FIVE FAVORITES FRIDAY 8.22.2015

August is Back To School Season and there’s truly no escaping the endless barrage of inventive school supplies and academic inspiration no matter the grade or location.  And for those of you heading off to college, maybe for the first time, or the fourth, dorm decor is always a cause for pause.  But here are 5 of the best tricks of the trade to make your dorm room less like the sterile environment you enter and more like the happy home sweet home you crave (just without your parents, of course).

  1. Never underestimate the power of Washi Tape.  It can transform a wall, deck out your door, keep you organized, spotlight your friends or simply help you keep track of well, everything.
  2. Invest in some nice(er) sheets.  Sleep is key and being comfortable and can make all the difference on the inside and the outside.  They’ll wash better, feel better and look better.
  3. Hang a small plant or keep a potted succulent in your room.  Living things remind us to be responsible and simply breathe life into any space.  Just make sure to pick a low maintenance fern or cacti who won’t be too offended if you forget a watering or two.  And personalize your planter with quite possibly the easiest DIY projects ever, the hanging planter.  Twine, yarn, ribbon, whatever you got will work just fine.
  4. Make a statement or personalize your walls with peel and stick wallpaper or wall decals.  They add instant drama and come off just as instantly.  You can create faux headboards with wallpaper, slap on a mural sized art piece or add whimsy with fun decals.  wallsneedlove.com is always my first stop for “easy stripes” and “design packs.”
  5. Buy/Bring or Add a Rug.  It will center your room, have a huge design impact and make your doom feel cozier the second it hits the floor.  And if you can, buy one that you can easily flip over to get more use and show less wear and tear.  Head to luluandgeorgia.com for undeniably cool rugs to sweep you off your feet.

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And for 65 more ways to deck out your dorm room:

Follow Messy By Design’s board Dorm Decor and Beyond the Usual Back to School Basics on Pinterest.