It’s the first week of school and you’ve moved into your dorm room, but as you see disorganized shelves, dreary lighting, or uncomfortable furniture, you wish for a space that feels personalized.
Resident Assistant and Interior Design student Isabella Erazo has mastered the craft of dorm decor and she’s put together the best tips and tricks for decorating your dorm room or apartment this spring.
Find Inspiration
There’s no shortage of online resources to help you organize your thoughts. Pinterest, Instagram and home blogging websites can be a great starting point for figuring out ideas. Or, if you want to be old-school, take a trip to IKEA or scout some furniture catalogs.
Consider colors, shapes and other aesthetic elements that fit the style and energy you’d like to bring into your space. Moodboards can be a great way to visualize your decoration goals.
Tip: Design with the five senses. Consider how decisions impact sounds, textures, visuals and smells.
Share the Space
If you’re a college student living on campus, you’re likely sharing a space with other people. So before you take charge, consult your roommates and make them feel essential to the design process.
“Learn to accept different styles and personalities so that you can create a shared space that makes everyone feel included,” says Erazo.
Reach out and make a design plan together. If your roommates aren’t into decorating, you can welcome them by placing decorations that symbolize their personality, especially in public spaces like the living room, kitchen and bathroom. Maybe you can use a stuffed toy or funky poster as a conversation piece. The possibilities are limitless!
Tip: Don’t forget about emotional-support and service animals. Consider them roommates and designate a spot for their bed, litter box, or toys.
What to Buy or D.I.Y.
Now that you’ve figured out aesthetics, how do you decide what elements will fit and function inside your dorm? If you’re bringing any larger items such as couches or tables, you’ll want to find your living space’s measurements and floor plans.
“It’s important to plan before you buy, but I don’t have a fixed mindset,” says Erazo. “Even if I collected the measurements and arranged the elements digitally, my space or furniture will sometimes be a different size than I expected.”
Erazo avoids potential roadblocks by building her furniture and it’s often more cost-efficient. Pictured below is her D.I.Y. counter space, complete with a table, flower arrangement and framed artwork.
“I added everything I wanted to my [online] shopping cart, then subtracted my items to what was necessary,” says Erazo.
And if you’re worried about what smaller items to bring, we planned for that too.
Lamps
Let’s face it, dorms don’t always have the prettiest natural lighting. Sometimes we’re facing buildings, or it’s just plain cloudy. So if you’re starting to squint over your schoolwork, it might be time to invest in a lamp. Extra lighting is never a bad idea, whether it’s a stand-up, table lamp, or LED strip if you want to be trendy like that.
Tip: Yellow lighting creates a softer atmosphere, while blue lighting is brighter and more intense.
Fans
No matter how clean your dorm is, multiple people living together can generate some unpleasant smells. And for my nose-blind folks, I’m sure you’ve at least had the debate over being too hot or too cold with your roommate.
A fan will help with temperature control and air circulation which prevents your thermostat battles and odor-fueled feuds.
Tip: Opt for box fans instead of circular ones to conserve space.
Rugs
A good rug can protect your feet from cold floors, absorb sound and serve as a welcoming sensory piece in any room. Whatever color, shape or size you choose, the rug will bring your environment together and help define your aesthetic. Choose wisely.
Storage
School supply lists can seem like chapter books and you’re going to need somewhere to put your sketchbooks and chamois. Storage shopping might sound boring, but you’ll be thankful when everyone and everything has a place.
Tip: Go for vertical storage such as shelves, hooks and thin bookcases. Going vertical saves floor space while filling wall space.
Remember: Design is a Process
“Your first concept isn’t going to be the final product—your style and needs may change as you work,” says Erazo. “Acknowledge how far you’ve come and adapt to whatever comes next because you really won’t know how people will interact with your space until they move into it.”
