Ladies and gentlemen, the time is coming close. The back-to-school sales are out, and everyone is preparing for the day where we pack up our lives and move it all to our home away from home. I remember when I was getting ready for my freshman move-in day, I was so nervous about almost everything. I was planning what my room would look like weeks in advance (thanks Pinterest), and at least four times a week, I'd be either online or in store looking at all the possible things that I could purchase for my new home.
My biggest problem was that I didn't think about how much money I was putting down on these items. In total, I spent way too much money, which could have saved me down the road. I was so worried on making my bedroom look perfect and cozy that I didn't think about how much cash I was actually spending to make it look picture perfect. I didn't think of being creative, innovative or artsy in making decorations for my dorm room.
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I wish I would have thought of these things when I was moving in as a freshman. Having a bedroom that is more DIY than taken right out of a magazine will make your bedroom go from drab to fab in seconds. If you are down for the challenge, I promise you that you will save tons of money by using some or all of these tips.
1. Pick a neutral colored comforter.
If you want to go crazy with wall decor and have a variety of pillows (#necessity), the key to having everything match is a bed spread that is a neutral color. I'd go with a navy blue, white, grey or black comforter so that when you go looking for pillows or colors for your decor you won't have to worry as much about matching.
Hint: JCPenny has a large selection of bed spreads at great prices!
2. Pillows, pillows and more pillows.
Pillows are so important for me to feel comfy and at home. I had a total of 12 different pillows on my bed at a time. The great thing is that you can express so much with them. You can have patterned pillows, pillows with quotes or even stuffed animals. I highly recommend getting a variety of pillows to comfort you and help you get a well rested sleep for class the next day.
Hint: You must get a body pillow. I promise it will be the best decision you will ever make.
3. Canvases are super basic, but I couldn't care less because they are perfect for college dorms.
When I was shopping my freshman year, I bought a canvas or two from different places, but they were always so expensive. If you look on Etsy or Amazon, canvases can range from $20 to $45. Why be spending that money when you can make a canvas of your own? Go to any craft store, buy a canvas, some paint and get creative! It may seem like a daunting task, but I promise you they'll come out better than you've ever imagined. Check out Pinterest for some help on your canvases.
Hint: It's always cute and easy to do the messy streaks as I did in my above canvas. Do that with one, two or even three colors and wait for it to dry. If you want to put writing on your canvas, I suggest buying paint pens. They are life savers.
4. Hang up pictures of family, friends or pets.
Don't buy tons of frames to hang those pictures up! Here is any easy DIY to make your pictures look adorable and chic. My freshman year, I bought two medium sized cork boards and filled them with pictures. I used thin silver needle pins to put them in place and then hung the cork boards up on my wall between a canvas and banner. Easy, cute and affordable!
This year I'm going even less expensive. I'm doing something I saw on Pinterest and have been dying to try for years! All you'll need is some twine or string, baby clothespins and pictures. Done! It's super cute and simple to do.
Hint: Put a tapestry underneath the photos to give it an awesome and explosive background.
5. Mason jars.
Yes, I know, this is totally basic and country. But, they can make an area more than what it already is. Mason jars are usually $2 to $4 at your local craft store and paint costs about the same. That's under $10 you could be spending to add a little pop to your bedroom.
Hint: Use the jars for pencil holders or even plants!
6. Get your room LIT.
Make your room standout with lights! You can use Christmas lights, or you can buy special lights from places like Target, Michael's or Urban Outfitters. Some colleges don't allow them though, so make sure you check with your college before you go and buy them.
Hint: Hang your lights up with Command strip hooks, which you can purchase at Walmart or any local home goods store.
7. Blankets for cozy studying and a good nights sleep.
You can buy blankets anywhere, but this DIY is my absolute favorite. My mom taught this to me a while back because she used to make these for my siblings and I. I use this DIY as a go-to present or just if I need a new blanket. All you need is two sets of fabric (one patterned and one plain color) and fabric scissors. That's it! You really just cut, tie and your done! No sewing required.
Hint: Follow this link on how to make your own.
If I could give one piece of advice to freshman coming in, it would be to relax and have fun. I can't even explain how fast the year goes by and how much fun you will have. Meet lots of people, smile often and enjoy your first year at college.
Good luck and happy dorm decorating, friends.
