10 Pretty, Easy Crafts That’ll Brighten Up Your Dorm

Dorm rooms- you learn to love them, right? Well, fortunately, by adding a few DIY decorations to your tiny space, your dorm may prove easier to love than you think. We’ve gathered together our favorite foolproof crafts that are guaranteed to bring life to any living situation, no matter how small. Now, what are you waiting for, let’s get that glue gun out! Here are 10 pretty, easy crafts that’ll brighten up your dorm room.

1. Mason Jar Vase

Mason jars have been a staple of DIY decor for years now, and upon purchasing a few for yourself, you’ll see why! The jars are inexpensive, versatile, and vintage-looking, so they make a great canvas for lots of different projects. We’re drawn to this burlap vase’s rustic design and simple assembly, only requiring you to hot glue a strip of burlap around the vase, a bit of lace or twine around that, and set to dry before filling it with sunflowers or baby’s breath. You can also take blank jars and decorate them with rhinestones, permanent markers, or just leave them blank and fill them with fairy lights. Find the tutorial here.

2. DIY Decorated Mug

Not only are cute mugs perfect for delivering us our much-needed caffeine (thanks for the Keurig, Mom), but they’re also pretty on their own. The trouble is, we don’t usually have the $15 plus shipping to pay for one on Etsy. Never fear! Making your own is ridiculously easy and affordable. All you need is a couple of sharpies and a blank ceramic mug. Design your mug however you like (you can make it sassy or sweet, up to you) then bake for half an hour at three hundred and fifty degrees.

3. Coffee Can Planters

Tend to buy coffee in bulk? Keep those coffee cans to make pretty planters! Just remove the labels from medium to large coffee cans (such as Kirkland Signature brand) along with any residue with dish soap and some scrubbing (and possibly a razor blade). After the cans are dry, spray paint with gloss paint (this example uses white). Then, drill a hole on each side (to put in a rope handle later) and hot glue the creases of the painted cans, placing some twine or ribbon in them. After you secure the rope through the holes, you’re ready to display them! Find the tutorial here.

4. Alcohol Ink Tile Coasters

Part of being an adult is taking care to protect your furniture, and coasters are a stylish way to make sure that your beloved desk stays stain-free! Just get yourself some matte tiles (possibly from Home Depot) and paint with some alcohol inks (activated with isopropyl alcohol), blow dry, spray with enamel before securing cork to the back of them. We’re drawn to hexagon shapes because they’re modern and great for layering on top of one another! Here’s the full tutorial.

5. Desk Organizer

Let’s face it… in college, we’re spending lots of time studying at our desks. Why not make your own desk organizer out of a tissue box to make the experience a little more pleasant? All you need to make your own is an empty tissue box, empty toilet paper rolls, colored pencils, scissors, markers, and a glue stick. Draw out any pattern or design you’d like on craft paper (or the back of leftover wrapping paper), glue it around your tissue box, and place the toilet paper rolls inside to keep your pens and pencils at the ready during cram sessions. Here’s the tutorial.

6. Bathroom Apothecary Jars

Don’t the jars below look fit for a Queen? Well, just by saving your trip-wick candle jars, you can make them for yourself! Simply remove any leftover wax, place the jar in the freezer to help get rid of the adhesive labels, and glue glass knobs to the top of the jar using E6000 craft glue. That’s it! No ten-minute youtube tutorial necessary (but here’s the website we found this craft on in case you’re curious).

7. DIY Wreath

While the site we found this gorgeous wreath on says it’s for Christmas, we’re sure you could experiment with different types of natural-looking garland (such as Eucalyptus) for any time of year. You can even find some at your local Target! Then, double up your garland until it has a three-foot circumference, securing at the stems with floral wire and layering when necessary. Looks great on your dorm door! Find the tutorial here.

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8. No-Sew Tassel Blanket

A little unfamiliar with the art of stitching? Never fear! You can still create a cozy blanket yourself without the usage of any sewing materials. All you need is some fabric (72 by 90 inches), painter’s tape, a ruler, scissors, yarn, and a paper clip. Cut a small square from each side of the fabric, then using painter’s tape and a ruler, fold the fabric over and mark it every two inches (this will be where your yarn tassels will come out) Make sure to do the same on all four sides! Then, after making incisions with your scissors, wrap up small bundles of yarn and pull them through the slits with your paper clip. Check out this video for a visual guide on how to make it.

9. Painted Monogram

We love this craft because just by getting some outdoor-safe paint, a blank wooden letter, and whatever other decorations you’re drawn to (glitter, faux flowers, lace), you’ll likely know exactly what to do. This website’s tutorial uses E600 glue to stick metal flowers and painted numbers (for the address) on their letter, but how you decorate your own monogram is completely up to you.

10. Flower Wall

Headboards are great, but in college, who’s got the money or space for one? By making a flower wall for the back of your bed (or anywhere else), you’ll be creatively utilizing your small space and adding feminine detail to an otherwise dismal wall. After purchasing several fake flower bouquets, fishing line, and push pins, assemble your garlands by cutting the flowers off the bouquet and using pliers to cut into the centers before separating the flowers according to color. Then glue them to your fishing lines, wait for them to dry, and pin them to your wall. So pretty! Here’s the full tutorial.