Dorm Room Upgrades for College Freshmen

My seventeen year old cousin has graduated high school and will be starting college in the fall. It's hard to believe that the little girl I used to carry around on my shoulders is now taller than me and starting her own adult life! So, in honor of my sweet cousin, this month's 5 things is college dorm themed! Back in my undergraduate days, I found that well planned decorating went a long way in making a cement box feel like home. Upgrading from typical dorm room staples to more homey feeling items is a great start. Good luck to all the rising freshman!

Upgrade #1: Cold tile and cinder block to warm, colorful rug. 
In planning how she will decorate her college dorm, my cousin knows that whatever else she does, there must be chevron. This pattern is so popular right now, and not just with dorm-dwellers. And I couldn't resist the natural look of this light blue chevron rug! Instead of letting the cinder block surroundings make the room feel cold, use rugs to soften and warm the space.

Chevron rugs in various colors, available starting at $19 at Urbanoutfitters.com.

Upgrade #2: Cliche floor lamp to statement piece.
As the crowds of college-goers hit the aisles of Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond, many will pick up an affordable, three light, colorful floor lamp. There's nothing wrong with this, but they are a little overdone and frankly, undesirable outside of college. Instead, selecting a 'statement' lamp to sit on your desk will make the room feel less dorm-like, and you are more likely to want to keep the item once you graduate. Target has great mix and match lamp bases and shades to choose from! These two start at $40 (target.com)

                      

Upgrade #3: Door-front dry erase board to accent wall.

Instead of buying the standard small dry-erase board, make a bigger statement with chalkboard contact paper! It can stick to flat surfaces, like the back of the door, a closet door, or as an accent wall. For a smaller option, try framing it. How fun would it be for all your friends and roommates to leave little notes, pictures, and inside jokes? Wish they'd invented this stuff when I was in school! 

Less than $10 a roll on Amazon.com!

Upgrade #4: Beanbag to decorative pouf seating.

Poufs definitely have longer lasting potential than beanbags, and depending on height you can even slide them under the bed, pulling them out only when you need extra seating (like with the first Ikea one pictured below, for $29.99, ikea.com). Target also offers a taller, woven pouf in a natural beige or grey color ($49.99, target.com). 

                    

Upgrade #5: Bland blinds to colorful curtains. 

This was perhaps my favorite addition to my dorm room back in the day. You can purchase tension rods for under $10, which makes it easy to temporarily hang drapes over windows (or even to use to close off closets- mine was open one year so I hung curtains to keep the mess concealed!). It's easy to find fun patterned curtains (don't forget to check out cloth shower curtains as well!) for under $20. This damask design from Target starts at $17.99. 

Target Xhilaration drapes start at $17.99, Target.com

You can make a tiny, cold, cinder block space homey without spending too much. Rather than picking up the standard items that every dorm room has, choose what feels like home and what you wouldn't mind taking with you as you move in and out of dorms and apartments over the next several years of your life. I still have many of the items I purchased as a college student! Happy dorm decorating!