The Things You Need to Know When Decorating a College Dorm Room

What You Need 

And What You'll Want!

• Futons--these guys are a great way to go whether you are allowed to take your bed out of your room or not. If you're not, they can acts a great (and cheap) couch or can double as another crashing pad. If you are, futons will let you get some more space in your room because they can be put up during the day and are generally pretty slim. There are also a variety of cool shapes and sizes, including futon and chair combos that give you all the head and foot room you need.
• Bean Bags--a bit cliche but oh so comfy. Again, these are great because they're multi-functional. They can be thrown on your bed for a comfy studying back rest and they can also be used a chair when you need another seat. This can save you both on room and on cash.
• Lofts--There are (close to) a million kinds so you can really get one that fits your needs. There are twin lofts (you and your roommate would have to decided on one you both like but it could save you oodles of space for other cool furniture). There are also all-in-one lofts that have built in drawers, shelves and a desk. These are a bit more bulky than the others but since you're getting all you need in one, it can really work for a dorm room. In addition, many all-in-one workstations/lofts have metal frames which allow them to be lighter and can be more easily be assembled.
• Posters--Avoid cliches. If you have any doubts about you poster you have, type in "Cliche Poster Choices" to Google and check. But there are plenty of unique posters that can tell people what you're all about. How about an exotic locations you've visited? A poster from an event you attended? Or create your own online at a website like www.Zazzle.com (my personal favorite because they can make you a personalized ANYTHING!)
• Lighting--Luckily for you, there are millions of designs of cool lamps and lights out there for some very low prices!
  When it comes to lighting, first think about how much natural light your room gets. If your room gets bad light, try to invest in several standing lamps or try to work in hanging lights that will go all around the ceiling of your room. This type of lighting is less direct and will not give your room the typical college dorm harsh florescent glow. If your room has a good natural light, you might want to have one standing lamp in the opposite corner to the source of the light. Having a light bulb of a different color (nothing too intense) will the room a soft but interesting glow.
  Make sure that you stay with a light that suits the style of your room (ex: don't put up strobe/black lights up when the rest of your room looks like it belongs in Legally Blonde. In a case like that, a multiple bulb lamp with a variety of colors would look much better.)
  In a final note on lights, do NOT color coordinate the color of you bulb to the rest of the room. It will a)give you a headache and b)make your room look like a dance club even at 2 in the afternoon.
• Plants--These guys can really liven up a room! And some of them are hardier than one might be inclined to think. Find plants that don't require a lot of watering. Taking care of plants like this is even easier since you can buy pots that have a water container at their bases that continually provide water to the plant for up to 2-3 weeks (around $5 at Wal-Mart, depending on the size). Next, consider how much light your room gets. If it gets very direct light, buy a variety of cacti (they come in a huge array of colors, sizes, and shapes! for just a couple bucks each). If your room gets less light, try a pathos or any other shade-loving plant. The great part about shade-loving plants is that they generally also require less watering!