Decorating Your Dorm Room on a Budget

By Jan Britt

Moving on from high school to college can be exciting and intimidating.  As an Interior Designer and Window Treatment Specialist, I have some creative ideas for you to help you decorate your dorm room.  You have to think "out of the box" if the college or university dorm rooms do not allow you to paint the rooms or use nails to hang items on the wall. The largest piece of furniture you have in your room is usually your bed. You will be wasting a lot of space if your bed is not elevated up higher than normal. You can purchase the bed risers from Wal-Mart, mattress stores and many other stores to help you make better use of the space under your bed. There are many storage units that will fit nicely under the elevated bed.    

If you are not able to put nails into your walls in your dorm room than I have a solution for you! You can use 3M Picture hanger command strips.  You would be surprised to see what those little hangers can hold. You can hang your jewelry pouch against the side wall of the inside of your closet or on the back of the closet door. You can use the larger 3M hooks all by themselves for larger pictures you may want to hang.  Read the directions and follow the weight suggestions for hanging.     

Bedding is one of the important items that will help you create the comfort feeling you will need as you go away to school.  You can either choose a "quiet" look to encourage calmness or a wild and creative comforter or bedspread to promote the fun and crazy atmosphere you are anticipating to enjoy. When you are choosing bedding for your bed you can have custom made bedding or a "Bed in the Bag".  Whatever bedspread or comforter you choose it is wise to choose bedding that is washable.  You can modify the dust ruffle that you have chosen by sewing in pockets with Velcro or button closures to the dust ruffle.  If your headboard does not have to be totally pushed up against the wall you can have a slipcover made to fit the headboard.  In the back of the slipcover facing the wall, you can have pockets sewn into it with Velcro or button closures.  These pockets can be used for private items. 

I have many more creative decorating ideas and storage techniques  that are just perfect to help you move a family member into a dorm room. Please contact me and I will be happy to help you decorate your dorm room in a traditional or "out of the box"  style for this special time in your life.  

If you have any questions please contact me at (404)510-3636 or www.decoratewithjan.com.