Did someone say, “Trunk Party?!” Wait a minute, it’s that time of the year already? It’s never too late or too early to brainstorm gifts for dorm room living.
If you’re a high school graduate, or starting your freshman year of college soon, then writing a packing list of dorm room supplies you need is important.
Why wait to plan for your home away from home? Move in day will be here sooner than you know it.
Be prepared to feel as cozy as possible with the perfect dorm room essentials to begin your college student journey.
And the great thing about this is, you can share the gift ideas for your dorm or off-campus apartment with friends and family.
Walking across the graduation stage is a big deal and they want to send you off with everything you need!
Are you ready to win the best room decor in a freshman dorm hall crown? We’ve got all the unique gifts for dorm room living that you can think of!
What do you put in a college dorm room?
Everything that you put into your bedroom at home as long as it can fit into smaller spaces.
Dorm rooms typically provide a desk, chair, mattress, and bed.
It’s your responsibility to make the room “yours”. What are some comfort items you can’t live without?
What necessities are on your packing list?
How will your room reflect your personality?
Create a dorm room list so you’ll have all the essentials that you need and more.
Sometimes, it’s best to start off with the basics and build from there.
How can I make my college dorm more homey?
After making a gifts for dorm room list of the essential items you need, find inspiration for your dorm decor that will make it feel more like home.
I’m not suggesting that you go to the extremes, like buying a bed frame and getting paint swatches for how you will paint the walls.
However, wallpaper may be an option?
Any who, my point is for you to go on social media and actively search stylish yet practical dorm rooms.
There are plenty of college students who elevate their personal space to another level with budget-friendly items and gifts from their loved ones.
From textured rugs or ottomans, seat cushions, statement photo frames and poster collages, neon wall lights, hanging shelves for small plants, bulletin boards to fluffy seat cushions.
Just make sure you color coordinate!
Dormify is a great way to come up with dorm ideas on Instagram. College students do dorm tours and there’s a direct link to purchase items you’d like to buy.
Pinterest is a great way for you to stay organized and creative while styling your dorm room.
You can divide all of your ideas for college decor themes, organization, personal and academic items into visual boards where you can save pins from other college students like you.
Are you ready to put the personal touches on your college dorm? There’s just one more step – get input from others who know you personally.
The great thing about starting college is that you can reinvent yourself – and your style!
Don’t be afraid to make a statement with your room, or add in items like egg chairs, beanbags, and plenty of color-popping photo frames to showcase your memories.
Seeing familiar faces and fur babies (if you have pets) from back home around your dorm will instantly bring you comfort and put you in a good mood.
One more thing you can do to make your college dorm your home is bring something sentimental along with you.
Whether it’s a stuffed animal, a piece of jewelry, a t-shirt, or a valuable item that you were gifted or have had since childhood, it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s something that’s meaningful to you.
That’s one sure way to make your college dorm feel like home!
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How can I make my dorm look nice?
Dorm room theme idea – select from various dorm room theme ideas including aquatic, astrology, minimalist, retro, boho-chic with macrame, galleria, anime, princess, music, etc. or anything that represents your interests or personality.
Color theme – select 2-3 subtle or bold colors. Some common choices are pink and white, rose gold, silver, or sage green.
Bedding – select a comforter set or layer your bedding with a sheet set, duvet, fleece blanket, 2 sets of pillows, and a knitted or textured throw.
Throw Pillows – If you have enough space and storage, get 3 different sized accent pillows that will make your bed feel cozier.
Wallpaper – Peel and stick wallpaper will elevate any room. Select one with patterns, bold colors, or prints that pairs well with your theme or color scheme.
Decorative wallpaper with cool or dark tones is a must-have for dorm room decor.
The days of covering bland white walls with pop culture posters and a photo collage are over, goal-friends.
Set the foundation of your dorm room decor with designs that will bring your new room to life.
Accessorize – Any items that add flare to your dorm room theme should follow the color scheme.
Whether it’s a customized name light, sunburst mirrors, collage gallery, or an oversized rug, make sure it fits with your theme.
Everything doesn’t have to match, but adding too much ‘stuff’ to fill up the space will take away from your unique dorm room design.
Place a limit on how many accessories you’ll have for your wall, desk area, bedding, and nightstand.
Rearrange Furniture – Work with your roommate to create more space for your room by putting both desks between your beds or wherever there is more natural light.
If allowed, move any furniture to add a futon or additional elegant chair for guests to sit.
Sometimes, you’ll need to move some things around to create the best room design that you desire.
Dorm Room Design – Discover if your fellow dorm mate is a designing diva like you and invite them to decide on a matching color scheme or get to know each other by shopping for gifts for dorm room decor together
You all can even coordinate your bedding to match!
Create an experience to remember your first year of college by making your room aesthetically pleasing and Instagram worthy.
Create a comfortable space for entertaining your new college friends and relaxing in between classes.
Dorm Bathroom Decor – Some dorm rooms are suites connected with one shared bathroom between two rooms.
This is another space where you can make your bathroom an oasis for everyone.
Some dorm bathroom ideas include floating shelves, woven baskets, drawer organization with labeled acrylic bins, a towel ladder, weaved basket counter trays, soap and lotion dispensers, or a cute accent wall.
Lighting – Some dorms have plenty of natural light with good views, while other dorm rooms are in old buildings with no windows at all.
There are various types of bulbs that can either make a room feel too bright or androgynous with low lighting.
Neon lights, lamps, strobe lights, or DIY chandelier coverings can either set the mood after a long day of classes or create a pretty cool atmosphere for a dorm party.
Switch things up a bit with all the lighting decor options to choose from out there.
You can even add night lights under your desk or bed! Lamps are one of the most underrated gifts for dorm room living!
Dorm Door Decorations – Don’t forget to decorate your entryway with a white dry erase board for friends to leave messages, roommate photos, arts and crafts, a mini mudroom in the foyer area, post a poll for your dorm hall, movie characters, or your favorite musicians.
You can also add small reefs, a welcome mat, and put up seasonal or holiday decorations just as you would at home.
Must-have items for college dorm decor
What to buy a girl for her dorm room?
There’s an endless number of practical and stylish gifts for dorm room essentials you can give a college girl.
Girls want to have fun, but they also want to feel comfortable away from home, too.
Why not gift the special high school graduate in your life with all the things she’ll need for dorm living while making it pretty and well organized?
If you need dorm gift ideas for college girls, I’ve got you covered!
Best Dorm Gifts For College Girls
How do I make my dorm room less cluttered?
Pack light. Staying organized in small spaces can be difficult. That’s why it’s important to learn all the dorm living hacks before move-in day.
There are so many ways to conserve space in dorm rooms, so there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel.
Trust me, there’s a product for every single issue you’ll need to resolve space wise.
Is your dorm room bed too high?
Get a narrow pullout drawer high enough to double as a nightstand with extra storage space.
This one from IKEA is a popular choice amongst the college girls!
Door hooks are a hack for staying organized.
Use them for more than just coats, but bath towels, bags, hats, and a place to hang your lanyards with your keys.
From travel bags, additional storage needs, desk organization, or ways to keep your dorm room clean, here’s an exhaustive list of gifts for dorm room essentials that will keep your room nice and neat all semester long.
Vanity Stool Chair with Storage
Mesh Caddy Organizer For Bathroom
You don’t have to purchase every single thing off of this list, but we’ve included all the dorm room essentials you’ll need to survive your freshman year of college.
Add these gifts for dorm room living to your trunk party registry to be sent off the right way!
Download the Daily Routine Planner Printable to get a head start on planning your on-campus move today.
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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