College dorm rooms aren’t known for their style or their space. You’re also probably limited in how you are allowed to redecorate: no painting the walls, no holes in the walls bigger than a thumbtack — no holes at all if you’re dealing with painter-over cinder block.
Some dorm rooms come with cheap, worn carpeting, but many are just cold, smooth tile. Cover that stuff up! Many college students grab carpet remnants from the local DIY store and cut them to fit, but the carpet selection isn’t always that great. Who really wants to replace bland tile with bland beige carpet?
Forget the carpet and go for something more interesting and colorful. A throw rug or two can cover the widest swaths of bare floor while bringing more color and life into the room. Just make sure you leave enough space for the door to open and close without pulling the rug with it.
Floor space in general is at a premium. Make the most of it when you can by raising your bed, either just high enough to put a set of drawers or a mini fridge under it, or into a loft with desk space underneath. Also look for storage solutions that get common floor-dwelling items higher homes. Vertical shoe racks, for example, can hold much more than shoes.
A simple piece of fabric hung from the top of the wall can both replace the dull dorm-room wall color and give you an easier way to hang posters and pictures.
Buy an appropriate-sized tension rod (or even shower curtain rod) and wedge it in near the ceiling. Use fishing line, twine, yarn or whatever you like to hang pictures and keepsakes from the tension rod.
While you’re shopping for tension rods, get a smaller one that fits the window, too. Pair it up with colorful and trendy curtains for a homier look.
No color you bring into the room will look truly good if it’s left under fluorescent overhead lights. Instead, find some cheap floor lamps and desk lamps and arrange them around the room.