Creating the perfect space for your college room can be hard, and I get that. You want your room to feel as homey as possible, and cinder block walls are not a part of that dream. While your dorm, apartment, or house looks like a shack on the inside, you can still spice it up by adding decor to make it your own. Having a room that you are proud of at college is super important, and even can make you feel more comfortable in your environment. Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of 15 must-have items for any college room that I have found useful over my past four years.
You may have seen these on TikTok, or just on someone’s Snapchat story. A star projector has the option of various colors, designs and can even connect to your phone and be used as a speaker. When you turn off your lights, your entire room will look like a galaxy. While some are a little bit on the more expensive side if you’re on a budget, I found mine on Amazon for under $40 and it is amazing. There are tons of color options, star patterns, and light modes that you can choose from, and some even offer an “ocean” setting, where the ceiling will look like water. This projector is the perfect piece for when you’re just relaxing in your room.
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This has been one of the most useful items throughout my entire college career. For incoming freshmen, it is nice to have a stool or two in your room for getting on high surfaces such as your bed, or even just to reach the top of your closet or dresser without having to climb on any furniture. Because my mom normally would get things down for me when living at home, I quickly realized at school how necessary a step stool is when you need to do things yourself and are short.
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These two lamps serve different purposes but will get you equally as many compliments. The sun lamp or daylight lamp is great for the winter months especially, as they are meant to recreate the feeling of being in the sun. For those of us who suffer from seasonal depression, the sun lamp is perfect for feeling like you are in the light for more hours than you actually are. The sunset lamp is another TikTok trend we just could not resist. The lamp comes in a few color options and casts an orange and red glow on your wall as if you were watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
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As I moved on through college, I realized how little I found myself wanting to use up space with a desk in my room and just do work on my bed. Being a writer, I would have to take a lot of handwritten notes, which is not easy to do on a soft surface like my bed. Enter the lap desk. Having a place to set all of my pens and work on that won’t get lost in my blankets or fall is extremely helpful, and could give you the motivation to do your work from bed.
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No room is complete with the one light provided by the school. To really add life to the room, choose fairy lights or LED lights to give your own twist. This will provide softer lighting for you as well if you just want some light on, and also can be wrapped around bed frames, mirrors, etc. for an added flare. I have fairy lights strung throughout my room and my living room at college to give added light and make the place feel more like home.
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These curtains can really benefit your messed-up sleep schedule. While regular curtains work just fine, these curtains are so thick, your room will be dark as night at any hour. No more waking up from the sun in your eyes every morning, because these curtains will make sure not a ray of sun comes through when closed.
Any type of speaker is recommended for your room. While I recommend one in your living room, bedroom, and bathroom, just one speaker can suffice. You always are going to want to listen to music in your room alone at some point- if you’re doing homework, getting ready for a night out, or you just want to cry to sad music, you are going to want to listen to something by yourself. A small soundbar is affordable and has great sound quality while taking up no space. I set mine on top of my dresser and just turn it on when I need it!
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Tapestries are the first thing people think of when they start buying decorations for their college room. Society6, Redbubble and Etsy all offer specific tapestries that can fit anyone’s style. From the infamous Jersey Shore note written out to a meme of Kris Jenner, to a huge blown-up picture of Harry Styles, you can make almost anything into a cute tapestry for your room. These are the best because they take up so much space on your wall, so it’s minimal effort for decorating.
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No matter where I lived on campus, my room was never the correct temperature for the season. Dorm rooms are notorious for not supplying their own air conditioning units, so the summer and spring months are insufferable without a surplus of fans going on in your room at all times. My room at school currently gets super cold because the heater does not work, so a portable heater regulated my room temperature just fine in the winter.
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Neon signs are the perfect, somewhat expensive piece for your room. Amazon sells miniature signs in shapes like lightning bolts and hearts for a budgeting option. However, if you’re looking for a specific saying or larger sign, I’d recommend looking at Neon Beach. I have the “stay a while…” sign hung above my bed, and it is the most complimented piece in my room. You’re sure to feel at home with any of these on your wall.
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If you are going for more of an earthy vibe for your college room, or just want to liven the space up a bit with minimal effort, buy a bunch of plastic plants from Amazon or your local craft store. Ivy strands and succulent plants that can be hung on walls are perfect additions without all of the worry about keeping them alive. They also fill up wall space and often come in bulk amounts.
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Much like tapestries, posters are a way to put your own spin on your room. This year, I hung up posters according to the color theme of my room. I picked ones that either had something to do with what interests me, or posters that just were aesthetically pleasing. Society6, Redbubble, Etsy, or even printing your own at a drugstore are all easy ways to personalize your room.
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Chances are that you have a lot of electronics to plug into your college room, and minimal outlets in your room to do so. A charging station will have a place to charge your phone and any other Apple products you have, while also providing USB ports and normal plug outlets for your devices. They are also small, so you can plug everything in on your bedside table and not take up too much room.
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If you have a desk in your room, you know how cluttered it can get. Especially if you’re like me and only use your desk for storage. By getting desk shelves, I was able to provide extra storage for books, pens, folders, and whatever else I needed without causing a bunch of clutter to pile up. It saves a lot of cleaning and organization time and makes your room look cleaner.
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A full-length mirror is the most underrated college room item hands down. You never realize the lack of mirrors there are in your house until you are wondering what your outfit really looks like, but can’t find a full mirror to look at it. Or, when your roommate who lives all the way upstairs has one and you don’t, you’ll think back to this article when I warned you.
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