28 Ways To Have A Dorm Room The Whole Floor Will Be Jealous Of
AKA easy ways to make required dorm living less of a hellhole.
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1. Add a dash of greenery in unexpected places, like in a phone charging two-fer or calm-inducing OK letter set.
Promising review (for the OK set): "This vase is the perfect amount of whimsy for your windowsill, bookshelf, or mantel. Exactly what I expected it to be: gold, shiny, durable, and oh so fun. Plus, it's an excellent reminder that everything really will be ok." —Caitlin
Get the smartphone vase from Uncommon Goods for $32 and the OK vase set from Target for $19.99.
2. Frame your photos with colorful/patterned washi tape that's way less bulky (and more appealing) than traditional frames.
3. String rows of twinkling lights across your room for instantly chill vibes — bonus if the lights alternate with mini Bluetooth speakers!
4. Plop a couple of velvet pintuck cushions onto the floor so you and your friends can enjoy a cozy teatime chat together.
You can also use them on your legs to protect them from an overheating laptop, or just purely for decoration. So many possibilities!
Get them from Urban Outfitters for $39 each or two for $69 (available in 10 colors).
Re: Tea time, you can get a electric kettle from Amazon for $13.30 (and it comes in five colors!).
5. Or situate a mobile armchair that won't take up oodles of space so you can rock your way to zen.
Promising review: "I am in love with this rocker chair. If I had to pick one item in my house I don't regret buying, it would be this piece. It's very loyal to the original Eames chair, which has the same exact dimensions. This design is very ergonomic, comfortable, and beautiful." —Cassis
Get it from Amazon for $63.97+ (available in five colors).
6. Burrito up in an unbelievably fluffy fleece throw for some high quality ~me time~.
Promising review: "This blanket was honestly the best gift I've received. Almost five months and a few washes later, it is still just as soft as when I first got it. The price tag is so worth it!" —Lyndsey Vangee
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $49 (available in five colors).
You can get a cheaper but slightly less fluffier one from Amazon for $13.87.
7. Create some candle-free ambiance with electronic tea lights and DIY wax paper candleholders.
8. Set aside just one minute every day to answer a simple question in a four-year Q&A journal.
Promising review: "I bought this for myself because I have always wanted to journal but have never been very good at writing down my thoughts. The questions range from thought-provoking ('How have you changed this year?' and 'What makes a good friend?') to silly ('Describe your bedroom in five words'). Overall, I am very much enjoying the questions and think it will be a good way to record memories and see how things have changed over my college years. The hardback binding seems sturdy too." —Thea
9. Let essential oils soothe your soul using a (surprisingly chic) aromatherapy diffuser.
Promising review (for the diffuser): "This diffuser is quiet and effective without overwhelming the room. The light effect is subtle, and the intermittent setting is perfect for a smaller area." —Constance Wellik
Get a diffuser from Amazon for $20.99 and a set of six essential oils for $12.89.
10. Unwind to the beat of relaxing tunes with an ultra-thin Bluetooth speaker.
Promising review: "Works straight out of the box with zero setup up needed, just turn on your device's Bluetooth and you're ready to rock and roll. Great sound quality!" —pbfate
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $40 (available in three colors).
11. Turn on a white noise machine so you won't be rudely awakened or disturbed by drunk classmates roaming the hallways.
Promising review: "Works perfectly. All of the sounds are nice, however I find it easiest to sleep with the white noise option. The ability to adjust volume is great too. On nights when my roommate has a bunch of noisy drunk friends over the louder volume does the trick, and on more mellow nights the quieter setting is better." —Melissa Jolliffe
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
12. Install a dividing curtain if you're sharing a room, because even if you don't ~totally loathe~ your roomie, you'll want some damn privacy from time to time.
13. Ditch bulky lamps in favor for a minimalistic, color-changing sphere light for late-night reading that won't be too harsh on your eyes.
14. Store your lazy-dazy essentials in a 10-pocket bedside caddy so you don't lose precious time spent away from underneath your blankets.
15. Prop up your laptop or tablet with a height-adjustable, ventilated desk equipped with space for your phone and a drink.
Promising review: "This may be one of the best and most useful products I have ever used. It is perfect for gaming or doing work on a bed or couch — you no longer need a desk to feel comfortable. The fan holes on the bottom keep my laptop cooled off, the legs are adjustable to suit any desired height, and there's enough room to hold a 15.6-inch laptop with a mousepad." —Avery
Get it from Amazon for $32.99.
16. And support your (poor, aching) back with a shredded foam pillow.
Promising review: "This pillow has amazing memory. It arrives in a tube and unravels into a perfectly shaped reading pillow over a 24-hour period. All you have to do is fluff it and all the internal pieces know where to go. It is cool to sit against over time and it contours to the shape of your back very well. Five stars for this well-designed pillow." —Top Choice Books
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
17. Hang a giant mood-mellowing tapestry on your wall for a temporary escape when summer vacation's looking way too far off.
Promising review (for the Yosemite print): "I was very happy with the image quality of Yosemite — not blurry or splotchy at all. The colors shown online were exactly the same in real life. This fabric captures the expansive view of such a majestic place. Worth the investment!" —JessKpittsburgh
Get the first one from Urban Outfitters for $29 and the second one for $69.
18. Sew a couple of adorable mountain pillows together to add to the whole ~let's escape to the outdoors~ vibe.
19. Fill some eye-catching geometric shelves with your favorite books, figurines, and plants — whatever makes you feel happy and/or you want to keep at arm's reach.
20. Keep your studying refuel within arm's reach with a quirky desktop fridge — and there's also a "keep warm" function.
Promising review: "I needed a small fridge to hold medicine while I was staying in a dorm room for a workshop. Being a Star Wars fan, I could not pass up this little guy. It worked perfectly for my trip: There was room on the top shelf for my medicine and the bottom shelf held four cans of soda comfortably." —Wendy Van Camp
Get it from Amazon for $56.94 or Think Geek for $79.99 (also available in BB-8 form).
You can also get a larger mini fridge for $85.95.
21. Stick on a bunch of metallic confetti dots on your walls for a super easy pop of color and shine.
Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $18.99 (copper) or $22.56 (rainbow).
You can also make your own with this tutorial from Wee Birdy!
22. Subscribe to a monthly book box that includes two enthralling, curated reads and a few related knickknacks (candles, candies, etc.).
Promising review: "I recently subscribed to a bunch of different book boxes in order to determine which was the best for me. This is the winner, hands down. The books are always GREAT selections and the extra gifts are always fun and useful, instead of just being cute throwaways! When it arrives, I'm like a kid in a candy store! If you're a book nerd like me, you'll love it!" —Amy
Get it from My Book Box on Cratejoy for $39.95+.
23. Slip on a silk eye mask for relief from flimsy dorm curtains or blinds, inconsiderate roommates, and overall stress.
Promising review: "I'm currently a 20-year-old college student and I unfortunately still live in the dorm. I would not be able to sleep without this eye mask. I have tried other eye masks before and they all slide off or aren't wide enough to cover enough of my head. I bought the XL mask and it fits perfectly! Once I put it on, I am submerged in utter darkness and it stays this way no matter what the lighting is like in my room. This also makes midday naps even easier!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
24. Transform your entire load of cheap IKEA furniture into ~marble gems~ using decorative adhesive paper.
You: a fancy-ass person living in a broke college student's body.
Promising review: "So Pinteresting! I used this adhesive film to turn two cheap IKEA tables into less-cheap-looking IKEA tables because I'm not made of money but I would like others to believe I am. Super simple to use and you get a ton of it for the price. The pattern actually looks like marble, not a weird pixel-y, repetitive pattern, so that's great as well." —Spencer House
Get a 18-by-78-inch roll from Amazon for $7.12.
26. Upgrade your blah twin bed into a ~magical hideaway~ with a slightly extra mesh canopy.
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $49 (available in three colors).
27. Make your go-to ramen and sriracha meal *that much* easier with a stylish bowl and chopsticks set.
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $14 (available in three designs).
28. Go crazy decorating every inch of your room with glow-in-the-dark domed dots that mimic a lovely night spent under the stars.
When you start with low expectations, a dorm room can only get better and cozier.
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.