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If you don’t have a beautiful plant in your dorm yet, you’ve got some catching up to do! According to The Sill, indoor plants have a number of benefits: they can boost your mood, productivity, concentration and creativity. They also help to clean air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity and producing oxygen. But if you prefer fake plants, those can also bring joy, and make any plain dorm that much more aesthetically pleasing!
The only problem is, after bringing them home from the store, it’s easy to just put them on your desk and forget about them. So, what can you do to turn them into actual statement pieces without breaking the bank? You DIY them! That’s right—there are so many fun and inexpensive ways to spice things up and make your dorm stand out. Try these any of these five ideas, and watch your room come to life!
- For that bohemian chic look–a Macramé plant hanger
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If you find yourself longing for a boho-chic bedroom but can’t afford a trip to Anthropologie, give this DIY a try. Macramé, the art of knotting rope, is an awesome way to put your plants on display in your dorm. And it’s actually much easier than it sounds; The only things you need are some twine and a hot glue gun! Find out how to do it step-by-step here.
- Mason jar terrariums
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Am I the only one who bought way too many mason jars when YouTubers kept advertising them in 2015? If you’re anything like me, it’s time to recycle them! And if not, these 4 jars are just a little over $10, and you can use them as kitchen glasses, too! We love a multi-purpose purchase.
With a bit of twine and some pebbles, you can create a small plant terrarium and make your dorm look straight out of an Urban Outfitters Home catalog. If you want to make things more creative, you can also vary sizes of mason jars to decorate a whole window sill or bookshelf. Consider customizing them, using brushes, paint, and/or glitter! Get the exact instructions here.
- Forever customizable chalkboard pots
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For the bullet journal addicts out there, give this chalkboard pot a try. Get some chalkboard paint and apply it to some basic pots to create a fun look. Buy a few chunks of chalk, and you can write the names of your plants or cute inspirational messages.
For this DIY, you’ll need terra cotta pots, spray primer, chalkboard spray paint, chalk, spring bulbs or any other flowering plants, and potting soil. This DIY may be more time-consuming, but you’ll be able to switch what you write on the pots so often that it’ll be worth the investment! Check out this complete guide when you’re ready to get creative.
- Teacup succulents
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This is one of the easiest DIYs on this list–the only things you need are a teacup or a mug, a plant, and some soil! If you’re anything like me, your 20-mug collection is threatening to explode from your pantry, and this DIY is the best way to put these mugs on display! If you haven’t given the mug life a try yet, you can go for this adorable light green mug from Target. If you want a more traditional look, this beautiful lilac teacup from Anthropologie will do the trick. You can also pick a cute bowl like this colorful one with doodles for this DIY and have a very similar, fun result!
- Wooden crate planters
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You can hang wooden crates to the ceiling, or simply put them on a coffee table, and use them as a rack for herbs or other nice plants! Wooden crates are super easy to find at veggie markets and if you live in the countryside, chances are they’re even more accessible for free. If you can’t find them in your area and want to give this setup a try, look into this inexpensive wooden crate set, or this tinier one for under $10. To complete the DIY, the only step left to take is to get a small house plant or two and place it in the crate!
With these cheap and easy DIYs, your dorm will look completely transformed in no time! Try one of them and post a picture of your dorm tagging @prettydorms to show us how creative you got!