Dorm Room on Budget
Your dorm room. Probably your first room out on your own. And you can decorate it anyway you like. No parents to tell you what poster to put on the wall, or what to have on your shelves. Total freedom.
Or maybe not, because after you buy your books, and your school sweatshirt, and lunch with your new friends, there might not be enough left in your wallet to decorate the room the way you'd like. But that's OK, because here are some timeless tips to get your room decorated on a budget. You can go shopping at secondhand stores, but use these tips and you might not spend any money at all!
Retro is in.
Retro is cool, and many people pay a lot of money for "vintage" items. But "retro" and "vintage" also mean old and used, so take a look around your parents stuff, or better yet, your older brother who grew up in 90's.
Crates + Blocks = Shelves
This is an oldie, but goodie. Get some sturdy plastic crates, most like the ones you'll use moving your stuff into the dorm, put them up on a couple of blocks, and BAM!, you've got shelves. They have more character that store-bought shelves, you can stack them any way you like to fit your room, and, best of all, when the semester is over, you've got a head start on packing!
The Friends and Family Plan
You would be surprised what people have and who would be willing to help you if you ask. Aunts, uncles, your parent's friends, most likely have sent a son or daughter to college already, and they could have plenty of extra necessities lying around. A small fridge, an extra TV or VCR, a carpet, anything that they have you can use, and they are probably more than happy to let you use it because it gets the extra clutter out of their house.
The Odder the Better
Think about the weird things you have lying around in your room or in your house that shows your unique personality. Bring them with you to school! Many students would leave them at home, but bring them with you. The more unique the item, the more personality it will bring to your room, and the better chance it has to become a conversation starter, so it can help you make some new friends.
These are just a few tips to get you started. But remember, it's your dorm room, so have fun with it, and show your personality.
