A Practical and Stylish Dorm Room

Since dorm rooms are typically cramped quarters, it is important that the space is designed to be functional as well as stylish. It is important for a student’s bedroom to have style; designing a room that is only functional, even if it is a brilliantly functional design, may feel a little underwhelming to a teen. The following designer tips tell you how to create a dorm room that is both inviting and functional.

Double Duty Decor

It is absolutely necessary to pack as much function into every useable space as possible. Look for ways furniture can be used for more than one application. For example, any type of furniture that doubles as storage goes a long way towards keeping a dorm room neat and clean. Using drawers under the bed instead of a separate dresser helps to keep the floor area open. Creating a loft bed allows an entire study area to be created beneath it. This configuration is an excellent example of marrying form and function to create and interesting and cleverly functional space.

Stylish and Practical

Look for decorative items that are also functional. Adding a collection of decorative baskets or boxes to the room is a wonderful way to add texture and interest while making it easier to keep things neat and tidy all at the same time. A French bulletin board is a decorative and functional item that can be display notes, reminders, memos, schedules and photos. A colorful file cabinet is another example of an item with youthful style that puts the fun in functional.

Art Fit for a Dorm

A great way to add a lot of style to a dorm room without using up any floor space is to hang artwork on the walls. Posters, favorite photos and even calendars make the walls in a dorm room come alive. Typically the walls cannot be painted, so covering them with colorful artwork is a great way to add a teen's personal style to the space. If nails and tacks cannot be used, stay away from heavy items like metal wall hangings or restaurant wall decor. Instead select lighter weight posters and photographs from a wall art site and display them using approved adhesive products that can be cleanly removed. When installing something like a bulletin board, it may be best to lean it on a shelf rather than attempting to affix it to a wall.

Have a Plan

In a dorm room, it is fair to use every type of storage trick that has ever been discovered. Hang an over-the-door caddy to store shoes, socks, jewelry, and personal items. An over-the-door shoe organizer is an excellent option because it provides the perfect spot to store hats, gloves and scarves where they are easy to find before leaving the room for meals and classes. Use bins, boxes or even milk crates to store items in closets or even right out in plain sight. As a matter of fact, milk crates can be used to create a custom closet system. Stacked on their sides, they create cubbyholes with a shelf on top, helping to keep the everything squared away.