Dorm Decorating for Beginners
Well readers, since giving excellent advice and tips to first years seems to be a theme of the blog at the moment, I figured I’d throw in my own two cents (and take this opportunity to do another list post!). A few things you should know about me before we begin: 1. I like to think of myself as an amateur interior decorator. It’s on my back-up careers list. 2. I am very, very organized. Ask any of my friends, my level of organization/neatness can verge on the edge of OCD. Now, knowing these things, I’m going to give you some tips on decorating your dorm and also show off the recent redecoration of my room at home. I could probably write a book on this, so watch out because this may become a series.
1. Have inspiration! The hardest part, I think, of decorating any room is figuring out where to start. So google image some awesome dorm rooms, figure out what colors you want to use, or find a really cool bedroom and come up with ideas for how to make it work in your dorm! I used a pinboard on Pinterest to gather pictures of rooms/items I liked.
2. Use what you’ve got. Have a ton of books? Organize them in a unique way to add color to your room. Have a cool collection of hats? Display them on a shelf rather then hiding them away. Are you a photographer? Print out photos you’ve taken and show them off! Pick something you love and already have to give your room a personal and colorful touch–and you can even use it as a starting point for decorating the rest of your room.
3. Rugs can brighten any space. They can also be pricey, but even a small rug can make a big difference, so find one you love and then use it as a statement piece in a room. You could even hang it on a wall!
4. Command hooks and sticky tack are your best friends. Add some lighting, hang up posters, display your scarves or hats or whatever–since these aren’t permanent, they let you spice up your walls without worrying about damage.
5. Have a statement piece. If you’ve got a poster or picture you love, give it a wall of its own.
I’ll stop things there, but stay tuned for part 2!