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It just doesn’t seem real to be sending my oldest off to college, but it happens so fast!  Just take my word for it!  And let’s face it, when our kids go off to college, we want them to be comfortable, successful, and enjoy their experience.

Creating a simple but Darling Dorm Bedroom is a good place to begin and is really quite easy!

The “DORM”

The dorm bedroom is the one place your child may have a little control over.  Other “common” areas of the apartment, may be up for grabs as far as who gets to the decorate the space and how they decorate it.

But in their own bedroom, they will be able to have a little more input, and especially their own bed!  This is their domain!!

While visiting some potential apartments for my daughter to rent, I noticed that most of the dorm bedrooms had very little decorations and the decorations they did have, were often a little odd.  (Let’s just say it, some of it was a little weird!)

I know that college kids are short on cash, so we came up with some simple, cheap and easy ideas to Decorate your Dorm Bedroom!

1. First, start with the bed and pick 3-4 colors to decorate around.

This is where your child will sleep and spend some serious time doing homework.  Their bed needs to be easy to make and a comfortable space that will help to inspire them without too much stimulation.

We chose to start with a simple solid colored bedspread.  This was an easy way to add color, interest, and soothing comfort.  We found ours at Wal-Mart.

Another thing to think about is an extra set of sheets so they can change their sheets without worrying about having to get it all washed the same day too.

2. Second,  add some throw pillows for added color, interest, and style to their bed.

Just a few throw pillows are all that is needed.  These will add to your child’s comfort and the overall look of their bed.

Simple pillow shams are super easy to make and are also more affordable than some pillows.  (Here is a great tutorial on how to make them.)  We found ours at a discount at Ross.

3. Third, add some functional accents and accessories in the colors you picked.

These can be throw blankets, mirrors, rugs, chairs, lamps, etc.  All of them should be functional to this space and not only add function, but beauty as well.

We chose a gold mirror to add to the gold accents we wanted to incorporate in our room.  Gold adds a touch of “glam” that is really quite fun!

We also found a cute tiered tray for her make-up, which works really well.  I found a really cute one here, that was actually made for make-up!

4. Fourth,  adding a touch of home and family will remind them of who is cheering for them.

A simple picture or quote, or an easy way to display their favorite photos or an object that reminds them of your support will help them on those hard days.

This is also a way to add more of your accent colors in.  Just paint a simple picture frame and add a photo or quote.  We hung ours with Command Strips.

5. Fifth, organized storage is a must for them to be able to function from day to day.

If they can find it and get to it easily, they will use it! 

My daughter’s college dorm had some of the beds raised so that they could put their storage underneath the bed.  This works quite well, but it still needs to be somewhat organized in order for it to be helpful to them.

She used some colorful storage containers from Wal-Mart, I found some similar ones here.  (And for those that want to “hide” the storage, I found this option.)

Make the Bed First!

Once, we got her bed made, the room looked better already!  After adding a few accessories, adding a touch of home, and organizing her storage, she was on her way to conquer the world!  Well, it seemed that way!  😉

It doesn’t take much to make their Dorm Bedrooms a cozy, comfortable and enjoyable place to be!

The best part was how much she loved the space after it was decorated.  It looked clean, comfortable and calming.  It looked like a wonderful place to sleep, do homework, talk with roommates and take a break after a long day.

Start with a few colors… (and the bed.)

We started with an idea of what colors we wanted to use and then worked around those colors we picked.  Then we added functional accents with useful storage and tossed in some throw pillows.

Starting with the bed was the key to our success because it is the biggest item in the room with color and we wanted a calming effect.

Don’t forget the LOVE…

We topped it off with a little love from home with a favorite picture from her childhood, and quote.  (I think she even added her own family picture.  Hmmm…. mine went missing! 😉 )

Under $100!

Her total cost was about $75 for the comforter, pillows, mirror, storage containers, and make-up tier, so that was a great bargain to have a beautiful and comfortable Dorm Bedroom!

All in all, we had a great time Decking our her Dorm Bedroom and it will be a comfortable place for her to be for the years to come!

Enjoy these moments…. they don’t last long!

It’s a milestone to enjoy when our kids head off to college!  Decking out my daughter’s dorm will be a fond memory for years to come, especially with my precocious 3-year-old in tow! 😀

Happy Dorm Bedroom Decorating!

Amy

What Else?…

There are some other things to consider when visiting college apartments and when decking out your dorm.

For example, some apartments offer a vacuum cleaner, some don’t.  Some provide garbage cans, some don’t.  What about a shower curtain and rugs?

My best advice is to ask lots of questions and make a list of everything that they will provide… and then of everything your child will need and may have to split the cost with roommates.

Walk through their kitchen and imagine cooking a meal, what will they need?  (We forgot the salt and pepper! 🙄 )

Also, if they have a raised bed like my daughter’s, they probably could use a sturdy step stool to get on it! 😉

 

Here are some more great finds I found on Amazon for Dorm Bedrooms: