Moving away from home and into a room in a residence hall can be exciting and scary at the same time. There is a newfound freedom in figuring things out for yourself, as well as space for creative expression to make your dorm room your own – adding touches of practicality, comfort and a few reminders of where you’ve come from.
Draylin Pickett, a senior in the Diederich College of Communication, is in his third year as a resident assistant in Mashuda Hall. He was recently featured in a New York Times article about how to drown out noisy neighbors in your residence hall. Going into his fourth year of dorm living, Pickett considers himself a professional at making his dorm room feel like home.
“I have posters up of the things in my life that make me feel creative and driven, whether that’s movies, music or quotes,” Pickett says. “I also have a lot of posters featuring African American figures and artists that I look up to and find inspiring. I have photos on my walls of my friends from both home and school, too. It’s a small reminder that I’m not always alone, because I think it can be easy to feel that way sometimes, even as an upperclassman.”
Pickett now shares some unique ways to take 200 square feet and make it shine.
1. Play with room lighting
A lot of people find that adding softer lighting — like fairy lights hung with painters tape or a small lamp — can completely change the atmosphere of a room. Residence hall overhead lighting can feel a little harsh, so having different lighting options can make your space feel much more comfortable.
2. A wall of memories
Find one wall or space that you can save programs, flyers and other little things from events you attend throughout the year. It can become a visual timeline of your involvement and gives you something fun to look back on at the end of the year and visual reminder of all the things you did.
3. Find a way to have a TV without taking up a ton of space
“I personally really enjoy watching TV, so that was one thing I couldn’t go without in my dorm room,” Pickett says. “But if you’re worried about space, I also recommend a projector. They can give you that same movie night feeling without taking up the wall or furniture space that a traditional TV might.”
4. Bring your favorite blankets
Bring blankets from home for a cozier feel. It makes sleeping at night feel more familiar. Sometimes the smallest thing from home can make the biggest difference when adjusting to a new place.
5. Give yourself something to look forward to on cold mornings
It’s not essential, but a towel warmer can make a big difference. Pickett says, “It’s been one of my favorite random dorm purchases. Especially during the colder months, it’s nice to have to grab a warm towel after a shower. I’ve even used it to warm up blankets before going to bed in the winter.”
6. Add something that reminds you of home
“I have a few decorations related to Alabama and my hometown specifically, including a poster with a map of my hometown and a decoration with my ZIP code on it,” Pickett explains. “Having little reminders of where you came from can make a new place feel a lot more connected to your life outside of college.”
7. Give your room a soundtrack
Think about using a smart speaker for an alarm clock or playing music. Having a favorites playlist while you go about your day can make your room feel more like a personal space. Just make sure your roommate is cool with it!
8. Create a space that isn’t your desk
“When I lived with roommates, I didn’t have a couch, but once I became an RA, I realized how useful one could be,” Pickett shares. “For some reason, I don’t always feel productive sitting at my desk, but there’s something about sitting on a couch that makes doing homework feel a little less formal. If you have the space, creating a comfortable place to sit can make your room feel more like a home and less like an office.”
9. Let your books become part of your decor
So much of your time as a student is reading material that’s required for class. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, curate a shelf that not only looks decorative on your dorm room wall but is also fun to read.
10. Decorate for the seasons
Change your room decor throughout the year. Pickett suggests putting up a little Christmas tree, adding fall decorations or even changing the scent of your room to match the season. Let your room evolve throughout the year.
Bonus tip: Affordability is key for college students. Pickett recommends checking out the store Five Below for inexpensive decorations and Trader Joe’s for succulents or other greenery that can add life to your room.
