Make it your own: Décor in college dorm room should reflect student's personality

Make the most of that 250 square feet.

That’s the average size of a double dormitory room at most colleges and universities.

“When decorating your dorm room it’s about using the space wisely,” said Sophia Colarusso of Allentown, Pa., an incoming senior at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland in the Combined Accelerated Studies in Education program. “Something like utilizing extra storage under the bed can help maximize the space.”

Colarusso understands how to make the most of the living area because she has lived in a dorm every year. She is a lead resident assistant, an upperclassman who assists younger students living in dorms and residence halls.

“I love living on campus because I feel like I am more at home there,” she said. “The other residents in the dorm feel like my second family.”

Courtesy of Sophia Colarusso

Something as basic as colorful pillows and strings of lights can brighten up a dorm room like this one created by Sophia Colarusso, a senior resident assistant at the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland.

One, two or more

Dorm rooms can be for one, two or more students. Most will have at least one roommate or live in a suite situation with several others.

It is best to find out the square footage to the space before you start buying anything so you can plan, said Karen Simmons of Cranberry, an interior decorator who owns Home Design HD.

Developing a floor plan can help maximize the space, Simmons said.

Before you bring anything into the room, it is best to communicate with your roommate, Colarusso said, because you will be sharing some common spaces with that person.

Make it your own

“Decorating your dorm room is a way to show your individuality and add items that make the space yours,” said Colarusso.

Something as small as decorative pillows, photos on the wall or colorful pompoms hanging from the ceiling add a touch of personality. Remember, a lot of time will be spent in this room so you want it to be fun and festive and comfortable.

Especially for freshman who might be away from home for the first time, having a space where they can relax and study at the end of the day helps with the transition to college.

A dorm room is a place to find your inspiration and express yourself, said Marissa Kagarise of Altoona, a junior studying digital humanities at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. She said when decorating her dorm room she went in with an open mind.

“A dorm room is like a blank canvas,” she said. “I love plants so I definitely wanted some plants. And I like crystals. I am a very spiritual person so I wanted a place of comfort that inspires me. I added tapestries to the walls using Command hooks, twine and clothespins.”

See the light

Dorm rooms will have some lighting but it’s best to bring a lamp or other illumination such as string lights or reading lights. Kagarise likes Christmas lights, so she added a string of white lights and colored lights so she can change the mood, she said.

For a more elaborate set-up, there are LED strip lights that can be controlled with an app and synched with music.

If you have a roommate you may want a reading light so you don’t disturb them while you are prepping for an exam. Simmons said a light next to the bed is important for just that reason. “You want a space where you can focus,” Kagarise said. “And having good lighting can help with that.”

Courtesy of Bed Beth & Beyond

OttLite purify LED desk lamp with wireless charging from Bed Bath & Beyond ($79.99).

Basics first

Kagarise recommends starting with the essentials and add on from there. It is also fun to have items that can be changed throughout the year to give the room a different look, such as a reversible comforter or pillows with a variety of cases.

Start with neutrals, said Simmons. Furniture in beige and gray can be a perfect foundation for pops of color from blankets or pillows or lamps, or something like a plant or office supplies such as pen and pencil holders and file folders.

Mirrors can create a fun detail and also serve a purpose, Simmons said. Buy light, inexpensive plastic chairs so they can easily be moved around. Small carpets can be a nice addition.

“This is most likely your first time away from home, so add a little bit of your personality to the space,” Simmons said. “You also have to keep in mind it’s about a minimalist lifestyle because you don’t have a lot of space to work with and you need to be able to walk around the room. So don’t run out and buy a lot of stuff until you know how much space you have.”

Michael Gieseke, of Upper St. Clair, is dean of Student Life at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh. He said the school offers traditional dorms, as well as suites and apartments. He said some students bring too much and others not enough, so Point Park offers a list to students ahead of time.

“Sometimes it’s the little things that make the room feel like home,” Gieseke said.

He said students are moving away from having flat-screen televisions and opting for streaming on their smartphones and computers.

Courtesy of Margaret Hinnebusch

Margaret Hinnebusch, a senior at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh, created photo walls with pictures of family and friends.

Less is more

Margaret Hinnebusch, a senior psychology and behavioral science major from Canton, Ohio, is an office assistant in the Point Park University’s Student Life office.

She said to bring less than you think you need because you can always add something. To make her rooms feel like home she created a photo wall with pictures of family and friends from high school her freshman year and added pictures from her freshman year to her room as a sophomore.

“When I told stories to my college friends I could show them pictures of my family and high school friends who made the first year of college more enjoyable,” she said. “The photos are a familiar sight and made me happy.”

Go virtual

Most colleges and universities offer a virtual tour to see the room before you move in. That can allow you an opportunity to get organized and devise a decorating plan ahead of time so you aren’t making too many return trips to stores for items you don’t want or need, Simmons said.

“I believe in an energy when you enter a room, and if you have too much in one space that can drain your energy,” Simmons said. “This is a place to sleep and study and you don’t want to feel overwhelmed by too much stuff to where you can’t relax or get your work done. It can still be pretty and personalized. It just doesn’t need to be overpacked.”