Millions of students are getting ready to head off to college, and with that comes the challenge of turning a dull dorm room into a functional, cozy space. Filling up your dorm room with all the things you need and want can be tough, and it can cost a lot too, but we've got some decorator tips for you to head back to school and make your home away from home look beautiful on a budget. Many students like rising junior Nicolette Esper start their college journey with big plans for their dorm room.
"I would say my freshman year was a big cluttered mess because I had too many decorations," she said. "It took me now four years to figure out what I need in my room and what I don't need." These days, posters on dorm walls are not good enough.
Excited students are turning to TikTok and Pinterest for the latest trends, and perhaps to be inspired by over-the-top makeovers. But what's most important to making a dorm feel like home? Erika Ward of says if you want to create a consistent look, start with the basics. "The first thing we all need to consider is functionality.
As an interior designer, that's where we start. How does this space need to function for me?" said Ward. "Think about the shell of the room.
The floors, the wall and the ceiling." She also mentioned DIY projects you can do — like enlarging your own photographs, or handwritten letters to make you feel secure while being away from home. "And the ceiling, although we can't go in and change the overhead lighting, sometime.