During my past 3 years here at UMass Amherst, I’ve gotten good at a lot of things. Planning my meals so when I use a YCMP swipe it’s exactly $9.50, leaving my room at just the right time to make the bus, and making my dorm my own. Moving in as a freshman, my dad compared the dorms to a prison block. Obviously dorms aren’t jail cells, but this scared me. How will I ever feel comfortable in my room? The answer is much simpler than you think!
1. Twinkle Lights
The only thing I hate more than harsh overhead lighting is the wind tunnel by DuBois library on a rainy day. While this isn’t a problem in some dorms on campus, this is one in mine. My solution is by bringing in more lighting! I brought in a lamp for my desk and a few strings of white lights to hang on the wall—that’s where the DIY comes in. You can hang these lights wherever you want in your room with some Scotch mounting tape. I have a long strand outlining the top of one wall and going over my desk, and a shorter one outlining a tapestry over my bed.
2. Personal Photos
What better way to feel closer to your loved ones than by hanging up a few photos around your room? You can take a bus to CVS or over to Walmart and get photos printed out straight from your phone! I picked up a couple frames from the dollar store to put on my desk. Can’t find one in a color you like? No problem, pick up a paint sample or use nail polish to personalize it.
3. Wall Quotes
Wouldn’t it be awesome if your room looked like all of the quote posts on your Instagram? Along with my personal photos, I like keeping motivational quotes on my wall (especially ones by the queen, Beyoncé). After I scroll through my Insta feed and find a quote I like, I’ll go through a book of blank scrap book pages for an awesome background!
4. Leave your clothes out
You heard that right, and no, it’s not just another way I get out of folding some laundry. I like leaving a couple of my favorite sweaters hanging up (usually on the coat racks right by my door, but you can put commands hooks up) to leave my room a little cozier. No sweaters? Leaving blankets over your bed or on your desk chair will make your room feel just as comfy.
How will you DIY your dorm, Collegiettes?