flower wall
Designer Kelsey Haver came up with his project for a DIY flower wall that could be used to create a beautiful, unique accent wall in a dorm. Consider Alien Tape as a temporary and strong adhesive for dorm room walls.
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Haver Designs

Dorm rooms have always been a fabulous way to reflect a college student’s individual style. For many college students, it’s their first time away from home and their dorm room is a perfect blank canvas to create an aesthetic all their own, separate and distinct from their parents and different from their childhood bedroom.

College students have always spruced up their dorm rooms with personal touches like photos from home, favorite posters, and bulletin boards with cute push pins. Now, however, dorm rooms should be called Curated Personalized Residences. Social media postings and dorm room decorating contests have raised the bar on dorm décor; so much so that professional dorm decorating is now a thing. Custom everything is the name of the game: artwork, headboards, cabinetry, window treatments, neon signs, and fairy lights galore.

A recent New York Times article, Tuition: $9,400. Dorm Room Interior Designer: $10,000?, describes the dorm décor craze: ”…students are spending nearly double the amount they did just a decade ago, even if they don’t arrive on move-in day with a professional designer by their sides.” The National Retail Federation reports that college students spent about $87 billion on their dorm rooms this year, compared to $48 billion in 2014.

To have a truly unique dorm room, consider creating some DIY projects. Whatever your aesthetic, these ideas are fun, inexpensive, and picture-worthy. We round up some of our favorites in this installment of our trends series, What’s New in Craft:

heart crochet garland

Photo courtesy of Delia Creates

Heart Crochet Garland 

This heart crochet garland comes together fast and is a cute accessory to hang over your dorm room bed for a unique flair.

rope rainbow wall hanging

Photo courtesy of Pure Sweet Joy

Rope Rainbow Art

Give your dorm walls or door a pick-me-up with this easy rope art DIY. Have fun choosing a color scheme…either soft ombre shades, bright ROY.G.BIV classics or something in between.

flower wall<br />

Photo courtesy of Kelsey Haver Designs

Flower Wall

So simple yet so stunning – with just flowers and tape, you can quickly make a bare wall look gorgeous.

yarn wrapped wire words

Photo courtesy of Art Bar

Yarn-wrapped Wire Words

Make a colorful statement – twist together one word or a whole quote for a unique touch that’s distinctly you.

rainbow tasseled garland

Photo courtesy of Sweet Red Poppy

Rainbow Tasseled Garland

Whether you’re using yarn in muted colors or full-blast hues, this rainbow wall art will look adorable on any dorm room wall.

Decorated Bulletin Board

Photo courtesy of Entertain the Idea

Decorated Bulletin Board

Spruce up a blah bulletin board with some fun felt motifs. Add matching push pins and your fave photos and you’re done.

wood beads

Photo courtesy of Lone Fox Home

Wood Beads DIY

You’ll love the simplicity of these DIY projects using just wooden beads, paint, wire and glue.

Personalized Cork Coasters

Photo courtesy of Hip Mama’s Place

Personalized Cork Coasters

Whether you make some for yourself or a bunch for your friends, these personalized coasters are sure to make a big hit.

Paula Wilson

Paula Wilson

contributor

Paula is a freelance writer and editor with a background in marketing and communications. She is a lifelong maker who especially loves to crochet and quilt. Her latest craft endeavor is learning how to weave on a floor loom. Paula has been published in the New York Times and has written 10 children’s nonfiction books. She lives in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

 

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