You drive up to your college campus alone. You're cool, so you didn't ride with your parents. You find where to park, and with a shining key in your hand, you seek out your 12x12 concrete cell you'll be living in for the next nine months of your life. Walking up the stairs, you pass people carrying microwaves, mini fridges, and more clothes than will fit in their room. You meet your Resident Advisor, and turn your key in the door. It opens, and you see a small to medium size room that is completely bare and uninviting. (At least there was a door decoration...)
So what is a classy 18-22 year old to do in this situation?
You will work this out. You will share this tiny space with another human, and your clothes and belongings will fit! First things first: find a few key items that will turn your jail cell into a little paradise.
1. Invest in a rug.
There are plenty of different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures to rugs. You're also going to spill everything on your rug, so consider that when you're looking at your options. Something sturdy and easy to vacuum are my priorities.
Cheap: Walmart, $20
This rug will serve exactly the purpose you need it to: live in a dorm room/small apartment for a few years. You won't feel bad for spilling bright red fruit punch, and you can vacuum to your heart's content.
Middle Ground: Marshall's/TJ Maxx/Home Goods, $50
Premium: Target or Bed Bath & Beyond, $75
This is definitely on the higher end of the price range for a dorm rug, but it is nice to roll out of bed and put your feet on something soft. If you're moving into an apartment, or know you'll use it for quite a while, this may be the rug for you.
2. Hang up a tapestry or two.
Or anything large that will really cover your walls. There's been paint, stains, and command strips on and off them twice a year. Do yourself a favor, make it simple, and look for large, easy to adhere items.
Cheap: Online from Dormco.com or another trusted site, $20
Middle Ground: Local Store, Between $30-$45
There's a store in Columbia, SC called Loose Lucy's, and that's where I get my tapestries. For about $35, I've gotten large tapestries that coordinate with my decor, and really make my room feel homey.
This was in an early stage of decorating my room, but I just put the tapestry up, and it was finally coming together.
Premium: Society6, $79 and up
If this isn't the coolest thing to hang on your wall, I'm not sure what is. The photos that are on the Society6 tapestries are beautiful, and the artist gets paid for their work too!
3. Involve curtains/drapery.
Your grandmother was right: curtains do make a room. You've got quite a few different options, so using your color scheme, the amount of light you want, and your best judgement here are three different styles.
Cheap: Kmart's blackout curtains, or lacy sheer curtains
Middle Ground: TJ Maxx Online, $20
Premium: Bed Bath and Beyond, $45 each
4. Light up the room
The lighting in the room is one of the most important things you can control. With twinkly fairy lights and selected lamps, your room can glow and look magical. Go with a warm white color, and you can't be wrong.
Cheap: Walmart Curtain of Lights, $20
Middle Ground: Target String Lights, $28 for 2 strands
Premium: Bed Bath and Beyond, Floor Lamp $70
5. Use your sense of smell, and add fragrance.
There are days where you've needed to do laundry, dishes, and clean your tennis shows. Those are the days where some assistance in the scent department is needed. With any of these three options, you'll be able to eliminate odors, or at least cover them up.
Cheap: Yankee Candle, Fragrance Spheres $5
Middle Ground: Bed Bath and Beyond Wax Melts, $15
Premium: NEST Fragrances Diffuser, $45
With the combination of these 5 aspects of your dorm room, you can transform your space. After all, it is where you hole yourself up during finals week, party with your new best friends, and make more memories than you thought possible.
