Dorm DIY's

Its that time of year again! Getting back into the swing of things, unpacking, and attending your first week of classes. Get your dorm ready for a great year too by giving it the time and attention it needs to achieve its fabulosity capacity! There is certainly a strong connection between a person's overall well being and their environment. Transforming your dorm room into a space that promotes creativity  & positivity will increase your overall mood and feeling of inspiration. Personally, I am someone who tends to spend a large amount of time in my room, so dorm decoration is key to a feel-good-promoting space. Decorating on a college girls budget is an experience that encourages innovation and inventiveness with resources. I used Pinterest as an organization tool to filter my vision into one concept space, and then I set off to Walmart, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond to recreate all of the ideas I compiled in a budget friendly means.

Quick Tips

Tip #1: You Don't Have to Buy Everything at the Same Time!

You can start off by purchasing the basics; a comforter set, a rug, and a mirror, that match your desired color scheme. Pick up the decor during the next few weeks. This gives you the option to simultaneously save money from your PT job, while still working towards fulfilling your room concept. 

Tip #2: A Little Goes a Long Way; Money & Items

Simply by purchasing the necessary items in a cohesive and repetitive color scheme, you would be surprised how little you actually need to spend - compared to how much you thought you would be spending- to achieve an artsy tumblr worthy room. (I will link as many of the same or similar pieces that I purchased so you can pick up any of the items that strike your fancy) 

Tip #3: Choose Your Theme

I decided that I wanted my room to be a classy, clean, and crisp all white ensemble that would make me feel glamorous and rejuvenated whether I was waking up to pick out my ootd or writing a blog post late at night. 

Tip #4: Have Fun With it!

Let your creativity reign free, A little glitter and glue can take your look from plain jane to next level extravagance.

Ok, lets get started! first things first:

All white ruched twin XL bed set purchased from Bed Bath & Beyond. I double strung decorative  lights on the wall: one basic white string lights from BBB and the second set are circular globe lights (from 5-Below) that my sister no longer wanted, so I gladly salvaged them. I pinned up  black and white photos of family and friends using clothes pins which I dipped in Elmer's glue and gold glitter.

 FUNctional Organization & Storage

Traditional plastic bins do their job and do it well- trust whats tried and true. For the storage of bulky items such as non-persishable foods, tupperware, shoes, towels, and other bathroom items I used large plastic storage units. The 5 Drawer Stacked Bins that are pictured in the top photo on the right -hand side, I spray painted gold to match the gold accents sprinkled around the room. I liked how the touch of gold adds richness and character. I also spray-painted my formerly black full length Mirror to be white. Spray painting is a great way to save money, because you can recycle pieces that you already have and give them a new life in your new space. Something as simple as changing color conforms your things rather than going out and buying them new.

I wanted makeup storage that was highly practical yet aesthetically favorable. These clear plastic containers for my makeup and nail polish dual function as methods of organization and decorative room accents. I placed one white faux hydrangea (faux flower) beside  my makeup organizer to give it a pretty and polished look.

Lets Talk Jewelry

Jewelry storage can get pretty expensive. The thing about jewelry is that it accumulates quite a bit over time. You buy a necklace here get some earrings there, and before you know it, you forget how much jewelry you actually have. But now that you're moving you have to find a way to accommodate it all in your space! I bought a multi-tiered rack to put all of my bracelets on. This is a nice piece, because it includes a concave tray to store earrings accesibly and efficiently. Necklace storage can be akward, bulky, and expensive, so I went with my fav go-to method. A super super easy and inexpensive fix for necklaces, bags, or anything that needs to be hung is... command hooks! This is without a doubt the least expensive and most elegant looking option - its a built in decoration. 

Decor & Details

White faux fur rug - pretty self explanitory

These circle mirrors were given to me as a gift and were hung up in my room at home, but I loved them so much that I had to bring them with me! They are incredibly simple yet they do so much to make the space look more dynamic. As a centerpiece I whipped together an accent Letter in just two steps by: coating a wooden block letter with elmers glue and sprinkling gold glitter on top. The letters can easily be found at any local craft store or walmart in the arts an crafts department.

I decided that I wanted some fashion wal-art to spruce up the space and further the gold accents to seamlessly marry the gold and white color scheme. Initially I planned on purchasing paintings from Etsy, but I figured it didn't make sense to spend somewhere over thirty dollars per picture, when I could put something together myself. To frame the art I actually used gold lined diploma display frames ; a nifty hack -looking just as nice while still being less money- than actual picture frames. I ran a basic google search and printed some of my favorite image results and mounted them on the inside of my door using velcro command strips.

When everything was said and done, this was how my room turned out!

 Now Sit Back, Relax, & Enjoy the View!

 Have a Fab Semester

 xoxo

- Miss Anon Fabulous