Everything You Need To Know To Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home

Moving from the comforts of home with your family to a small, harshly lit rectangular dorm room can be a real adjustment, to say the least. This is particularly true if you are leaving home for the first time. College life has many benefits that outweigh any cons that claustrophobic communal dorm life can bring. While dorms aren’t ideal, and your college is likely many miles from where you grew up, there are lots of ways to make your dorm room feel more like home.

To make a dorm room feel more like home, add removable wallpaper to the walls, incorporate throw rugs, and add mood lighting using lamps or wall lights. Use an essential oil diffuser to bring a welcoming scent into the room, use a mattress topper, and invest in high-quality sheets to make sleeping comfortable. Hang wall art and photos to remember home, and bring in a houseplant or two to breathe life into the space.

Moving into a dorm room can be a culture shock, but it doesn’t have to be. While living with a roommate in close quarters can feel foreign, there are plenty of ways to make your space feel more comfortable. To avoid getting homesick, and to ensure your dorm room is as cozy and enjoyable as the life you left behind, keep reading. Below is a list of effective and DIY ways to make any dorm room feel more like home.

14 Ways To Make Any Dorm Room Feel More Like Home

1. Quality Bedding

One of the most important aspects of your dorm room you should focus on before you move in is your bed. Sleep is paramount when you’re in college. Your bed is also one of the only pieces of furniture you will have in a small dorm room, so it’s best to make it as soft and comfortable as possible.

Bring quality and breathable sheets with you to college. Soft, high-quality sheets will ensure a comfortable night’s sleep, no matter the weather. Better sheets also tend to last longer than cheap ones. So, even if they cost a bit more, you will get your money’s worth.

2. Removable Wallpaper

Dorm rooms are notorious for having plain and ugly walls. They are either off-white or glossy painted bricks, which feel more oppressive than welcoming. Most dorms also have rules against drilling or taping objects to the wall.

To improve your walls without getting into trouble, use removable wallpaper. You can get all sorts of removable wallpaper, most of which is designed to peel off without leaving a trace. You can choose a soothing color or a bold print as an accent wall.

3. Photos And Momentos 

One of the best ways to remind yourself of home while living in a dorm room is to incorporate special photos and memorabilia throughout the space. Even if you are far away from home, photos and special objects can transport you back to the family and friends you miss the most.

If you have many great photos, create a photo wall. Over time, you can even expand it to add new memories you’ve made in your new college home.

4. Window Curtains

Dorms all have windows, but they rarely have curtains. Instead, at best, they have plain and drab blinds to block out the sun. Curtains are a great way to make any plain space feel warm and welcoming. 

Even if you aren’t allowed to drill into your walls, you can install curtains using tension rods and other non-invasive methods. Just make sure you know the window measurements before buying these products.

5. Mood Lighting

Dorm rooms are also notorious for their sparse and oppressive lighting. Whether it's several fluorescent bulbs overhead or one giant bright light, these dwellings leave plenty of room for improvement when it comes to light design.

Consider bringing a few light types, including lamps, uplights, or LED string lights, to give your room some options. It’s always nice to have various lighting moods in a small space. New lighting can instantly transform your space, making it feel warm and inviting.

6. Indoor Plants

Another way to breathe life and color into a standard-issue dorm room is with live plants. Houseplants are usually allowed in dorm rooms, and there are plants for even the busiest college student. 

Choose a low-maintenance houseplant that doesn’t require much water or sunlight to ensure it stays alive. In addition to making a dorm room feel more alive, plants help add oxygen and absorb toxins from the room.

7. Well-Placed Mirrors

One way to make a small room look bigger is to strategically place mirrors. They are useful when you want to pick the right outfit, and can help reflect natural light. This reflected light adds warmth to any room. Placing mirrors on narrow walls can make the space feel larger, like rooms in a home.

8. Throw Rugs

Dorm rooms are often covered with plain, ugly tiles or bland carpet. This isn’t very homey, and can look depressing. To cover up an unsightly floor, add bright and functional throw rugs. These rugs are available in many sizes, making it easy to find the perfect one for your space. 

You can even get a washable rug, which makes cleaning your room even easier, especially for those who don’t have access to a vacuum.

9. Essential Oil Diffuser

The way a room smells can impact your overall impression of it. After all, creating an inviting dorm room often requires tricking your nose as well as your eyes. Smoking objects like candles, and incense are usually banned in dorm rooms. Essential oil diffusers, however, are often permitted.

You can add your favorite scents that remind you of home, or use oils that are known to help with focus and relaxation. A diffuser will help add a lovely aroma to your dorm, and it can even boost humidity during dry winters. 

10. A Mattress Topper

In addition to having high-quality sheets, you may also want to bring a mattress topper to your dorm room. There’s a high probability you won’t be sleeping on a new mattress when you arrive at college, and it also might not be a soft pillow-top bed like the one you’ve grown up with.

Luckily, you can bring a padded mattress topper, which can transform a stiff and lousy bed into a comfortable one. Remember to buy the right size mattress topper, so it fits seamlessly.

11. Wall Art

Another way to cover up ugly dorm room walls while simultaneously making your room feel more like home is with wall art. Whether it's a nostalgic movie poster or a painting depicting the town you grew up in, artwork can go a long way in making a plain room feel homey. 

Remember to choose artwork that’s easy to hang, ideally something lightweight that doesn’t require drilling. 

12. A Great Desk Chair

While in your dorm room, you will spend most of your time in bed or at your desk. Some dorm rooms come with desk chairs, but they aren’t always comfortable or inviting. If you have a chair at home you love, or require back support when you study for many hours, then bring a desk chair from home. 

Alternatively, you can bring cushions for the existing desk chair that can add support and style to the space.

13. Throw Pillows

Throw pillows are an easy and affordable way to add style and function to any room. Bringing throw pillows with you can make a bed feel more inviting. These pillows can even be positioned in a way that transform your bed into a makeshift couch during the day, especially if you have your mattress positioned against a wall.

Throw pillows can also make sitting on the floor more comfortable. This comes in handy when you have people over and not enough chairs.

14. DIY Headboard 

Beds without a headboard can appear less permanent and intentional. Headboards anchor a bed visually, and they can also provide padding and support for your head and back. While an elaborate bed frame might be out of the question for your dorm room, you might be able to create a DIY headboard for your dorm room. Even a simple headboard adds style and comfort, making any dorm room feel more adult-like.

Summing Up Items That Make A Dorm Room Feel Like Home

Leaving the comforts of home for dorm life is a huge transition. While you can’t change the circumstances of your new living situation, there are plenty of ways to add touches of home to your dorm. 

Add removable wallpaper, create a photo wall, or hang wall art. Bring quality sheets and a mattress topper to make your bed a welcoming sanctuary. Add curtains, a houseplant, and mood lighting to make the dorm warm and welcoming, and incorporate throw pillows to add color and an additional seating opportunity.

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