10 Essentials for a Cozy and Stylish College Dorm Room
Dorm rooms tend to be small and somewhat sterile, but a little design magic can make one feel warm and inviting. Consider these 10 ideas for making a dorm room more cozy and functional. Do you have kids heading to college? If so, let us know your tips for making a dorm room feel more like home.
1. Under-the-Bed Storage
More likely than not, the bed will be the largest piece of furniture in a dorm room, so making the most of the space it takes up is important. Storage totes, cubbies or even low-profile drawers under a bed create storage in a room where space is at a premium.
Shop for storage totes on Houzz
More likely than not, the bed will be the largest piece of furniture in a dorm room, so making the most of the space it takes up is important. Storage totes, cubbies or even low-profile drawers under a bed create storage in a room where space is at a premium.
Shop for storage totes on Houzz
2. Lighting
Dorm rooms often come equipped with just an overhead light. Layering in task lighting is a great way to make a dorm room feel more like home. Bedside lamps, desk lamps and floor lamps are among the lighting options to consider.
Browse desk lamps
Dorm rooms often come equipped with just an overhead light. Layering in task lighting is a great way to make a dorm room feel more like home. Bedside lamps, desk lamps and floor lamps are among the lighting options to consider.
Browse desk lamps
3. Bulletin Board
Bulletin boards enable students to display inspirational art, class schedules and other visual reminders to keep them on track through the school year.
Look for a bulletin board
Bulletin boards enable students to display inspirational art, class schedules and other visual reminders to keep them on track through the school year.
Look for a bulletin board
4. Coffee or Tea Station
Whether a student is pulling an all-nighter or needs to wake up for that 8 a.m. class, having coffee or tea nearby can be a lifesaver. A French press or tea caddy, along with an electric kettle or microwave in the room for heating water, can help kick-start a student’s morning.
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Whether a student is pulling an all-nighter or needs to wake up for that 8 a.m. class, having coffee or tea nearby can be a lifesaver. A French press or tea caddy, along with an electric kettle or microwave in the room for heating water, can help kick-start a student’s morning.
Search for a French press
5. Hampers
It’s all too tempting for a busy college student to throw dirty clothes on the floor. Having a stylish hamper in the room will at least give them something to aim for and help them keep their dirty clothes separate from the clean ones.
Find wicker hampers
It’s all too tempting for a busy college student to throw dirty clothes on the floor. Having a stylish hamper in the room will at least give them something to aim for and help them keep their dirty clothes separate from the clean ones.
Find wicker hampers
6. Area Rugs
An area rug is a creature comfort that can help warm up a dorm room, especially if the floors are linoleum, which can feel quite chilly on bare feet. Area rugs are also a great way to add color, pattern and personality to a space.
Look for an area rug
An area rug is a creature comfort that can help warm up a dorm room, especially if the floors are linoleum, which can feel quite chilly on bare feet. Area rugs are also a great way to add color, pattern and personality to a space.
Look for an area rug
7. Removable Wallpaper
If you really want to add personality to a dorm room, there may be no better way than through wallpaper. Many companies today offer removable wallpaper that’s easy to apply and, more important, easy to remove when the school year is over.
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If you really want to add personality to a dorm room, there may be no better way than through wallpaper. Many companies today offer removable wallpaper that’s easy to apply and, more important, easy to remove when the school year is over.
Browse removable wallpaper
8. Storage Trunks
Storage trunks are an ideal piece of furniture for a dorm room. They can serve as coffee table, chair and storage container. Storage trunks come in a variety of styles, from the classic steamer trunk variety to sleek modern versions.
Shop for a storage trunk
Storage trunks are an ideal piece of furniture for a dorm room. They can serve as coffee table, chair and storage container. Storage trunks come in a variety of styles, from the classic steamer trunk variety to sleek modern versions.
Shop for a storage trunk
9. Coat Hooks
Hats, hoodies and backpacks are common accoutrements of today’s college students, and adding a removable coat hook or an over-the-door hook to hang these items will help them stay organized. It will also free up valuable floor space.
Search for removable coat hooks
Hats, hoodies and backpacks are common accoutrements of today’s college students, and adding a removable coat hook or an over-the-door hook to hang these items will help them stay organized. It will also free up valuable floor space.
Search for removable coat hooks
10. Bedding and Decorative Pillows
On their beds is where students spend a lot of the time in their dorm rooms. A stylish duvet or comforter and some trendy throw pillows will provide a comfortable perch for curling up with a textbook and make the room more visually appealing.
On their beds is where students spend a lot of the time in their dorm rooms. A stylish duvet or comforter and some trendy throw pillows will provide a comfortable perch for curling up with a textbook and make the room more visually appealing.