Wall decor is more than just corkboards and fairy lights (though those are essential, too). Finding new ways to arrange your favorite pictures, posters, ad obscure art can revitalize your space and make you more excited to be in it! Whether you’re a compulsive decorator or completely clueless, here are some ideas to get you started on a total dorm room facelift.
Decals give you an open range of possibilities for your aesthetic. Line them up uniformly to give your wall a classic wallpaper look or get creative with it by mix and matching words and florals for an inspirational quote. If you want to change your style, decals are perfectly harmless during removal, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your walls. This is perfect for the inventive decorator who always finds new inspiration.
Jazz up plain corkboard by modifying it with different colors and shapes. Make your wall not only functional but also alluring for the eye that loves detail and symmetry. Try chic hexagon shapes in a color palette lie silver, gold or navy blue. If you can’t find a pre-shaped corkboard in stores, you can buy cork sheets and cut them into the desired form. This is great for if you want to get creative with the painting scheme. They also double as a place to hang your jewelry!
Washi tape is perfect for a “no nails” policy dorm room. It rips easily, doesn’t leave any adhesive behind, and is available in a collection of different colors and textures. Try geometric patterns, wallpaper designs, or even create your own bold art piece. Don’t forget you can use washi tape to frame pictures and keep pesky wires in place.
Here’s a functional classic. You and your roommate can make to-do lists, jot down reminders, leave each other notes, or you can write yourself a motivational quote. This is also an inviting way for your friends to leave you playful messages. For the artsy types, grab a variety pack of chalk and design a colorful masterpiece to brighten up the wall.
If you’ve got a travel bug but are stuck doing mid-terms, here’s a way to keep the fires burning. Remind yourself what you’re working towards by hanging up encouraging postcards of your favorite destinations and dream vacation spots. The standard tool is removable adhesive photo strips, but you can use decorative metal clips, washi tape, or even a fun clothesline.
A time-tested method for transforming a cinderblock dorm room into an inviting space. Don’t worry, there’s more than your grandma’s wallpaper out there. These days wallpaper comes in a variety of shapes, textures and trendy patterns. Dress up any boring surface with a velvet texture, golden hexagons, modern brushstroke patterns, or bohemian lotus flowers. Make sure to select a removable brand if you’ve got a “no nails” policy.
Give your dorm room an earthy, bohemian touch with this trendy DIY concept. You’ll save time and money by skipping all the color coordination and planning by taking your favorite flowers and transforming your wall into a garden. You can use string, plain tape, or removable adhesive strips. This is especially lovely as an accent wall or above the headboard of your bed. Worried about petal drying out and falling everywhere? Use fake flowers.
You can rustic, as pictured below, or you can take a stab a chic, modern aesthetic by using monochromatic shelves with minimalist decor. Utilizing every square inch of your dorm room is essential for college living. Store books, pottery, plants, and jewelry here to save space in a cramped dorm room. Don’t forget to place framed photos of family and friends on the top.
You don’t have to be a painter extraordinaire to turn a blank wall into a masterpiece. Using old fabrics or canvas, you try out different stencils, strips, splatters or personal messages to hang on your wall. Decorate a reading book, cover up an empty space, or use it as a curtain for hiding personal items. If your room has large windows, this is a good way to keep the outside world from looking in.
Paper bunting has come a long way from dressing up an eight-year old’s birthday party. These days it is used as chic everyday decor for bedrooms, studies, and dorm rooms! Crafty types will love designing their own banners and garlands to spruce up their space. For those who aren’t so inclined, there are plenty of templates on the web for pretty patterns, messages, and colors.
Music lovers will love this idea. Vinyl records can be expensive, but local music shops, garage sales, and old collectors aren’t shy about parting with cheap old album art for a couple of bucks. Decorate your walls with the music that matters most to you, or shoot for an aesthetic look by sifting through forgotten vinyl records for cool album art.
This Pinterest-inspired project is a cute place to hang your photos and saves space by allowing you to display multiple photos without clearing out extra square inches for a place to put your pictures. You can experiment with rustic barn house frames, modern looks, or abstract shapes. The best part is picture frames are a buck each in thrift stores and bargain shops. For extra aesthetic points, try using polaroid photos.
Zero tools, zero installation skills, and zero mess! Just peel and stick. Mirrors open a room up and make it look more spacious, but they can be pricey. Mirror decals are a cheaper alternative that won’t do any damage to your walls. Use these to create a vanity nook for getting ready in the morning or put a cute frame around them for a whimsical look.
Entwine sentimental pictures in them, drape them around a wall mirror, or decorate the headboard of your bed with them. You can even spell an inspirational quote by using pins or washi tape to keep the lights in place. This creates a clean, stylish, and ambient look for your small space. If you’ve got sheer curtains, hang lights from the dowel rod to give your windows a shimmery effect.
Using a centerpiece to bring your entire wall together is chic, bold, and smart. Choose something that will instantly catch the eyes of your guests, like a wall-mounted floral arrangement, moon-shaped sculpture, white and gold stag head, macramé dream catcher, or a glowing LED strip lights display.
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