Dorm Room Hacks
1. Make use of the space under your bed both for storage and style.
Placing a dresser with drawers, cube storage, shoe racks, or other caddies, such as a utility cart, are all ways to add storage space to a dorm room without adding clutter.
For a dresser, you might use a cool thrift find that you paint, or there are even nice plastic storage containers with drawers available in big box stores. You might use cloth storage bins, crates or shelving, but using something that has a solid front, such as a drawer will create more of a minimalist and clean look, if that’s what you’re going for.
If you’re using storage bins, you might opt for bins with wheels for easier access.
College students who want to offer extra seating to friends and visitors might opt for storage ottomans, which can be stored under the bed for a clean look and pulled out whenever seating is needed.
For guys, you might want to make the area under your bed for a mini mancave. Just add a mini fridge, microwave, a comfy chair, and maybe a TV with a game system. Or perhaps you make a little snack corner with shelving.
Or perhaps, you hang a hammock or another comfy hanging chair.
2. Shop deals.
TikTok user, #ariellecalimquim, features Target’s “College Shop” and the $5 dorm room finds for all your needs. From a spinning caddy to a small USB vacuum, Target has several practical and stylish items. They even have a cup warmer to keep your coffee warm on those late-night study sessions. To see all the cool items Arielle found, check out her TikTok here.
@ariellecalimquim I swear Target always comes thru with good dorm room finds @target #targetfinds #targettok #targetrun #targethaul #targetdollarspot #targetdollarspotfinds #dormroomessentials #dormlife #dormroomdecor #dormroomideas #collegeessentials #smallroomideas ♬ Praise The Lord (Da Shine) – A$AP Rocky
While a lot of Target’s options are more practical in terms of your dorm room needs, TikTok user #nifty features some of the best dorm room decor ideas you can find at Five Below. For example, especially for those new college students, you’re going to want a way to display pictures of those you’re missing from home, as well as the new friends you make at college. Well, Five Below has a stylish circle photo display for just $5, or a string photo wall display to cover your wall with photos. They also have $5 twinkle lights, adorable accent pillows girls will love, inflatable ottomans, and a mini desk Zen Garden to reduce your stress before a high-pressure test or assignment. The $5 options extend past the fun decor ideas, however. Five Below also has some practical options and help for your storage needs, like desk organizers for as low as $1 and various organizers for under the bed. Watch #nifty’s TikTok for some inspiring decorating ideas for your dorm room.
@nifty Who knew Five Below had such cute dorm decor?? 🤩 #Nifty #dormlife #dormroomideas #college #fivebelow #fivebelowfinds ♬ Sunny Day – Ted Fresco
3. Repurpose to save money.
For example, one mom used bedsheets and twist ties to create a cute and inexpensive bed skirt to hide her daughter’s storage items under the bed. As #melissa__joy explains, since beds can be all different heights in a dorm room, getting a bed skirt that looks good and isn’t too costly, isn’t easy. But she makes it easy with her bed sheet idea. While she bought new white sheets, if you want a funky look, you might find sheets at a thrift store or find some unused sheets in the back of your linen closet. Watch the TikTok video to tap into this bedskirt hack.
@melissa__joy College dorm room bedskirt hack! #dorm #dorms #dormlife #dormtour #college #college #collegedorm #dormhack #dormroomhack #dormroomdecor #dormroomideas ♬ Sunny Day – Ted Fresco