The Easiest DIY Dorm Decor You And Your Roommate Can Pull Off
Around August every year, my bank account takes a serious hit. Why? Because that’s when I shop for my dorm. No one said college was cheap: between paying tuition and paying for cute decor, the cost adds up. If you and your roommate are looking for affordable ways to transform your room, check out these DIY dorm decor projects.
1. Twisted Candles
Candles in dorm rooms is a taboo subject. If you don’t light them, they’re fine to have…right? Turns out, reshaping candles can make for a fun DIY dorm decor project. I’ve tried this out myself, so I can attest how easy this DIY is to follow. To get twisty, art decor candles like the ones above, you first need to buy long candlesticks. Color is optional—I got one in pink, and one in white. Michael’s sells candlesticks at a super low price, but you can find them at any craft store. Next, fill your sink with warm water. The water should be hot enough for your candles to bend when submerged. Which brings us to our next step: soak the candles in the water for about ten minutes. Check on them periodically to see if they’re malleable enough to shape. If they are, carefully contort them in your desired shapes. It’s that simple!
2. Vision Board
Ditch your digital vision board for a physical copy. It’s important to keep your dreams where you can see them, so why not hang them on your walls? However you make a vision board is open for your interpretation. I made mine by purchasing and decorating a large paper board from Staples. You’ll want something sturdy enough to support all the pictures you glue on. I like to include tangible objects on my vision board, like tickets and pins. The bigger the board is, the better. If you need inspiration on what to include, hit up Pinterest. I won’t tell you what sort of pictures to add, but I recommend images of travel, food, and whatever your definition of success is. This DIY dorm decor will liven up your dorm and motivate you to achieve your goals. Work towards the future you deserve for yourself!
3. Mirror Collage
Sick of photo collages? Decorate your dorm with mirrors upon mirrors! Layered mirrors create such a timeless, elegant look, perfect for those who love a dark academia or coquette design style. To begin with, you’ll want to find at least two mirrors to use. I suggest looking at a nearby thrift store for affordable, antique mirrors. Try to get mirrors of varying sizes and shapes; the contrast will look visually striking. If you want, you can even paint the frames different colors. To layer them, place your largest mirror in the back and your smaller one up front. Attach the two mirrors to each other with a strong adhesive, like maximum strength command strips. If there’s any room behind the front mirror, fix a wooden block to the back of it and adhere the block to the wall. Mirror, mirror on the wall, now who has the fairest dorm of them all?
4. Pottery
Remember going to pottery studios for birthday parties? Keep your childhood memories alive and roll up your sleeves: for this DIY dorm decor, you’re going to get crafty. Plaster Funtime was the name of the studio I always visited as a kid. I think it’s time I pay them another visit. Adults and kids alike can make a ton of cute pottery, from bowls to bookends. Surprise your roommate with a date to your nearest studio. Challenge yourself to see what you can create! One idea is to make nameplates for each other. Pick a cute sculpture, like a starfish or a butterfly, and paint them using your favorite colors. When the paint is dry, add your initials to the object. Hang them on your door or over your beds…or under your beds, if they don’t turn out okay.
5. Canopy Bed
Speaking of childhood memories…this canopy bed is the stuff of eight-year-old me’s dreams. Canopies aren’t just for kids. If you’re into a more boho style of decor, you need to test out this DIY dorm decor idea. First, you’ll need to attach a small hook to your ceiling. If you’re in a dorm room, I’d advise you to attach the hook with putty rather than a nail. Since the curtains the hook will hold are lightweight, a command hook would probably do the trick. Once you attach the first hook over the head of the bed, place two others on either sides of the first one. The two additional hooks should be closer towards the middle of your bed, to later create a billowy, tent-like effect. The most important step is to add your curtains. Tulle would be a good material to use here, seeing how light it is. If you want to customize your canopy, I recommend draping fairy lights over the fabric. Flower or vine garlands would look great, too!
6. Throw Pillows
For some reason, throw pillows are always overpriced. If you’re anything like me, you’re tired of spending big bucks on something you’ll just toss off your bed. I’ll let you in on a secret: you can make throw pillows that are just as cute as the ones on Urban Outfitters. Plus, they’re cheaper! All you need is a plain white throw pillow, an iron, and a design to transfer on. Target sells a number of white throw pillows, starting for as low as $4. As for the iron-on designs, Michael’s and Joanne’s have a ton of options. I’m planning on buying daisy patches and ironing them around the border of my pillow. I also love the look of putting your initials on a throw pillow. I’ve seen alphabet patches sold at Michael’s before, so if you want to monogram anything, that’s all you need.
“Cute” doesn’t necessarily have to mean “expensive.” As you can see, there are a lot of DIY dorm decor options out there—and this is only a small number of them. Explore the possibilities, and happy decorating!
Still searching for dorm decor inspo? Share this post with your roommate!
Feature image source: https://pin.it/2DWJTa9
