Going off to college is no easy task especially when you are leaving home for the first time. Home is a symbol of comfort and tranquility. Starting off in a empty dorm room can be difficult, but here are the perfect ways to make it feel like a second home.
Get to know your space:
Before moving in, find images or videos of what your empty dorm will look like to see what you’re working with. How much space do you have? Will you need more storage? What is the perfect layout for you to live with? All of these will help map the way you want your room to look before you buy anything.
Find Inspiration:
Ask yourself what vibe you want to go for. Figure out what you want the room to look like to make yourself feel the most comfortable. You can use Pinterest or other social media platforms to look for inspiration. Personally, I went for a mint/sage green vibe for my dorm room. I felt that the green environment had a calm connotation and made my room feel homier. Trust your gut and think about what would make your space more like your room at home.
DĂ©cor:
Find décor pieces to add personality into your room. You can find décor pieces at thrift stores or stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I found the majority of my décor from TJ Maxx and Amazon, but it is completely based on preference, convenience, and price range. I recommend string lights to add some softer light to the space because dorm lights tend to be really harsh or yellow. I also recommend printing pictures of your family, friends, pets, vacations you’ve been on, or really anything that will allow you to see the dorm as yours. Use your heart to find pieces that bring serotonin as college can be a stressful time with many ups and downs.
Use your best judgement and put everything where you believe it will be best. Remember that making any place into a home takes time. Don’t rush it. Make sure everything makes you happy when you look at it on a wide scale. Understand that there will be many opinions on how you decorate, but don’t let that change your opinion. Making your dorm room a home will allow you to have a better time in your college experience and it will allow you to relieve some stress that college has coming.