This post: 16 Simple Ways to Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home / Post updated March 2023
You’ve been anticipating and preparing for this time in your life for years and now the time has finally arrived! You’re heading off to college!
Of course, you’re excited, but deep down inside you might be feeling somewhat anxious, too. The idea of living on your own and fending for yourself seems totally awesome, but, let’s face it, it’s also a little overwhelming.
For most college freshmen, the idea of living on their own wouldn’t be quite so nerve-racking if they could take all the comforts of home with them to college – their comfy bed, the fridge, their bathroom where, (as messy as it is), they know exactly where everything is, their closet, and even their scruffy stuffed animals that have been their sleeping buddies since they were seven years old.
But, don’t sweat it! With a little thoughtful planning, you can create a cozy dorm retreat that feels just like home! Here are 16 ways to make your dorm room feel like home.
16 Ways to Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home
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Make Your Bed a Little Slice of Heaven
Dorm shopping can get expensive, but, but thankfully, there are plenty of areas where you can cut costs. However, the one place in your dorm where you really don’t want to skimp is on your bed.
College dorm rooms aren’t known for their comfy beds. The mattresses are notoriously stiff and uncomfortable and typically not much more than a slab of foam covered in hard plastic. And, considering the fact that you’ll be chilling out on your bed studying and hanging out with friends just as much as you’ll be sleeping in it, you’ll definitely want it to be as comfortable as possible.
To make your bed a super sinkable slice of heaven, it’s all about the layers. Start with a mattress cover, layer on a mattress pad, then a foam mattress topper (I like the 3-inch toppers to make it really heavenly) or you can use a thick feather pillow topper, and top it off with quality sheets. Then, choose the softest, comfiest comforter and sleeping pillow you can find.
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Pile on the Pillows
There’s nothing like a pile of soft, comfortable pillows to make your dorm room feel like home. Anyway, is there such a thing as too many pillows?
Nah…I think not! Use them as a backrest, as a “table” to prop your laptop or a bowl of Ramen Noodles, as a comfy footstool, or toss a few on the floor for lounging when friends drop by. Have fun by layering a variety of styles in complementary colors, varying sizes, and different textures to add personality to your room and make it cozy!
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Decorate Your Walls with Everything (and Everyone) You Love
College dorm walls are typically terribly drab and uninviting. Spruce up your walls with everything and everyone you love to give you that same feeling of being back home.
Pictures of family, your besties or your pets, favorite quotes, inspirational sayings, a cool tapestry, or colorful posters – whatever you decide to hang, use the wall space in your dorm to surround yourself with whatever makes you smile and brings you comfort.
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Add Comfy Seating
Whether it’s a comfortable futon, a fluffy saucer chair, a bean bag chair, or other seating you happen to fancy, be sure to add comfy seating into your dorm room layout. Not only will it offer another area to hang out in your dorm or put your feet up, but it will also give your dorm a homey, relaxed feeling.
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Keep Things Organized
Living in a small space can be challenging… if you’re not organized, that is. Keep your life and your dorm room clutter-free by using wicker baskets, under-bed storage containers, and rolling storage bins to keep everything off the floor and easy to find when you’re rushing out the door for class.
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Invest in a Fluffy Rug
There’s nothing like a cozy, fluffy rug to give a dorm room more warmth and style. And, considering the fact that most dorm rooms have cold, tile floors or crummy carpeting that has been through the wringer, an awesome rug is a great way to cover up the center floor space and add a ton of personality and coziness to the room. Before you buy a rug, though, be sure to check with your roommate to make sure you collaborate on the rug color!
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Create a Workspace that Makes Studying a Breeze
Brace yourself. You’ll be doing a lot of studying in college. And, having everything you need (and want) right at your fingertips is essential to stress-free studying.
Create a workspace that’s not only comfortable but also makes studying a breeze by keeping your desk area organized and balancing it out with a few things that remind you of home. Desk organizers, containers, and baskets are great for storing everything you need for those late-night cram sessions while a few pics of family and friends are perfect for those days when you’re feeling a bit homesick.
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Let Your Personality Shine Through
Decorating a dorm can be overwhelming. So many dorm decor themes and styles to choose from – it’s difficult to decide what you really want! Just keep in mind that it’s your dorm and it should be a reflection of you, your style, and everything you love. Whether it’s Boho, shabby chic, preppy, or totally eclectic, you’ll feel far more at home in your new living space if you let your own personality shine through.
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Add Mood Lighting
Relaxing after a long day of classes and labs will be a breeze when you can come back to your little corner on campus, flip on your sparkly lights and sink into your cozy bed. Whether you swag your lights over your bed, frame your desk shelving, or clip your favorite pics of you and your besties to a string of twinkle lights on your wall, soft mood lighting can be a great de-stressor and help make your dorm feel far more like home.
Image Compliments of Society19
Add a Touch of “Home” with Curtains
Most dorm rooms are stark and lack warmth. However, with a few well-placed Command hooks or a simple tension rod, you can add curtains to your dorm room to add a ton of personality, warmth, and privacy to your space while giving it a comfortable homey feeling.
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Create Cheerful Areas That Make Life Easy
Who wouldn’t love waking up and grabbing a nice cup of hot coffee from this cheerful and inviting coffee station? In college, convenience often becomes a thing of the past, which is why it’s so important to create areas in your dorm that make life easy and simple.
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Warm Up Drab Walls with Fun and Functional Decor
When it comes to life in a dorm, every inch of real estate counts. To make life easy and stress-free take advantage of those small areas of wall space to house items you want easy access to every day. Everything from hats, jewelry, scarves, and books can easily be stored on Command hooks, small shelves, or even in hanging baskets. Remember, the more organized you are, the easier your life will be!
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Create a Bathroom or Sink Area that Functions Like the One at Home
If you’re fortunate enough to have a bathroom or sink area in your dorm, be sure to make the most of it by incorporating clever and functional organizational hacks that make life easy and more like home. Take advantage of baskets, shelving, hooks, and fun containers – anything that will keep you and all your “stuff” organized so you can dash out the door when you’re running late for class.
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Create an “Everything within Reach” Closet
I’m sure you’ve heard the term “crunch time.” Well, when you’re in college it takes on an entirely new meaning when you have to “crunch” all your stuff into one tiny closet. Give yourself all the comforts of home by taking full advantage of all the great organizational items on the market! Cute boxes, baskets, shoe holders, jewelry organizers, hanging sweater organizers, and rolling storage bins will do the trick to keep everything organized and within easy reach.
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Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home by Personalizing It
Your new dorm is your very own space so why not give it a personal flair? Whether it’s a monogram above your bed, your name on the wall, or a bold letter sitting on top of your desk shelving, make it your own by personalizing your space.
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Bring a Few Cuddles from Home
One of the best ways to make your dorm room feel like home is to bring a few cuddles from home. Whether it’s a soft teddy bear you’ve slept with for the last 15 years, your favorite coffee mug, or the robe you love wrapping yourself in when you’re tired or cold, bring it with you. When you’re miles away from home, it will be comforting to be surrounded by meaningful and sentimental items that are familiar and remind you of home.
