Dorm Décor: Brighten Up Your Room


Awesome Post-it Wall Art found on Pinterest

With a little Pinspiration and creativity making your space reflect cheerful and chic is easier than you think. Little pops of bright colors can help you overcome the dulling effects of the winter months while a color scheme and strategic use of patterns and decorative items can make your room look pretty and pulled together. While you probably can’t paint the walls of your dorm or pick the carpet color, there are (literally) hundreds of other ways to make your room reflect your individuality.

DO Pick a color scheme.

DON’T Become a slave to it. Pops of other colors can be a welcome relief to the eyes after seeing the same colors over and over again. Additionally, adding a daring color can give your room a funky, eclectic feel.

DO try something simple like buying flowers. I prefer fresh buds, but there are a lot of beautiful silk flowers you can buy at most home good or craft stores.

DON’T spend a lot of money on real flowers. You can buy inexpensive (less than $5) seasonal bouquets at Trader Joe’s and some other grocery stores.

DO Use bits of patterned fabric or wallpaper as a cover for your desk, bureaus, or bookcase shelves.

DON’T Be tempted to use sealant (polyurethane) to attach fabric or wallpaper to your dressers or shelves if they are school property. It will not be worth it when the furniture becomes damaged and you have to pay for it at the end of the year.

Photo credit lovelyundergrad.com

 

DO Use throw pillows on your bed, futon, or butterfly chair. You can even make your own with this DIY tutorial found here.

DO Use functional decorations. For Christmas I asked my parents to buy me colorful organizations and storage things. The set of fabric boxes my mom bought me from IKEA make my room look less cluttered and more stylish.

DO Create your own artwork and decorations. You don’t have to be a skilled painter or sculptor to make a collage, use colored post-its to create a mosaic, or decorate a bulletin board with paint & stencils. This is less expensive than buying ready-made decorations and can be completely original.

Give us some more decorating Dos and Don’ts in the comments below or tweet us pics of your awesome dorm room @BNCollege!

posted by Alyciabn
01.11.13
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DIY Dorm: Instagram Coasters

Before you brush this project off (coasters? who uses coasters?), you’re going to want to take a look at the latest DIY we’ve come across. Using your very own filtered-to-perfection Instagram photos and a few inexpensive materials, we’ll be crafting some customized coasters that will look cool on any surface. Think of it as a new way to display your favorite photos.

What You’ll Need:

-    4in x 4in ceramic tiles (pick some up at Home Depot for only 39 cents)
-    Mod Podge
-    A foam brush
-    Felt pads
-    Clear, waterproof sealant (you can try Walmart for this)
-    Printed Instagram pictures (one for each coaster)

What You’ll Do:

1)      First you’ll need to print your Instagram photos. The easiest way to do this would probably be to screenshot them on your phone and email them to yourself. Once you’ve done this, you can size them so they’ll fit the tiles and print. I used photo paper to ensure that the ink would not bleed when coated with the Mod Podge (plus, it’s sturdier). Cut out each photo square.

2)      Mod Podge one coat onto each of your tiles. Place the photo square where you want it and press out any air bubbles. Let dry – wait 45 minutes to an hour to make sure it’s completely hardened.

3)      Apply 2-3 more thin coats of Mod Podge over the entire tile and on top of the photo. It’s best to apply it both vertically and horizontally. Let dry for an hour.

4)      To make sure the coaster remains water proof, spray a layer of sealant over top of it. Don’t spray too much or it will get goopy. Let dry (follow the directions on the can in order to determine how long you should wait). Spray a second coat of sealant and let that dry as well.

5)      Add the felt pads to each corner of the underside of the tile. Most of these come with adhesive on the bottom but, if not, use some hot glue to attach them.

6)      You’re done! Easy, right?

Send us some photos of your coasters – we’d love to see how they turned out!

Of course we had to Instagram ours once we were done!

posted by Sandybn
09.14.12
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Dorm Decorating 101

With so many different styles to choose from, trying to figure out how to decorate your dorm room can be overwhelming. We did some research to find out the hottest trends for this year. The trends we’ve included below are some of our absolute favorites and are sure to make your room the place to be!

Bed Bath & Beyond Trend: “Calypso”
This trend is all about attention-grabbing patterns. The Calypso Duvet cover (only $79.99) is the main attraction with its vibrant coloring and large pattern…you’ll have a hard time looking away! The purples, oranges and greens all complement each other really well and bring a warmth to the room.

 

PBDorm Trend: “Vintage Rock”
For all of you music fanatics out there, if you’re looking for that “vintage rock” vibe for your room, this trend is the way to go. Liven up your wall space with posters of your favorite groups or concerts. Take the music edge one step further and add old records to the walls as well. Tie the room together with a quilt that features neutrals colors – PBdorm ($119.00) has a great example that fits with this theme perfectly.

Target Trend: “Zebra”
Animal print has been huge this year, with black and white zebra patterns stealing the spotlight. Go for a twist on this trend by adding a pop of color to a zebra bedspread whether it be by colored sheets or a hot pink bed rest (available at select campus bookstores). Target offers a great deal with their zebra print style; You get 1 Pillowcase, a Comforter, 1 Fitted Sheet, 1 Sham, 1 Flat Sheet, and a Bed skirt for only $59.99. That is definitely something to go wild over.

How is your dorm room decorated? What are some great places to go dorm shopping? Let us know in a comment!

Written  by Guest Blogger, Myles Marcus

posted by Sandybn
06.25.12
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DIY Dorm: Painted Glass Jar

As someone who is always on the hunt for an easy way to add spice to my room, I am so excited to share this project with you. While browsing the design blog, Poppytalk, I found my inspiration for the newest edition of DIY Dorm. Why not take bottles and jars meant for the recycling and turn them into something beautiful and colorful?  I decided to start with a small, empty jar and turn it into a pencil holder. Keep reading for tips and instructions!

What You’ll Need:

1 Glass jar
Acrylic paint
Paintbrush (optional*)

What You’ll Do:

1) Remove the label from the jar you’ve chosen. (Tip: In my experience, a stubborn label can usually be removed with a Brillo pad, water, and soap if needed.) Rinse out any remaining contents and let dry.

2) Add a dollop of paint to the inside of the jar. Slowly rotate and swirl it around until the entire inside is covered with the paint. This may take a few dollops, depending on the color and thickness of the paint. (Tip: I used a paint brush to help spread stubborn patches.) Let dry.

3) Add any other additions to the outside of your jar, whether it be stenciled letters or appliques.

Add some water and fresh flowers or an electric candle to add some mood lighting to your room. I went with a stylish pencil holder but it is up to you! Either way, you’re left with a quaint new edition to your dorm. Enjoy!

posted by Sandybn
04.04.12
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DIY Dorm: Easy Wall Decor

It’s up to you to spice up your dorm room!  Showcase your favorite photos or just add some texture to an otherwise drab wall with our easy and inexpensive wall decor.

What You’ll Need:

- 12×12 Cork board wall squares (you can usually get a pack of 4 for under $10)
- Wrapping paper
- Tape or glue
- Scissors
- Ribbon

What You’ll Do:

The extra length of ribbon makes gluing easier.

1) Use the paper to wrap the cork board in the typical fashion. If the tape does not stick as much as you’d like, you can dot the edges of the paper with glue.

2) Snip the ribbon to be about an inch or so longer than the cork board at each end (as pictured). Place a dot of glue on the underside edge of the ribbon, drape the end of the ribbon over the edge of the board and press in place. Continue to glue the rest of the ribbon along the front of the board like you did with the DIY Lamp. Do so along as many edges as you’d like to create a border.

Who says DIY projects have to be difficult?

3) Add photos, stickers, or other mementos (Scotch tape works fine). Avoid adding anything too heavy as this will make it difficult to hang the board. Make sure your board comes with adhesives – these are very sticky but don’t leave marks on the walls.

You can make only one square or form a grid with all four! The best part about DIY projects like this one is that you can tailor it to your own preference. Let us know how yours turned out by dropping us a comment.

posted by Sandybn
01.26.12
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