Ways to Personalize Your Dorm Room on a Budget
Here are some simple suggestions from both moms and students to help you create a space that feels like home.
Katherine’s Suggestions
“To transform my small dorm room into a home, I decorated it with pictures of my family and friends and incorporated my favorite color: sunny yellow. Being surrounded by the faces of loved ones gives comfort during tough college moments, serving as a daily reminder of my support system and the belief in myself that I should hold onto.”
ESSENTIAL ITEMS!
• Laptop
• Shower caddy
• Headphones
• My bright yellow Keurig
• Memory quilt made by my mom
• My mug collection
ITEMS I WISH I HAD
• Meal plan
• Comfortable mattress
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Larger desk
MOVE-IN ADVICE FROM KATHERINE’S MOM, KAREN
• Purchase Command Hooks—lots of them, as you can never have enough.
• Opt for a strong over-the-door coat rack, as quality counts!
• Don’t forget rain gear for the lengthy stroll to classes.
Madison’s Suggestions
“Before moving in, it’s vital to talk with your roommate to agree on a color palette and style. We coordinated our bedding and then found our accessories separately.”
ESSENTIAL ITEMS!
• Area rug for a cozier atmosphere
• Mirror for makeup application
• Air freshener, whether plug-in or wax-melt
• Doorstop, crucial for the first weeks to foster an “open door” vibe, ideal for making new friends.
ITEMS I WISH I HAD
• Earplugs, since dorm walls are thin!
• A calendar for inside my door to track tests, quizzes, assignments, and social events.
• Additional storage drawers; I had bins, but finding anything meant emptying the whole container. While my baskets were cute, practicality was preferred over aesthetics.
MOVE-IN ADVICE FROM MADISON’S MOM, MELISSA
• Sync your move-in time with your roommate to avoid congestion in the room with multiple movers.
• Bring a rubber mallet to elevate the bed and have a toolkit handy for assembling furniture.
• Don’t forget to take a break for lunch.
• We used several clear bins for moving, which she kept at school for extra storage under her bed.
Colin’s Suggestions
“It’s crucial to infuse your personality into your dorm. A bare room with dull furnishings won’t make you feel at home. Use this opportunity to showcase your style. And ensure you keep an eye on where your parent organizes your belongings!”
ESSENTIAL ITEMS!
• Amazon Prime (Free for college students, delivers essentials in two days—even in Ithaca)
• Noise-canceling headphones
• Reading lamp
• Mini-fridge
• Microwave
• Netflix or a similar service
• Mattress pad
ITEMS I WISH I HAD
• Bicycle
• Beach blanket or large towel for relaxation outdoors
• Portable speakers
MOVE-IN ADVICE FROM COLIN’S MOM, TRICIA
studying at Ithaca College, New York
• Resist the urge to unpack for your child. Once we unloaded everything, I encouraged Colin to go out and enjoy meeting new people. I became the cool mom, but later he confessed he had trouble finding anything!
• Bring drawer organizers to maximize storage in the limited drawers.
• Use space-saving hangers in the closet, like huggable and Wonder Magic hangers (available at Ipow.com).
• Create a personal medicine cabinet and a school supplies kit with a small stackable storage unit for your desk.
