Submitted by: Jessica Ackerman

Although living in a dorm room is hardly the epitome of style and luxury, it is possible to pull it off with a certain degree of panache. By using a bit of creative thinking and planning, you can often transform a ho-hum dorm room into a truly cozy living space. Fortunately, there are plenty of decorating tips that you can implement even on a student’s meager budget. If you’re ready to perfect the art of dorm room living, here are a few tips that can help get you started.

Think Small but Smart

Maximize your available storage space by keeping furniture pieces proportionally sized. For example, by using a space efficient loft style bed instead of one that utilizes a queen-sized mattress, you’ll use your floor space more efficiently. Utilizing your wall space wisely can also help you maximize your living area. Even if you are not allowed to hang wall shelves, you can still use a full height bookcase to provide plenty of vertical storage space. Furniture pieces that incorporate hidden storage space, organizers that can be hung over doors, and decorative storage bins are all great ways to make the most of a small dorm room. Find ways to use smaller furniture pieces to save space without sacrificing functionality. For example, a couple of two-drawer filing cabinets combined with an old door or a piece of plywood can create a desk that provides more work and storage space than many much larger desk units. A futon usually takes up less space than a sofa, but can be used as an additional sleeping area when needed. A small table with chairs designed to push compactly underneath can be just as efficient as a large table, without taking up too much floor space.

Peaceful Cohabitation

Living with a roommate is certainly one of the challenges of dorm life. Many times you may find that your tastes, interests and decorating styles are quite different from your roommate’s. It is important to find a way to express yourself, while still providing this same freedom to the other person. If you discuss your decorating plans together, you might just find that you can find some common ground. If you simply can’t, then it’s important to find a way of dividing the room so that both of you can still express your own sense of style and comfort. It’s also important to take your roommate’s social, personal and study needs into consideration. For example, if you enjoy listening to music while you study, don’t automatically assume that your roommate feels the same way. Use earphones when listening to music, playing video games, or while watching television. By doing so, you’ll still be able to enjoy yourself without infringing upon the living style of your roommate.

Decorating with Pizzazz

From a style standpoint, your average dorm room can often seem pretty boring. If white walls and a neutral color scheme are getting you down, don’t despair. Add bright splashes of cheerful color with area rugs, throw pillows, storage bins and furniture throws. You can also hide white walls by hanging posters and other paper art using wall-safe adhesives.

About the Author: Jessica Ackerman is a freelance writer and works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com. She shares her wealth of knowledge on

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metal wall hangings

.

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