Most of you are probably moved into your dorms by now. I remember this part, it was always a little confusing to me. I’d gone to Target and bought a bedspread that matched all dorm decor basics, and hung up my string lights, and found a few posters… And yet my dorm looked nothing like the beautiful ones I saw on Pinterest.

The fact of the matter is, there are a few subtle elements that elevate a dorm from ‘livable’ to ‘chic.’ I’ve been out of the dorms for a while now, and I can tell you that from an aesthetic and quality-of-life perspective, there are a few things you need.

Dorm Decor Basics EVERYONE Should Have

Regardless of your personal style, you should be able to cover all these basics in a way that works for you!

The Bare Necessities

These are the things that will keep your dorm room from feeling like a dungeon or, well, a dorm room. While you may not have considered these dorm decor basics essential, they’ll add that little bit of polish your current dorm setup may be lacking.

A Big Blanket

You may have an extra blanket with you, but how big is it? I, along with most other college freshmen, was guilty of brining a tiny extra blanket and thinking it would help.

At the start of the semester, you likely won’t notice. But once it gets cold and your extra blanket barely covers your body, you definitely will! If a friend comes over and needs a blanket, that little 3′ x 5′ throw won’t be enough. And let’s face it, sometimes you just want to spread a blanket out on the lawn and relax. A large, sturdy, easy-to-wash blanket in a neutral color is the perfect solution. You can keep it safely stowed away during the warmer months, and pull it out whenever you need it. This one is great because it washes easily and won’t get covered in debris if you take it outside.

Curtains

Nothing pulls a room together like curtains. When you’re on a budget or newly-moved-in, curtains are likely the last thing on your mind. Which is what makes them such an easily-overlooked dorm decor basic. A simple set of curtains adds color to your room, and lets you control natural light a little better. The first thing you’ll need is a tension-mounted curtain rod, which will let you hang your curtains damage free. Then, find curtains that match your style. These curtains come in nearly 20 colors and three different lengths, making them a great place to start.

That said, I’m a huge fan of patterned curtains, and Target always has some great options! If you don’t find something you love online, consider a Target run. Just remember that their selection changes a lot! Don’t set your heart on decorating your entire room in that exact set of colors, since they’ll probably never be available again.

And, last but not least, making a simple set of curtains is one of the easier sewing projects ever. If you find a fabric you love, and a friend (or your mom) is willing to let you borrow a sewing machine, you’re in business! Seriously, if I can do it, you can do it!

A Bed Skirt

Even if your bed is lofted, bed skirts are another little touch that can make your room look like a room, and not a prison bunk. You’ll be seriously amazed by how much nicer your room looks with this tiny change. And, bonus, if you cram a bunch of stuff under your bed, this will make it harder to see. Just make sure you find a twin XL size, so it fits correctly!

Lights

In most dorm rooms, your built-in lighting options are “mind-melting fluorescents” and “total darkness.” You’re not going to like that very much when, second semester, your roommate has an 8 AM on the one day a week you get to sleep in.

There are actually three types of light in interior design. Each different type of lighting is meant to accomplish a different goal. If you’re aware of the types of lights you need in your dorm room, you’ll have a much more comfortable, functional space!

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting is your general lighting. Ideally, ambient lighting isn’t too bright or harsh – it just gives you enough light to function. This is what comes built into your dorm room, and in 99% of dorms I’ve been in – even the newer ones! – it sucks.

I would recommend using floor lamps to replace your ambient lighting whenever possible. This nice IKEA find has a paper shade, giving it a diffused, warm feel. If you embrace hygge and like a cozy glow, this one is probably a great bet. I have a really similar one (from Lowes) in my room, and use it all the time.

Lamps like these are best in low-traffic corners of your room. While the paper shade is nice, it’s definitely fragile, and it can’t take the occasional brush with a backpack that other lamps might be able to.

You’ll notice that I’m not recommending typical college lighting light Christmas lights and those hydra lamps with multiple, flexible shades. I’ve got nothing against them, but they’re the first things that come to mind in college lighting – you don’t need me to tell you about them!

This is another lamp that will give you a subtle, diffused light. The shelves double as extra storage, perfect for books or knick-knacks I like this one because it looks sort of nice – like something a person would put in their house, not their dorm room. That said, it still comes in under $40, making it friendly for student budgets.

If you don’t have a dedicated bookshelf, something like this could be perfect. It’s also great to set up near your desk, as the shelves will help you keep all your study supplies close by. And, last but not least, it can do double-duty as a nightstand, if needed.

Task Lighting

Task lighting gives you more light exactly where you need it, so you can get things done. Think of a desk lamp, or a reading lamp by the couch. Task lighting only works when it’s brighter than the rest of the room, meaning your nice desk lamp is probably useless with the fluorescent overheads on.

Dorms have limited space, so consider lamps that do double-duty. This mother-daughter lamp combines ambient light from the top shade with task light from the bottom shade. If you have room near your bed, this lamp is perfect for both lighting your whole room and reading. Or, use it in your study area to free up deskspace that a lamp would usually occupy.

Lamps like this are great for living with a roommate, as it’s easy to turn off the overhead light when your roomie goes to sleep, while still giving you enough light to finish what you’re working on. That kind of consideration goes a long way when you’re living in close quarters!

If you like to have a dedicated desk lamp, at least make it look good! This particular desk lamp is just cool. The lighted base changes colors based on the touchpad color wheel, so it can provide a soft glow in any color of the rainbow. The main lamp head has LED lights with three brightness settings. And if you like to study in different areas, you can actually charge the lamp and use it, unplugged, for up to six hours.

Always look for more when it comes to your desk lamp. If you find a simple, functional lamp you love, great. But there are desk laps that clamp at the base, making them easy to move around, or have built-in storage, or even have USB ports for easy charging. This is one piece of dorm decor that has no excuse for being single-purpose.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting highlights a particular part of the room’s design. A good example is a spotlight over a piece of art on the wall. Accent lighting is probably the least-used type of light in dorms, since it’s not like you’re showcasing fine art in there. Still, lighting can be used as a form of décor, and you should embrace that!

These clothespin LED lights will let you display old memories and add new ones! Just hang them on the wall and add photos, drawings, notes, ticket stubs – whatever you like! The clips themselves are lighted, but they stay cool so your memories won’t be damaged. The lights have 8 modes, so if you want blinking or sequential lights, all it takes is the press of a button. A lot of light strings like this actually come with battery packs, and it’s a nightmare trying to keep them powered up. This one has a USB plug, so it’ll fit into any adapter you can use to charge your phone.

(One of my roommates had battery powered lights, and they were gorgeous… But she hardly ever used them because batteries are expensive. Don’t fall into that trap!)

I also love a more graphic look for lights. This faux-neon sign is actually a molded LED light, and comes with a cord and battery pack, so you can power it however you’d like. It comes in a ton of designs perfect for perching on a desk or hanging on the wall. Choose from the word an angel, a cactus, a cloud, a flamingo, a heart, the word “love,” a crescent moon, a cat, a unicorn, a palm tree, a pineapple, a star, or a pine tree.

Some designs come with stands, like the pictured lightning bolt, but others would be perfect for hanging on a blank wall. Pay attention to the cord types when ordering! It looks like all of them have a USB option, but some have battery packs hanging off of them that could be unsightly.

Don’t Forget Lightbulbs!

Unless you’ve lived alone before, you probably haven’t ever needed to consider where your lightbulbs were coming from. A multipack of LED bulbs in a size that matches your lamp will last you for a long time, not just through your freshman year, but through the next few years of school!

Damage Free Hanging

Flashback: I’m shopping for my first dorm room, just before my freshman year. “Damage-free” says the label on the sketchy Walmart adhesive squares I’m about to buy. “Perfect for dorms and apartments!” Great, I think, these are much cheaper than those Command strips.

Nine months later, as I slowly and carefully peeled them off my wall, they took out three paint chips, each the size of my fist. Luckily, my dorm room was already scheduled to be repainted and they didn’t charge me, but still. The damage-free promise was a lie.

Moral of the story is that you should get Command brand adhesive stuff or nothing. I loved having a few large hooks in my room – in the closet for my robe and towel, near the door for me keys – and recommend picking up a few. You’ll find a place for them!

If you’re hanging string lights in any capacity, they actually make tiny, clear hooks that grip the wires between lights tightly. I can’t emphasize how hard it would have been to baptize my rooms in icicle lights without Command hooks.

 

Final Notes

Adding polish to your dorm room can actually be very simple! In the hustle and bustle of moving in, it’s easy to forget touches like these. But adding them to your room can make university housing feel like home. And, not that’s it that important, but your dorm will look a lot more like those amazing rooms you see on Pinterest and Instagram this way.

I want to see your new setup! Post a picture in the comments, or tag #livingbetweenthelines on Pinterest or Instagram!