8 Cute (and Basically Free!) Ways to Decorate Your Room
Decorating your dorm can feel as overwhelming as staring down a blank Google Doc — especially when you’re working with bland furniture, strict rules, a limited budget, and only 20 minutes of free time between classes! But rest assured, creating a fun and personal space in your dorm room doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated (and, thankfully, there’s no deadline for getting it done). There are tons of easy ways to zhuzh up your space on a college student’s budget. Here are eight small but impactful ideas for decorating your dorm that cost $5 or less.
Print free museum art.
Did you know that plenty of prestigious museums offer free downloadable art? Open access makes images of all public-domain artwork available for use by the public. Anyone can download, print, and enjoy! Besides the cost of printing, it’s a nearly free and instant way to add personality to your dorm walls.
Explore options from the galleries of The Met, The Smithsonian, The Art Institute of Chicago, and more. Whether you are into Van Gogh or Monet, there’s something for everyone. Just print your favorites at home and ta-da! Budget-friendly gallery wall achieved.
Make a vision board.
A vision board lets you create art and set personal goals all at once. It’s an ideal kind of dorm decor for curating a motivating and inspiring space. You can use old magazines or Pinterest printouts to put together a collage of inspiring quotes, outfit ideas, dream vacation spots, and academic inspiration. Or, you could snuggle up with your laptop to make a digital version on Canva to easily print out. You can make one solo, or turn it into a craft night with your friends. Either way, you’ll end up with a meaningful piece of art to hang on your wall, or prop up on your desk to turn your workspace into a focal point.
Display book or magazine pages.
Another idea for using any old magazines you have lying around? Rip out your favorite advertisements or celeb photos for an easy way to fill wall space. Or, maybe you have a pile of already-read books just collecting dust … you can use those, too! Find an inspiring quote, tear out the page, highlight the text, maybe add a doodle in the margin, and you have a brand-new poster for above your bed, using things you already own.
Add a color-changing light bulb.
Setting the mood in your dorm room can be as simple as changing the lighting. Swapping out your regular desk or bedside lamp bulb with a color-changing one can switch up the aesthetic in an instant. These bulbs are quite affordable, like this $7 one on Amazon, which comes with a remote to control the color and brightness of the bulb from anywhere in your room. Set it to a warm yellow for studying, a warm orange for a cozy night in, or a funky pink for hanging out with your friends — so many options.
Start a junk journal and hang the best pages.
Junk journaling is one of the most popular hands-on hobbies online right now, and for good reason. It’s easy, fun, and unique to you. It’s all in the name: Use whatever “junk” you can find — crumpled up receipts, random business cards, tickets, doodles, or dried flowers. Go wild creating your own pages of chaotic beauty, and hang up your favorite spreads on your walls. (Check out @alexiasrchive on Instagram for some inspo!) It’s a free way to archive your memories, add texture to your walls, and show off your individuality.
Print out your favorite photos.
Printing your favorite pictures with friends and family is one of the easiest ways to add personality to your dorm — and it’s a sweet reminder of everyone you miss when homesickness hits. Visit your local photo shop to get the job done for just a few dollars. Services like CVS Photo let you order prints for less than a dollar each, and they may even offer free same-day pickup. Once your photos are ready, schedule a fun night of arranging! Use dorm-safe tape to create a wall display, or pin them to a bulletin board so you can rearrange and update your collage whenever you feel inspired.
Make a DIY garland.
Garlands are a great way to add textured decor to your dorm room, and they’re ridiculously easy to make using fabric from an old scarf, cutting out fun shapes from construction paper, or gathering your favorite patterned ribbons. String everything together with yarn or a thread or even by stapling the looped pieces of paper together, and you have your own cute garland. Hang it above your bed, over your mirror, or elsewhere on your wall to add a pop of color and personality. If you’re someone who crochets (or are looking for a first project to get started) there are plenty of easy garland patterns online to truly make one from scratch.
Make your own art.
You don’t need to be an art major to make something worthy of pinning on the wall. Grab some paper and markers and get doodling, or try putting some paint to a canvas. Art does not need to be intricate or elaborate to be beautiful. Let your creativity flow and make something personal to hang on your wall. The best part is, your art is one of one!
Whether it’s a homemade vision board taped to the wall or an inexpensive color-changing light bulb to set the mood, the smallest touches can make the biggest difference in a tiny dorm room. Style doesn’t have to cost much. What matters most is filling your space with things that make you feel comfortable, safe, and inspired.
