Ideas for decorating your college dorm

By Isa Riano, Advertisement Manager

Living in a college dorm can be a thrilling experience for students. Having your own space or sharing one with a roommate all while being close to everything on campus sounds fantastic. Many incoming students, however, struggle to answer one question: “How should I decorate my college dorm?”

Most students hope to call their university their “home away from home” when they live on campus. They are, however, assigned to a dorm that has no decorations or personalization at first. As a result, finding ways to decorate it and personalize it can help students “make the dorm their own.”

Regardless of how much personalization and authenticity is put into decorating a college dorm, most students also have the same question: “how do I start?” When I first arrived at college and moved into my dorm, I had no idea how to arrange my pictures and frames or how I was supposed to decorate, despite the fact that it was something I was very interested in doing.

Several incoming freshmen have the same problem.

“I have so many ideas, but I haven’t decided on one yet,” said Tamar Olguin, an incoming freshman majoring in clinical psychology.

While some students prefer to decorate their dorms extensively, others prefer to keep things simple.

“I probably won’t decorate my dorm that much,” said Collin Laurie, an incoming freshman majoring in social work. “I’m afraid I’ll only have a few pictures.”

As a result, the first tip for decorating your dorm is to do something that represents who you are. Whether you have many decorations or only a few, just be yourself when deciding how to decorate your room.

There are numerous ways to decorate your room. If you are having trouble coming up with one, here are a few ideas and pictures to get you started:

Add a gallery wall.

Gallery walls add a lot of personality to a college dorm, precisely because you are free to add your own style to them. Gallery words can include pictures, frames, or any other elements that are meaningful to you and make you feel home. Moreover, if you want to remember moments with your family and friends while you are in college, it would be very helpful to take pictures you have taken with your loved ones. You could also add collections of frames or decorations you have received during your time at Saint Leo University.

Add a comfortable chair.

Including a comfortable chair will give you another place to study that it is not your bed. Sometimes, you just want to sit down and be comfortable in a different chair than the one that is at your desk, or perhaps you just want to relax. Either way, a comfortable chair will effectively satisfy this desire. It would also add authenticity to your room, as you are free to choose the color and type of chair you are going to use.

Hang up string lights.

String lights are a great way to add lighting to your dorm when you don’t want the standard fluorescent lights on. They also provide the ideal amount of light for movie nights. Many groups of friends also enjoy playing games at night while they have these lights on. In addition, they may also bring you some peace and relaxation.

Add decorations with your favorite colors.

Having objects in your favorite colors will add a sense of authenticity to your dorm. Whether it’s your bedding, frames, or even your toys, seeing your favorite color will make you feel at ease every time you walk into the room. In fact, the Saint Leo Residence Life Instagram page featured a Room of the Semester Competition in Fall 2021, and the winner, Ava Loren, a sophomore studying education, stated that she used yellow bedding, frames, and pictures to decorate because it is her favorite color.

Accessorize your desk.

While the primary reason for attending college is to study, it can be challenging sometimes. Having your own desk accessories can improve your learning experience and make it your go-to study place. While it is critical that you ensure that your desk is still usable for studying, you can accessorize your desk with framed photos from home, an inspiring letter board, a tray filled with your favorite flowers, a candle or diffuser, or a colorful task lamp. The accessories will also personalize your desk when you are going to use your computer for other purposes like watching movies or reading articles.

Include some plush animals or other collectibles you like.

I put some teddies on top of my wardrobe when I was decorating my room. This gave my room a very relaxing feeling, making me appreciate the sweetness of my new home. If you think plush animals are cute, you should think about incorporating them into your room decoration.

It is also important for you to understand that, if you will be living with a roommate, it would be ideal for both of you to agree on how much space each of you will take for decoration.

Furthermore, Saint Leo has some guidelines for decorating your room.

Students are not permitted to paint their rooms. This means that, while you can use as many frames and elements as you want to add your favorite colors to your dorm room, the painting on the walls must remain intact. Furthermore, no elements in the room should obstruct door opening and closing.

Alcoholic containers or paraphernalia are not permitted in any student room or apartment. Metal-tipped darts and dartboards are also prohibited in dorm rooms. As a result, when deciding what elements to include in your room, you must keep this in mind.

You can read the Saint Leo University Guides of Residential Living document at Guides to Residential Living.pdf (saintleo.edu) to learn more about all of the room decoration guidelines. You can also find information about the office of Residence Life on all social media platforms at @saintleo.reslife.

Finally, if you’re having trouble coming up with decorating ideas for your room, you can seek advice from your roommate or a few friends. Good luck with your dorm decorating process!