of your desk or TV console to keep everything neat and organized.
The Container Store
If you’re like I was, most college kids are either lounging on their bed or their desk chairs when friends are over. Having a desk chair like this one will double up as extra cozy seating for you and your friends, as well as a nice chair to be able to relax and read your book in, instead of having to stay in an uncomfortable desk chair all day studying.
PB Teen
A charging station on the back your computer? This is perfect to keep all of your electronics in one place, and would be great to use even on a nightstand to charge everything at night (and still have your alarm on your phone ready by the bed in the morning!).
Houzz