How To Decorate Your Dorm On A Budget
Did you know that the average college student spends over $200 on just decorations for their dorm? Decor is an essential aspect of your college dorm and will help you get better settled into this new life. Students tend to forget a lot of necessary decor when moving in. College prices are only continuing to rise, so take the action now and find out how to decorate your dorm on a budget.
Set A Budget
First step, establish a budget. It is important to set up your budget before you even go to college so that you don’t end up spending too much money. Look at your financial resources and then start to plan out how much money you will need for each category of dorm goods. These categories could include furniture, decorations, storage, etc. Some common items you will need are:
- Bedding
- Hangers
- Power Strips
- Desk/Floor Lamp
Online Marketplaces
The internet is home to anything and everything you could ever need, so take advantage of it. Websites such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Poshmark, and more have tons of inexpensive, barely used college decor. Garage sale-type sites like Facebook Marketplace often have furniture for a substantially cheaper price. Sometimes you can find recent college grads selling their stuff.
Get Creative With Storage
Something that most college freshmen don’t think about when getting ready to move out is storage. College dorms are small so it is critical to plan ahead on how you will organize your part of the room. A great tip is to invest in multifunctional furniture. Some ideas for multifunctional furniture to save you space and money include:
- Under-bed storage
- Hanging shelves
- Ottoman storage
Tip: Bed risers are a great option for students to create under the bed storage in their dorms. They consist of wood, metal, or plastic and they are placed under each foot of your bed to raise the height, therefore creating more storage space.
Grad Parties
One of the greatest accomplishments in life is graduating high school. All that hard work and persistence finally paid off. Grad parties have been known through the ages as a time of celebration and remembrance. Graduates often reap the benefits of these parties in the form of gifts from their adoring loved ones. Don’t skip the party; it is worth it to celebrate with family and friends!
Hand-Me-Downs
Do you know how many recent graduates within your city have loads of items just sitting around their house serving no purpose? Hand-me-downs are an alternative way to get your college essentials for a much lower price. A lot of the time, you can even find hand-me-downs for free. You would be surprised how many people would be more than willing to give you their old stuff – check with older siblings, cousins, college friends, and more. Not only does it give you budget-friendly dorm essentials, but it also helps them out by getting that clutter they don’t use anymore off their hands. Some hand-me-downs could include:
- Bookshelves
- Storage bins
- Hangers
- Mirror
- Mini fridge
No matter the condition, a free used item is a great way to get started – and you can save up and upgrade later, guilt free.
Going to college for the first time is a roller coaster, filled with all sorts of ups and downs. Decorating your dorm room should be something fun, not an added stressor. These budgeting tips and tricks will help you to tackle dorm decorating with ease.