Back to School: Dorm Decor Done Right
Get inspired!
Many of us have been there: You pack up your favorite things and head to college and move into the dorm. If we had it to do over again, many of us would do our best not only to personalize our room but maximize its usefulness, too. Here are some dorm room decorating ideas to consider before your loved one heads off to school – and the dorms.
Furniture & Color
A dorm room isn’t really the place to let out your inner design diva, but it’s definitely worth the effort to work with your roommate toward a design scheme for the whole room rather than just your side of it. Complementary colors, fabrics, and accent pieces go a long way toward making that small space feel bigger, less cluttered, and more like home. If you’re allowed to paint the walls, consider adding that personal touch. Stick with cool colors to enhance the sense of space and serenity, but don’t be shy about a bold accent to add some definition to the space. You don’t have a lot of choice with furniture in most dorms, but if you can swap out beds for futons or sleeper sofas, entertaining friends becomes a much more pleasant affair. Whatever you do, make sure you consider a variety of configurations to create a functional and inviting space for you and your visitors.
Let’s face it, most dorm rooms are tiny spaces with bad lighting and poor ventilation. Start by bringing in more light and air. Add a couple of lamps to keep everyone and everything looking their best by supplementing that old-school overhead fluorescent lighting. In a dorm setting, lighting does double duty: You need it to study, but it can really enhance the look of a drab space after the books are closed. Choose a stylish desk lamp that really lets you focus on your work and that serves as a dramatic splash of light after hours. LED light bulbs throw off a very specific beam of light, so they have the added advantage of giving you great task lighting while letting your roommate sleep while you study. Floor lamps are another inexpensive way to personalize the space with ambient mood lighting – and you can pick up a fresh and fun shade that complements the rest of your space.
If you’re lucky enough to get a roommate you love, sharing such a small space makes it all the more important to clear the air. A small, enclosed space filled with laundry and bedding is bound to result in some stale air. You can actually find portable and personal fans that work as great accent pieces, with styles from funky and industrial to bold and bright or nearly invisible.
Organization
Finding effective ways to keep the clutter to a minimum and keep everything important to you nearby can make all the difference in terms of peaceful cohabitation. Simple wall shelves are easy to install and keep most of your storage off of the floor and out of the closet. Keep books, school supplies, and your favorite photos and mementos within arm’s reach and at eye level, and put long-term storage higher up. Storage bins come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Get some big and boxy bins all in one color that complements the rest of your design scheme for off-season clothes or school work from last semester, and get sleek and simple sliders that roll right under the bed for more personal storage. Choose one color for the shelving bins to give your tiny space something of a streamlined look, and save the see-through storage for closets and under the bed.
Effective design in smaller spaces is often more impactful than a full renovation. Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean you can’t have great design.
With over 25-years of experience, Kerrie Kelly is creative director for Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, an award-winning California interior designer, author and contributor; product designer and multi-media consultant, helping national brands reach the interior design market.
