Nesting With Grace

by Brooke Christen

8 Easy Ways to Make Any Dorm Room Feel Like Home

When we decorated Ella’s dorm room, I’ll admit, we went all out! We added peel-and-stick wallpaper, and while some people may have thought it was a little excessive for a dorm room, decorating spaces is part of what I do for my job. We loved the idea of making her room feel special, and once we got started, the wallpaper was actually much more doable than you might think!

Ella Dorm Room Before

Ella Dorm Room After

But you definitely don’t need wallpaper or a complete dorm room makeover to make a small space feel cozy and personal. A few simple additions can completely change the way a dorm room looks and feels. Here are eight things anyone can do to help a dorm room feel more like home…

1. Make the Bed Extra Comfortable and CUTE

The bed is the focal point of the room so cute bedding can make such a big difference! We wanted Ella’s dorm bed to feel every bit as comfortable and cozy as her bed at home (the bed and dressers under the bed were here when she moved in).
Her rose-colored velvet upholstered headboard simply slides into place and makes the whole bed feel upgraded! We started with a soft mattress pad, then added organic cotton percale sheets in the prettiest fig color. Percale has that crisp, breathable feel, so it stays cool and comfortable year-round.
We layered it with a mauve linen quilt featuring beautiful cut-detail stitching. Adds warmth and loft without making it feel too heavy. Her cotton duvet cover has a gorgeous striped gingham pattern with a ruffle edge, and inside it we used my favorite extra-fill duvet insert for that fluffy, full look.
To finish everything off, we added two standard shams. One matching the sheets and one matching the duvet with a coordinating Euro sham and the sweetest little brown polka-dot pillow. All of the layers, colors and textures made a basic dorm bed feel like the coziest little retreat and completely changed the look of the room!

2. Add Art That Feels Like You

One of my favorite parts of Ella’s room is the grouping of framed art above her bed. We mixed a tiger, swan, deer, and a larger abstract piece to create a little gallery wall that feels collected and interesting. Framing the pieces also makes inexpensive art feel a little more finished and intentional.
Dorm walls can feel so blank and sterile, so adding art makes such a difference! I love mixing different subjects, sizes, and styles rather than trying to make everything perfectly match. It’s such an easy way to bring personality into a dorm room and make those plain walls feel a whole lot more like home.

3. Add Cozy Lighting

Dorm room lighting can feel a little harsh, so adding warm, cozy lighting makes such a difference!
On Ella’s nightstand, we added a tall, simple wood lamp base with the cutest pink gingham shade.
We also hung a plug-in flower light above her tall mirror. It’s such a fun little statement and adds another cozy layer of light to that corner of the room.
Lamps make a dorm room feel instantly warmer and more inviting, especially at night when you’re studying, relaxing or winding down for bed.
Can’t forget the star lights we hung around her desk…magical! It gives off the sweetest little glow at night and makes her desk area feel extra cozy.

4. Bring in a Rug

Rugs add so much to a dorm room. They bring in color, texture, and personality while making the room feel softer and more comfortable underfoot. Plus, they help protect those dorm floors from spills, scuffs, and everyday wear, which is always a bonus!
Rugs

5. Use Curtains to Soften the Space

Curtains are one of my favorite ways to make a dorm room feel less temporary. We used tension rods to hang these pretty pink eyelet café curtains, so we didn’t have to drill holes or make any permanent changes. Ella’s window already had a sunshade, but the curtains added softness, color and a much cozier feeling.
We also used a tension rod to hang the cute brown gingham curtain panels across her closet in place of a closet door. It hides all the clothes and storage inside and makes that whole side of the room feel so much softer and less cluttered.

6. Create a Little Get Ready Station

If you have the space, creating a designated spot to get ready is such a fun addition to a dorm room! We brought in the cutest brown and ivory polka dot upholstered vanity and stool for Ella, and it made the sweetest little get-ready station.
But you definitely don’t need a separate vanity to make this work! A vanity mirror on top of the desk can instantly turn it into a spot for getting ready in the morning, and then everything can easily tuck away when it’s time to study.
A little tray or basket for everyday makeup, skincare, hair products, and jewelry helps keep everything organized without taking over the room. It’s one of those little things that makes a dorm feel so much more functional and a lot more like home.

7. Give the Desk a Little Upgrade

We also gave her basic dorm desk a big upgrade using tension rods and café curtain panels around the bottom. Such a simple change, but it made the desk feel so much more like a custom piece of furniture and it hides all that extra storage underneath!
The panels were a little too long, so Ella used her stitch gun to shorten them to the perfect length. So easy, and no sewing machine needed. We brought chairs from home, and added a comfy cushion to sit on.
A few little things can make a basic dorm desk feel so much more personal. We added a cute strawberry vase to hold her pens, a little holder for push pins, a calendar, a few plants, and her new camera. Nothing complicated, just useful things mixed with things she loves.

8. Add a Diffuser

The final touch is something that makes the room feel like home without adding any clutter: a diffuser! I’ve never loved the idea of having candles in a bedroom and most dorms don’t allow them anyway but a diffuser is always a yes for us! It can freshen the air, help neutralize dorm room odors and completely change the feeling of the space.

Make It Feel Like You

A dorm room might be temporary, but if they want the help, decorating it can be such a fun little project to do together! Let them pick the things they love, help bring it all together, and enjoy making their first little space away from home feel like theirs.
And if you want to go all out and add some peel-and-stick wallpaper too… I’ll fully support you! 
Dorm Suite Details
Ella’s roommates, Nyxon’s Bedroom
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