New year, new beginnings, and the perfect opportunity to give your dorm room a makeover! In 2021 we are being selfish -- in a healthy way! Let us explain. 

What we mean is -- if you’ve been living with the same decor you first bought for college, that you thought you liked, but now you don't, it’s out with the old and in with the new. 

One of our 2021 New Year’s resolutions is to learn to take care of ourselves. This is a healthy way of being selfish because if we don’t know how to care for ourselves, then we can’t truly care for others. So, instead of neglecting our health, well-being, and desires, this year we begin by doing the things we want, and the things that will make us feel better. 

How does redecorating your dorm room come into play? Well, if you walk back to your dorm after a long day of class and studying, and immediately feel disappointed, uncomfortable, and like your room doesn’t give you the feeling of home, it’s time for a change. 

You might be surprised at how much your room affects your mental health and well being. The goal is to feel comfortable, secure, and happy in your dorm room. After all, it is your only real opportunity for privacy and the only part of campus that is completely your own to do whatever you want. 

The best way to make this happen is to personalize your room with the individual aspects that make up your unique personality and sense of style. Our biggest advice is to decorate your dorm room the way you would your bedroom at home. Sometimes this goes by the wayside if you’re shopping for college stuff on a budget and grab the items that are best for your budget as opposed to what you truly like the most. 

We’ve put together a list of ideas that will improve your dorm room and still be comfortable for your budget. 

• Fairy Lights 
• Greenhouse Vibes
• Peel and Stick Wallpaper 
• Add a Backdrop 

Fairy Lights 

Did you know that harsh overhead fluorescent lighting is bad for your health? Working under constant fluorescent lighting can throw off your circadian rhythm. What we mean is, your body has natural day and night schedules that coordinate with how much light you’re receiving each day. 

The sun gives off full spectrum light during the day that harmonizes with your wake schedule. However, fluorescent light gives off a limited spectrum that can cause eye strain, migraines, sleep problems, seasonal depression, and a variety of other health complications. 

When the sun goes down, and night begins to set in, the dark helps the body produce melatonin to prepare for sleep. But, fluorescent light disrupts the natural cycles of the body and can lead to resulting health issues that we mentioned above. Essentially, it does not provide the crucial full spectrum light during the day and limits the natural darkness from setting in at night, which is necessary for your health. 

We know that most dorms come with a fluorescent overhead light that’s brighter than the sun. So, if you’ve wondered why you can’t go to sleep after staying up until 3 am working on a paper -- this is your answer. 

The good news is -- we have a solution for you. Spend more time in sunlight each day if possible, and when you need to work or study in your dorm room at night, be sure to work under a light source that will still allow the natural melatonin to build up in your body. 

The solution -- fairy lights! These will allow you to see your work space, but give off much less light. In turn, you will be able to sleep once you’re finished. This is key to creating a living space that makes you feel comfortable. Poor sleep can lead to trouble thinking or concentrating, mood changes, weakened immunity, among other health related issues. 

So, creating a healthy sleep schedule is step one to giving your dorm room a makeover. It will allow you to feel better and make the necessary changes to your room. Plus, with your harsh overhead light out of the picture, you should already begin to feel better about your room. 

Greenhouse Vibes 

Ever thought about adding a little bit of greenery to your dorm room? There’s no doubt that plants liven your space -- literally and figuratively. They are easy to decorate with and they help personalize your room, because you decide which plants you like the most! They also have added health benefits. 

Plants don’t just look amazing, they do much more for our health than we think. Plants help to reduce stress, depression, control symptoms of PTSD and ADHD, improve creativity, concentration and productivity levels, better your self-esteem, and overall give a high quality of life. 

The brain and nature go hand and hand, so spending time surrounded by nature or plant life has been shown to improve cognitive behaviors, promote positivity and hopefulness, provide a sense of comfort and relaxation, and an overall satisfaction with life. 

Now, since you need your room to feel like home, we need to add something that promotes these feelings of comfort and productivity -- plants are the answer. 

Decorating with plants is easy -- they look great on windowsills, small tables that you can turn into a plant stand, and even hanging on your wall. If you don’t have a green thumb, or adequate light source, don’t worry! There are a number of plants that require little maintenance and can live without bright light. 

These could be cacti and succulents that only need to be watered once the soil has completely dried out, and even then they are drought tolerant. Or lucky bamboo which is grown in water but requires low to medium lighting. 

We suggest going with the plant stand idea. All you need is a small end table and a space in your room to put it. Then add as many or as few plants as you like, after that all that’s left to do is watch them grow and enjoy purified air! 

Even if you don’t think plants are for you, you might be surprised how easily you become attached to them! Caring for something is fun and buying a plant is easy, especially when on a budget. A small cactus can be as much as a few dollars. Before you know it, your room could turn into a greenhouse too!

Peel and Stick Wallpaper 

If there’s anything that’s guaranteed when it comes to your dorm room, it’s getting four blank walls to work with. The abundant white space is overwhelming, but decorating it helps the room feel like your own. The more personal touches, the better -- and eliminating white space is the way to go. 

We suggest peel and stick wallpaper because you can cover a significant amount of space with one roll of paper. If there’s a certain aesthetic you’re going for, it can be accomplished with wallpaper. 

If you are an urban city dweller, consider brick wallpaper, or if you prefer a more rustic environment, go with wooden wall paper. Marble wallpaper gives off a modern and sophisticated feel, whereas wallpaper with geometric designs makes the space feel quirky and unique. 

This simple addition to your dorm room can alter the whole environment for the better, if you’re used to an exposed brick wall at home -- then it should have a place in your dorm room too. 

Add a Backdrop 

Back to our discussion of blank wall space -- consider going with a tapestry to make over your room. Tapestries can be huge, but also small if you prefer something on a smaller scale. But these can be a great way of covering a large amount of wall space with a little amount of money. 

There are hundreds of tapestries on the market so you’re bound to find one with a design you love and one that also goes with your color scheme. 

However, if you think that hanging a tapestry is too basic -- there are other creative ways to use them! If you’ve always wanted a bed canopy, use a tapestry to create it, or if you are in need of some cool curtains, a tapestry can do the trick. 

You can also use them as a headboard at the top of your bed. Coordinate the color of your tapestry to match your bed linens to create a cohesive feel. You could also stretch them over a canvas to create a piece of wall art. If you have a window you dislike, cover it completely with a tapestry. 

The options are endless, and a tapestry is great to have on hand. You can change its location once you outgrow the old one and keep changing it until you’ve created the perfect look. 

These ideas are simple and easy ways to create a dramatic difference in your dorm room. From lighting to plants to wall space, each of these aspects should be given it’s own attention because the more you add to your dorm room, the more personal and at home you will feel.