There are so many things to worry about when sending your kids off to school… I can imagine one thing that could bring you peace of mind is knowing your child (ok, I totally know they are adults at this point, but my babies will always be my babies) is coming home to a place at the end of each day that feels safe, comfortable, and calm. And maybe even a little bit like home.
This week I had the unique opportunity to work with my favorite designer, who also happens to be my cousin, Whitney Layton, the owner of Just Tweak It in Phoenix, AZ. Her daughter, Elle, was moving into her first little college apartment and we combined our powers to turn her space into an amazing one. I am sharing all the design tips, organizing tips, and bonus tips for creating a dorm room that truly feels like home.
The particular space we moved Elle into was a small shared room; 2 beds, 2 desks, and a small shared open closet were. The shared open closet had a few shelves for each roommate as well as 2 short hanging spaces. The bathroom was very basic with a cabinet vanity and no other storage.
4 Top Tips for Creating a Dorm Room that Feels Like Home
1. Less Is More
Elle was the perfect example of only bringing the essentials to college. Her small closet wasn’t overflowing and the room was so much easier to organize. It also felt bigger and will be effortless to maintain because of the minimal amount of items.
She was intentional about only having clothes and personal items in her space that were meaningful and intentional. Because she was so minimal, we were able to keep the top of her desk clear and her very small space actually felt roomy and comfortable.
2. Get Things Off The Floor
It is so easy to fill the little floor space you have with a trash can, a hamper, shoe storage, maybe a fan or a floor lamp. I think rolling carts are great if they are intentional and well thought out… but my advice is to not overcrowd the little floor space you have. This goes a little in hand with less is more, but has more to do with the organization pieces and items you are bringing in.
3. Plan Ahead, but Also Be Flexible
There are a number of things you can shop for ahead of time and plan (rug(s), bedding, hangers, everything on the list of ‘Things every room should have’ (see below), etc). This not only saves so much time but helps to avoid impulsive purchases.
If you think that you will just run to Walmart to pick up a hamper and a trash can, you will most likely be going back to Walmart multiple times after that, grabbing random things each time you are there that you “might need”. Having all the essentials ready in a pickup order or delivered can save so much time and mental work.
You can plan ahead for drawers going under the bed, shoe storage, and bathroom storage… but just remember that things can also look very different once you are in a space and making it work for you. Be willing to be flexible with your plan. Source the basics from tried and trusted stores like Walmart and Target, but for the decor, a good shopping trip to HomeGoods can be very productive.
I usually don’t recommend sourcing items from HomeGoods for larger organization projects because it’s challenging to find enough of the same product to fill a space, but with a small space, HomeGoods has a lot of incredible finds for a great price. For this dorm room, the desk lamp, most of the art, and cute baskets were all from HomeGoods.
4. Label
I don’t believe a labeler needs to stay in the dorm room/apartment, but I do think leaving your college kid with labels and systems will make the space immensely easier to maintain. And it makes it look amazing too! Use this as an excuse to get yourself a labeler and then take it home with you! Our favorite labeler is the Brother P-touch Cube Plus Label Maker. Come prepared with label tape too! My favorite label tape is 24mm clear with either black or white writing.
4 Lists of College Dorm Room Must-Haves
1. Decor Must-Haves
Nightstand: Most rooms don’t provide a nightstand, so bringing in a simple piece of furniture that also provides storage can be very helpful. I always love the simple cube shelves with cube bins, but there are some very cute sideboards you can get from Amazon on the cheap.
Lamps: They add coziness, convenience, and comfort. I recommend getting a lamp for both the nightstand and the desk, that way the room can be sufficiently lit without using the “big light” (overhead lighting). And don’t forget to purchase light bulbs! Here are some cute lamps that don’t break the bank:
Mirrors: Whether they sit on the floor to do their makeup or need to check their outfit in the morning, having a tall mirror is a must in a college dorm room! Depending on the available floor space, you can either get an over the door mirror or a standing mirror.
Bedding: This can make the entire room. I don’t think a dust ruffle is necessary, especially if using bed risers to maximize space.
My number one tip for creating a look with bedding is layers. For Elle’s bed, Whitney used a neutral comforter, and then folded a second corduroy comforter at the foot of the bed, and then placed a cute throw blanket on top of that for fun layers (and much needed warmth for Utah winters).
I know pillows can quickly get out of control, but I love the amount of pillows Whitney used when styling Elle’s bed. Elle has her sleeping pillow, the sham the comforter came with (standard size), and then Whitney got two euro shams in fun complementary colors and one lumbar pillow. She angled them and added a sentimental stuffy that Elle brought from home to make the space feel like a sitting area and not just a bed.
Rug: Adding a rug is definitely a nice to have and not a necessity. If it’s in the budget, I think it can add a lot of warmth and personality and can also cover up gross carpet. For most small apartments/dorms, I would recommend a 5’x7’ rug and possibly rug tape to secure the corners down.
I recommend getting a rug with lots of colors that will hide foot traffic and dirt. Here are some of my favorites:
Art: This is what brought this entire room together and added so much personality and fun. Creating a collage is the easiest and most economical way to fill a large space and is hard to mess up. When shopping for pieces for a collage, HomeGoods has great finds, so I would start there first. Look for a few fun art pieces, a mirror, a clock, a few different shapes to break up rectangles, anything that feels like it matches the vibe you are going for.
Once you have those pieces selected, you can get some additional frames from Target and order prints to fill in any holes. The prints used in Elle’s room were from Etsy. The Disco Cactus art was such a cute way to tie in her Arizona roots. Tip: try to mix different materials, textures, and sizes to add interest.
Pin Board: This can be a fun item to hang above a desk with important reminders, a calendar, pictures, goals, inspiration, etc. I love pin boards with a frame, here are some with a natural frame or a gold frame:
Plants: I know space is limited, but even one potted plant on the nightstand or desk can add some much needed life to a small apartment room. Snake plants are super resilient and easy for anyone to keep alive.
Personalize It: This isn't essential, but one of the only items Elle brought to college that was just for fun was a star projector. She said she loves turning it on at night and I love the idea.
2. Bathroom Must-Haves
Shower caddy (if they're keeping all bathroom supplies in their bedroom)
Wall shower caddy (stays in the shower, if they're sharing a bathroom)
Towels: these are my favorite towels, they always look good and are the perfect size!
3. Organizing Must-Haves
Matching hangers (plastic, slim white wood, or velvet are all slim and make such a difference in how a closet feels. Especially in the case of the closet we did this week where there were no doors and it was completely open.
This closet could have had bins added to the narrow shelves. Elle opted to fold and stack her sweatshirts on the shelves, but measuring open spaces like this and purchasing bins to fit can be a great way of creating systems, it just depends on the personality of the person living in the space.
Shoe Storage
Shoe shelf (for a closet floor or under a bed using bed risers).
Shoe rack bench to go at the end of a bed, space permitting.
Tall metal shoe rack for the shoe lover who needs a lot of storage (at a low price point).
Hooks: Whether they are over the door hooks, command hooks, or accordion hooks… it’s so nice to have an easy place to store hats, purses, a light jacket, etc. Before removing packaging, make sure your door can easily shut after installing and before using an over-the-door hook. I love storing a robe on a hook behind the door as well.
Over the door storage: depending on your needs, different over the door storage can be very useful. If you have a lot of bags or jackets, over the door hooks are a great solution. If you have a lot of shoes, over the door shoe organizers are great for sandals and flats. An over the door organization system can also be nice if you have a lot of toiletries, office supplies, or small items with no other storage solutions.
Jewelry storage: Jewelry stand organizers are (IMO) the cutest and easiest way to store jewelry and can either sit on a desk or nightstand. This one is great if you have more earrings and this one is great if you have more necklaces and bracelets.
Storage bin for cleaning/steamer/laundry detergent/laundry bag.
Storage for under the bed: drawers are often ideal. Sterilite makes drawers that are the perfect size, though this isn’t a product I typically recommend or bring into clients’ homes. For small apartments and dorm rooms, however, they are a great storage solution. Walmart also has some plastic drawers that are a nice option and come in gray and brown.
Bins that fit. This is going to be different in every space, but if there is a ledge, shelf, or surface where it makes sense for extra storage, finding bins can add both storage and a nice aesthetic. For Elle’s room we brought in water hyacinth baskets to add some warmth and texture on top of her open closet. She also had a little ledge under her desk where we added these cute rope baskets (and labels) for items such as sunglasses, office supplies, and handbags.
4. Things every room should have, that are usually forgotten…
Command strips (alcohol for prepping)
Spray Bottle: I love this slow spray spray bottle for a quick de-wrinkle and for doing hair
Cleaning supplies (Clorox wipes, window cloth, microfiber towels, lemon oil, label scraper, all purpose cleaner tablets and Spray bottle)
Having just experienced the excitement and fun (and also the craziness) of trying to create a dorm room that feels special… I hope you have found this helpful. This list is truly everything we used that brought a beautiful and functional dorm room together, but also everything that we wish we would have had because we had to make additional trips to the store. Whitney Layton from Just Tweak It is the incredible designer who made the entire space come together. I was happy to be the one with the labeler.
As you or your child gets ready to embark on the exciting new adventure of independence, I hope this guide will do the heavy (mental) lifting for you so you can spend your final moments together connecting. Good luck!
Jen is the founder of Reset Your Nest, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Utah (servicing Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Alpine, Highland, Mapleton, and St. George). She loves creating order and systems out of chaos and is known for bringing a beautiful aesthetic as well as easy to maintain function to any space. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @reset_your_nest.
Comments