Pin It

4 No Cost Decorating Ideas for Dorms

JasonScott | Nov 24, 2010 |

0 Comments | Rating: 0

Typically a student does not have the luxury of a large budget, so college days provide a great opportunity to get creative when decorating a dorm room. There are many design techniques that cost next to nothing or are totally free.

1. Re-purpose

Just about the most cost effective way to furnish a dorm room is with used furnishings that other people are discarding. Parents are often happy to hand off little used items to their children as they head off to school. Once established, students trade items among themselves, and this is another no cost way to furnish a room. There are also websites like freecycle.org that specialize in keeping useable items out of landfills. Even if a piece of furniture is a little worn, remember that a slipcover can make it look new again, or a quick coat of paint can instantly liven up a drab piece of furniture. With just a little more imagination, it is possible to use an old piece of furniture, or a portion of it, in an entirely new way. For example, make a coffee table out of an old trunk. Recycling old items and reusing them in a new way is free and it is great for the environment.

2. The Artist Within

When it comes to artwork for the walls, remember that there is an artist hiding within each person. Use pictures from old books, calendars and magazines to add color to the walls. Use a spray adhesive to mount the pictures on pieces of cardboard, and then form a colorful collage on the wall. The same thing can be done with postcards and favorite photographs. Wall art can be created from just about anything: from a drawing or painting, to a sports pennant, to a shadowbox containing a collection of tiny treasures.

3. Outside In

Bringing the beauty of nature into a room offers a literal breath of fresh air. Group pine cones, rocks, driftwood or shells for an interesting textural experience. If there are shelves in the room, clear one shelf for an attractive display. Add a vase of wildflowers, also free, to the shelf for a splash of color in the space. Start a houseplant collection by propagating cuttings from friends' houseplants, and make sure to return the favor. Many varieties of plants, like spider plants, grow very quickly and bring a little of the outdoors in.

4. Recycled Accessories

When clothing or bed linens go out of style, rather than throwing them out, reuse them as accessories in the dorm room. Create curtains, fun throw pillows or decorative bulletin boards for a dorm room. Even for people who are not well practiced at crafty things, this is a perfect time and place to be creative and try new ideas to dress up a dorm room for little to no cost. You can also add style and color to the room without spending a lot of money by shopping at flea markets and second hand stores. You'll find everything from turtle metal wall art to modern blue metal art to make your dorm room one-of-a-kind.