For many people, a college dorm room will be their very first foray into tiny apartment [1] living. Many students are excited to outfit their very own space with chic, multi-purpose furniture from stores like Ikea [2] and Target [3] in order to transform their dorm room into a personalized, welcoming space. The same rules that apply to decorating small spaces [4] apply even in the university dorms. Why not make the dorms feel like a grown-up, proper apartment? We've compiled 11 tips and tricks that will make even the coziest of dorm rooms feel like a lovely space to spend a year.
Turn Your Bed Into a Couch
Sugar & Cloth [5] shows how to turn a single bed into a couch with the addition of some throw pillows. We have plenty more bed styling tricks [6] for small spaces, too!
Decorate the Dresser
Most college dorm rooms include a standard-issue dresser. To customize a dresser as one might in a tiny apartment, add personal details like A Beautiful Mess [7]'s colorful vanity accessories.
Cover the Dorm Floor
The floors in any dorm have likely seen better days. Just as if the home were your own, bring in a special rug to customize the room, but don't spend a fortune on a piece you likely won't keep forever.
Pack a Pouf
To make a dorm room as comfy as an apartment, add an ottoman or pouf to serve as a footstool, a small table, or a welcoming place for new friends to sit.
Elevate Your Coffee Routine
A truly comfortable home means not having to go outside for a cup of coffee! Bring a French press to the dorms, along with preground beans and the same water heater everyone uses for Ramen, to prepare coffee with a set up similar to that seen on A Beautiful Mess [8].
Make Wall Hangings Functional
Making the most of every inch in tiny apartments and dorm rooms means using even the space on the wall. We love Sugar & Cloth [9]'s DIY [10] pegboard project, which will make wall space handy for storage and temporarily mounted art.
Have a Proper Table Setting
Whether in a dorm room or tiny apartment, some meals are consumed solo and at home. Instead of eating from containers or right out of the pizza box, make mealtime special by packing a full table setting.
Bring a Tablecloth
Make a dorm rager more like a sophisticated cocktail party by throwing a tablecloth over your desk. It'll come in handy for impromptu picnics too.
Hang Chic Drapes
Nothing makes a place look lived-in like a set of drapes. Customize a pair of inexpensive white panels for a window treatment that will class up a dorm room.
Take Along a Tray
A tray is one of the most important accessories for people living in small spaces. A tray will serve to organize items on a desk, but can be used for meals in bed and as a platter when friends come over.
Learn to Love a Good Throw
A throw like the one seen on Love Grows Wild [11] will make nights in or study sessions more cozy, whether in a dorm or tiny apartment.