On move in day each college student walks into their dorm room and is faced with a plain room featuring a bed, desk, closet and maybe if you're lucky a dresser. Weeks before college I was checking Pinterest on the daily for ideas to make my dorm room a little less bland. Whilst spending many countless hours on a variety of websites I found quite a few DIY ideas as well as cheap and cute decor to buy from a local store. I hopes this helps you brighten your room.

Cute Pillows

I bought six pillows for my dorm room and my sheet set came with a sham as well as my comforter set so I had plenty of pillows. They make your bed stand out and it's more comfy having more than a pillow or two to fall back on. I found the pillows featured at Target and Michaels for all under $15 each.

Mason Jars

Mason jars are useful holders for so many different things in a dorm room including, pens, pencils scissors and even makeup brushes. I bought my mason jars for a $1 each at Michael's along with a few cans of spray paint. I spray painted each of the mason jars and voila! A cute little holder.

Christmas Lights

Christmas lights can be used year round in a dorm room. I strung lights around the perimeter of my dorm room and used about two strands. I currently have the all white lights and I love them. You can buy Christmas lights at most stores year round for $3-$5 a pack in any color. I love the lights because they give a little something extra to your dorm room and make the room cheerful.

Light Up Letters

Light up letters give a little extra pop to your room as well as a little extra lighting. I have seen these cute letters everywhere and I simply love them. I bought myself a little mini M that I got for $3 at Michaels.

DIY Letters

I made each of my roommates a DIY letter as a little welcome gift and also received a few letters from my big in my sorority. They're cute to hang up on a door, the wall or to even just stand up on a desk. You can buy a letter at Michaels or Target for $3 then paint your letter a color of choice and at Michael's or Hobby Lobby you can find beads, buttons and flowers to glue on your letter with a hot glue gun.

String Pictures

A week or so before college started I went through my pictures and sent a huge chunk of them to Walgreens to print which is about $.10 per picture. I bought string, a pack of thumbtacks and clothes pins and string my string across attaching it to the thumbtacks then added pictures! Another easy way to spice up your dorm.

Cube Boxes

Cube boxes are life saviors. I have six of them and they make a room look so organized and neat and they hold so many items. I use one of my cubes for shoes and it is such a smart idea and it is so easy to keep them all in one place that way. I use the other ones for purses/wallets, scarves and socks and I love the cute way to organize. I got my cubes for $7 at target.

Jewelry Organizers

Jewelry organizers have saved my life. It is such an easy way to keep everything in one place where it cannot get tangled together. It’s such a pleasant way to display your necklaces, rings, bracelets and watches. I found these jewelry organizers for $7-10 each at Hobby Lobby.