One of the challenges of starting your life in a uni hall is the initial feeling of alienation. It can take a while until your dorm room starts feeling like home, and some people never quite adapt to the new space. If you would like to make your dorm room homier and more welcoming, here are some tips that can help you.
1 – Decorate the space
Filling your dorm room with artwork and reminders of things you love can help liven the atmosphere and make the room feel more like yours. Different universities have different rules, but students usually have quite a bit of freedom when it comes to decorating their rooms.
Popular options include hanging up artwork, pictures, posters, and motivational phrases. You can also change the atmosphere of the room with creative lighting solutions, liven it up by adding a few small plants to the environment, and much more. If you have been feeling homesick, bringing some decorations from your old bedroom to your dorm may also help.
2 – Bedding
Your sheets and pillows can do a lot for your dorm room. Fluffier and more comfortable beddings can help you sleep better and feel safer in your room, and on top of that, beautiful beddings can help with the room’s decoration.
If your mattress isn’t comfortable, you may want to add a mattress pad to help with the issue. Depending on university regulations, you may even be able to bring your entire bed and mattress from home with the help of a company that handles furniture removals.
3 – Get a rug
You’ll be surprised by how much a good rug can change the atmosphere of a room. They are effective because, on top of changing how a room looks, you will also feel the rug under your feet as you walk around the room.
Once you switch from stepping on a cold concrete floor to walking on a warm and fluffy rug, you’ll never want to go back. And it helps enhance the feeling that your dorm is your little home away from home, rather than a part of the university.
4 – Change the furniture
Again, this will depend on campus regulations. But if you are allowed, consider adding your closet, desk, chair, and nightstand to your dorm room. On top of improving the comfort levels of the room, switching from the university standard to pieces of furniture you choose can help make your space feel more like home.
5 – Spread sentimental items about the room
Having items that have a sentimental value for you spread around the room can help liven up the environment. If you don’t have any items you’d consider “sentimental”, that’s fine. All you have to do is get a little creative. Have a friend sign one of your posters, ask your parents to pick a teddy bear for you, or buy plushies of your favorite cartoon character. There are many ways to give sentimental meaning to regular items, and many types of sentimentality, which gives you room to be creative.
