Photo by svetikd via iStock
At university, you’ll spend the majority of your time in a small room. You don’t want to waste space, so it makes sense that dorm room design focuses on maximizing storage and minimizing clutter. This article summarizes 20 DIY college dorm room ideas that feel like home.
But first, Hannah Parrish provides insight on some things you can do to spruce up your dorm room below.
Here are some clever ideas for making your dorm room cozier, from vibrant area rugs to eye-catching wall decor.
Table of Contents
- Brighten Up Your Room With Plants
- Make a DIY Headboard
- Make DIY Wall Art
- Get an Aesthetically Pleasing Jewelry Organizer
- Hang a Tapestry
- Bedside Caddy For Storage
- Add an Area Rug
- Illuminate Your Nights With String Lights
- Stay Organized With a Desk Hutch
- Brighten Up Study Sessions With Lamp Lighting
- Create a Gallery Wall
- LED Strip Lights
- Make Your Space Tidy With Foldable Chairs
- Clear Up Space With Closet Organizers
- Organize Your Closet With a Shoe Storage Ottoman
- Use a Collapsible Desk Chair/Storage Ottoman
- Create a Homey Feel With Personalized Throw Pillows
- Get Comfy With Good Quality Bedding
- Hang Temporary Curtains
- Tiered Rolling Carts For Easy Access
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Brighten Up Your Room with Plants
Photo by flil via iStock
Greenery and plants are great ideas to make your dorm room feel like home. So add flowers to brighten up the place. If you’re feeling creative, you can use a stylish pot that matches your room’s aesthetic.
Make a DIY Headboard
Headboards are a great way to add style to your room without breaking the bank. You don’t need a lot of money to make one yourself. You can easily build one out of wood, fabric, or even cardboard.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Make DIY Wall Art
Wall art is another way to inject personality into your dorm room. For example, you could opt for artwork that features one of your favorite subjects, like sports or animals. Or maybe it’s a collage of photos taken throughout your life.
Get an Aesthetically Pleasing Jewelry Organizer
A jewelry organizer is one of those things you just don’t think about buying until you’re ready to organize your jewelry collection. You’ll find yourself reaching for your jewelry box every day, even though you know exactly where everything is.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Hang a Tapestry
Hang a tapestry on the wall for instant decoration. You can use command hooks to hang pictures or tapestries. Command hooks stick on both sides and can be easily removed.
Bedside Caddy for Storage
A bedside caddy is a great way to keep things organized and out of sight. You can use it to hold chargers, phones, tablets, books, magazines, and anything else you want to keep nearby.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Add an Area Rug
Cozying up a space with an area rug is a great way to improve the ambiance. They can be cleaned with ease and are durable. They come in many colors, patterns, and shapes. Rugs often come in every price range and style.
Illuminate Your Nights with String Lights
Photo by M_a_y_a via iStock
Stringing lights are easy and cheap. This simple DIY project will add a burst of color to your bedroom while creating a fun focal point. Just string up some Christmas lights around the room, and you’ll instantly transform it into a magical winter wonderland.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Stay Organized with a Desk Hutch
A desk hutch is a great way to organize your space while keeping it clean and neat. It’s perfect for storing pens, staplers, tape dispensers, scissors, and other office supplies.
Brighten Up Study Sessions with Lamp Lighting
A desk lamp is a must-have item for every office. They provide light, help you read documents, and even charge your phone. You can find desk lamps in many styles and colors.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Create a Gallery Wall
Photo by Anastasiia Shavshyna via iStock
The gallery wall is one of the most popular ways to display art in a room. There are plenty of ways to make a gallery wall look great without spending much money. These include using fabric, creating your frame, or hanging artwork using hangers.
LED Strip Lights
Clip-on LEDs can provide sufficient lighting for reading or studying in the bedroom. Not to mention, they add to your dorm’s aesthetic appeal. It allows you to effortlessly switch off the light without bothering others.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Make Your Space Tidy with Foldable Chairs
A folding chair is great for college students because it folds up easily and takes up less space. You can purchase this product online for $60-$90. To ensure you don’t buy something too big, take measurements of your dorm room.
Clear Up Space with Closet Organizers
Closet organizers are great because they help you organize your clothes and ensure you don’t lose anything. Choose a form and size that suits your room.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Organize Your Closet with a Shoe Storage Ottoman
Photo by Liudmila Chernetska via iStock
A shoe storage ottoman allows you to hang multiple shoes side by side. The best part is that a shoe storage ottoman only requires a drill and screws.
Use a Collapsible Desk Chair/Storage Ottoman
A collapsible desk chair combined with a folding ottoman makes a great combination for anyone looking to save space while still having a comfortable workstation.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Create a Homey Feel with Personalized Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are a quick and easy way to change your room’s décor without spending much money. They come in a variety of forms.
Get Comfy with Good Quality Bedding
Photo by PeopleImages via iStock
Create a comfy space that reminds you of home with a snuggly duvet cover. There are lots of bedding on sale from up to 30% off to fulfill your bedding choices.
DIY College Dorm Room Ideas: Hang Temporary Curtains
Hang temporary curtains easily without damaging wall surfaces or drilling holes. A durable aluminum curtain rod system allows you to hang curtains without drilling into drywall or hanging directly onto wood frames.
Tiered Rolling Carts for Easy Access
Tiered rolling carts are great for storing small items like toiletries, snacks, and school supplies. These portable carts come in different sizes and offer multiple tiers for easy access.
With that you have nearly two dozen DIY college dorm room ideas to make your room much homier!
Learn More:
