Tips for College Dorm Decorating Cheaply

Decorating your college dorm room is an important part of feeling at home while away at college and a great chance to express your personality. However after buying textbooks and budgeting for food(and alcohol), you probably won't have that much money left over to decorate. With a little creativity though you should be decorate your dorm without spending too much money.

1. Empty Liquor Bottles

Empty liquor bottles are great for college decorating for their versatility, but also because you shouldn't have any trouble finding enough for your decorating needs. Empty liquor bottles can be displayed proudly as trophies of nights past. Warning: Every college apartment will have the same trophy case of liquor bottles, so get creative! Easiest tip: Sign and date the empty bottle with everyone who helped you empty it. That way you will have memories attached to each individual bottle. Also, the various shapes and sizes of empty liquor bottles can make for cool vases with just a few coats of glass paint.

Even better: You can turn your empty bottles into an awesome blacklight liquor bottle display.

2. Temporary Wallpaper

Many colleges won't allow you to alter your dorm room walls in any way that includes painting or nails, so you need to get more creative with your dorm wall decor. Wrapping paper is a great alternative to painting your room, and can be easily applied with poster putty. Once you have the temporary wallpaper up you will be able to paint it or decorate it as you wish.

If you are allowed to paint your dorm room and have a few extra dollars, we recommend checking out Idea Paint. Idea paint allows you to turn any flat surface into a dry erase board! Just imagine the possibilities...

3. Message Board

Whether you purchase a dry erase board, or you create one using Idea Paint, a dry erase board is a great way to communicate with your dormmates about important things such as scheduling needs, grocery lists, or simply just have fun with! French memo boards are also a great way to hold a whole bunch of pictures, ticket stubs, or magazine cut-outs. You can buy one or easily make one out of cardboard, fabric, and ribbon.

3. Milk Carton Crates

Painting and stacking milk carton crates can offer an endless variety of stylish results and will add to your ever important dormroom storage needs. They can become your new bookshelf, a new home for picture frames or treasured objects, or perhaps a place to stash eclectic finds. In a pinch milk crates can even become additional seating.

4. Window Decals

Your windows don't have to be boring. Applying colored plastic wrap to your windows can create an awesome stained glass effect, giving your dormroom some cool lighting. If that is too much you can cut out different shapes and stick them to your window to add just that extra bit of personality to your space.

5. Alternative Lighting

The harsh neon ceiling light that most dorm rooms are equipped with just isn't going to cut it. While a desk lamp for late-night studying is a necessity, adding mini-lights strung across the room can create a more personal atmosphere. Consider outlining your wall with christmas lights, or stringing chinese lamps across your room to instantly add warmth to your space.

These are just a few tips for college dorm decorating to hopefully get you started personalizing your dorm space. Make sure to discuss with your dormmate before making any major changes. This will help prevent any unneccessary tension, and perphaps, they may be able to add their own creative perspective!