I have lived in a dorm for four semesters at Fordham, and I always look back on old pictures of my freshman and sophomore year dorms, marveling at how I decorated them, but also reflecting on what I would tweak. What I always prioritize when I first move into a new dorm room is transforming it into a home that speaks to my personality and routine, and I think this is what most people want to achieve, too!

As per my taste in decor, I’d recommend not purchasing a ton of stuff just for the sake of using it for a temporary slice of time. Instead, think of allocating your money towards items that will serve their purpose for a long time, perhaps even past college. For example, I bought a set of wire baskets that I use to store my snacks and yarn in. While I understand it may be more economically viable to purchase decor or storage items that are cheaper and low-quality, it would be substantially beneficial for you to invest in items that look good and can serve their purpose for a long time. I know your pockets might hurt, — mine do too — but it’s certainly worth it. 

Also, I believe the less barren your walls are, the better. Populating your walls — and you can use more than just posters — adds lots of personality to your dorm. I’m not only referring to walls that are totally blank, but also taking advantage of the perimeter of the wallspace around your closet or door, for example. If you like posters, you could get some solely to fulfill the look of a color scheme or aesthetic you like. Finding posters of your favorite music artists or movies is a great option as well. You could always hang up niche poster-like things like vintage maps, postcards, etc. 

There are so many options for what you could put on your walls besides posters, too. You could potentially use picture frames with photos of things or people that remind you of home, or that depict something that might bring to life the aesthetic you’re going for. Another way you could add some dimension to your walls is by using wall hangings. If you’re a tapestry person, go ahead and hang those up, probably where you have plentiful wall space. In order to mount all of these things, I’d recommend using command strips for things you need to hang up. As for posters and prints, I  use rolls of scotch tape on the corners of whatever I’m sticking on my walls. Definitely do not use wall putty. It could very much be a nightmare taking it off the walls, and I know you definitely don’t want to be fined for room damages. When taking decor down, be gentle, as you want to avoid damaging the walls and your decor, even with virtually fool-proof things like command strips and hooks (which come in handy and in many different sizes).

My first year, I lived in Martyrs’ Court LaLande. As you might be able to imagine, it was a shoebox. One of the things I’ll always recommend is to take advantage of the space under your bed. To do this, raise your bed as high as it can go, and you’ll have given yourself lots of space. Typically, this space is used for storage, but what I like to do is line storage containers that I store my winter clothes and other things I don’t need on a daily basis in flush to the wall, leaving some space for a short bookshelf, a shoe rack, or anything that might be useful or decorative for you. Bed skirts also make your dorm roomier and help to conceal what’s under your bed if you don’t like the look of it. 

I’d also recommend taking advantage of the space on top of your desk. Consider purchasing a desk hutch — it may also be called a desk bookshelf. I got one for my sophomore year dorm, although I had much more space there than I did in Martyrs’. It helped me save a lot of space, and it was a convenient area in which I could store my notebooks and school books, my journal, personal books, little knick-knacks and trinkets like my grandmother’s Olympus film camera and so much more. There was space on top as well, so that’s where I put my pothos plant! If you do happen to get a desk hutch, whatever you store in it is up to you, of course.

Last, but perhaps most crucially, I will always preach of the transformational wonder ambient lighting can bring to your dorm’s atmosphere. Please refrain from using the overhead fluorescent lighting unless you really need to, and instead, look into getting a few lamps. Maybe a sunset lamp, an interestingly shaped lamp like one in the shape of a sphere, a Himalayan salt lamp or maybe even a vintage bankers lamp. Fairy lights also add a cozy twinkle, but if you’re into LED lights, then consider those. I find these alternatives have made my dorms in the past feel less like an operation room and more, well, like a room. 

If you have no idea where to begin with decor and how you’d like to organize and decorate your dorm, Pinterest is my go-to app for inspiration. Your first search could be as simple as “sage green dorm inspo” or “vintage-inspired dorm design,” basically something niche that speaks to what you’re aiming for. Slowly but surely, you’ll go down a rabbit hole, finding tons of inspiration to help you curate your dorm. Dorms are sacred spaces, and I hope that I’ve given you the inspiration to create your own sanctuary that you and others can enjoy.