How to Decorate Your Dorm Room Walls within budget

published on: 12 September 2024 last updated on: 13 September 2024

Don’t feel shattered when you look at your dorm room’s barren white walls and basic white tiles for the first time. 

You can turn this blank slate into a beauty with unique dorm room wall decor. 

Back in college, my first dorm room had damp patches on its walls, too. 

But I took on the challenge to sham the bluntness and beautify my sweet space. 

I used wallpapers with a textured look on three sides. And 3D self-printed wallpapers for the remaining side. 

Some students say moving out of home takes a toll on them. That’s true. But I see that as an opportunity. You may decorate your walls with paintings, family pictures, a wall shelf with belongings from your bedroom, and whatnot. 

We have explored a handful of unique dorm room ideas to uplift the design and decor. 

Plan new looks for your dorm room wall decor.

Don’t join abstract ideas and set out shopping decor items for your dorm room wall decor. Instead, you can take time to plan your wall decor wisely. 

Once planned, you can grab the decor items quickly. 

I know many will meet dead ends here. 

What to plan? How to plan? There would be many questions. 

After all, we are not interior decorators. But we all have a creative spree inside us. Let’s get that to work. 

For a headstart, I will suggest a few areas to focus on:

  • Appealing Color scheme

Always choose a wallpaper that matches your personality. Most importantly, pick the colors and designs that you want for your room. 

But many of us have never sorted wall colors. We may need clarity of what colors seem aesthetic on our walls. 

Let me help you. 

You can choose soft pastels for a soothing vibe in your dorm room. If you want your space to be hip and happening, use stark contrasts and bold colors. At the same time, you can also go with neutral colors. Minimalists like me will find a serene charm in those colors. 

  • Your dream Theme 

You may have bountiful dorm room wall decor ideas now. But don’t act in haste. Take your time and choose a theme that goes well with your personality. 

Also, remember that dorm room wall decor for guys and girls may be different or similar. I found vintage vibes and modern minimalism themes equally popular among both. But girls like boho chic more than guys. 

  • A design that is functional as well

A functional design is the best wall decor for dorm room. So think about how you will design your wall and put those to use at the same time. It would help if You had multiple hangers, lofted wardrobes, and other things on your walls. 

However, the walls should be smooth with all the load. 

Personalize the walls the way you like

Nothing makes your residence feel more homely than photos. 

You may have minimalist dorm room wall decor in your bedroom and your dorm room. 

But you don’t have your best friends or family in your dorm. 

How about decorating them with family photos you brought with you?

If you haven’t packed your bags yet, don’t forget to include those in your dorm room checklist.

For a guy dorm room wall decor may not seem appealing. But they would appreciate a personalized dorm wall, too. 

That’s why I will share simple and effortless ideas for male dorm room wall decor, too. 

In fact, my personal experience will reveal a lot. 

Things I did back in my dorm 

I am into painting. So, I  wouldn’t say I liked naked walls without any. I picked a landscaping wall canvas. I put up a 12 x16 sized portrait there. 

On the smaller wall, I used a wheatish wallpaper with acrylic patterns. 

I created a quadratic canvas with four small laminated family photos I brought from home there. 

I am also nerdy about my room’s aesthetics. Especially lighting my room. That’s why I wanted to buy a lamp for my dorm room. 

At first, I scrolled dorm wall decor Pinterest ideas. I found a few. But most seemed quite tacky. 

But I found one mood board with an exciting picture of a dorm wall tapestry. After that, I made a custom one for my dorm room. 

Just about then, I had a flash. I ordered a simple vertical lamp and placed it on the bedside. 

The bedside wall had a canvas with four photos already. 

Besides that, I placed the lamp. I hung the tapestry adjacently. 

BAAM! I created a masterpiece. At night, when the elegant rays from the lamp fell on both, my room seemed something else. 

Well, that’s how I decorated my dorm wall. You may have different ideas as well. 

How else can you personalize your dorm room wall decor?

I hope I clarified there’s nothing like a personal touch on your walls. I have always cherished a famous saying: “Do small things with great love.”

And I’ve always believed that too. That’s why I also stress so much about personalization, such as coming to the dorm room wall decor. 

Now, let’s check out other unique personalization ideas. 

Photo prints

Many students seek cute wall decor for the living room. Photo prints are just what they need. A gallery of small photographs of your favorite snaps pinned to your dorm wall in an artisanal way. Or an intelligent mix and match of photo frames of different sizes. 

I can already see the smirk on your face as you stand, cherishing your walls’ eclectic look. 

Well, thank me later!

Customized art for your hobby lobby

I found many customizable, unique dorm room wall decor templates on Dormify. Based on my research, here are the customizable ideas you may use:

  • Canvas prints 
  • Framed prints 
  • Metal prints

Photo collage posters 

Collage posters are unique, too. You may find one in your friend’s dorm as well. But every college is different from the other. 

You can have a simple dorm room wall decor with simple statement photos in a collage. But I prefer dynamic displays. You may have a pink vinyl collage if you want a dorm room wall decor for girl. You may try other pink dorm room ideas, too. 

Photo tiles

Are you searching for dorm room wall decor DIY ideas? Your search ends here. 

A DIY design can’t improve without photo tiles. Stickable tiles are easy to install and remove. 

Pro Tip: You can always rearrange stickable tiles on your walls. Use the same tiles. But shuffle them in a new order and pattern when bored with the same look.  

Abstract ideas for asymmetric design lovers 

Want that abstract look and feel?

I know, you think- only refined interior designers can do the magic with abstract designs. 

But you can do it fundamentally, too. Here are some abstract diy dorm room wall decor ideas for you:

Gourmet baskets without a hole in the wall

Now, you can hang anything lightweight, using tacks, on the wall. An array of woven baskets would look great as a statement abstract wall design. 

Baskets are lightweight. They are easy to hang, too. 

I prefer mixing neutral colors of bamboo woven baskets with a distinguishable blue or titanium grey color. 

It will go well with blue dorm room rugs.

Music instruments for wall decor

Want unique abstracts for men’s dorm room wall decor?

How about hanging guitars on your dorm wall for that? It can make one of the coolest designs. It would look practical, too. A BIG BOY dorm room wall decor poster with classic collectibles pinned to the wall will compliment the hanging guitar well. 

FAQs

I answered some common questions most students ask. You can add these resources to spark ideas for dorm room wall decor. All these options are pocket-friendly and readily available. 

How do I decorate my dorm wall?

There are many dorm room wall decor ideas to uplift your space without making a dent in the wall. Some of these are:

  • Hanging tapestries 
  • Curtains, for that statement look
  • Stick-on wallpapers 
  • Tacking baskets 
  • Instruments on the wall, for that abstract look

What to use to hang stuff on dorm walls?

You will get hanging strips on Amazon at a low cost. You may also find command hooks and tack-on hooks from your nearest stores. Stationery and department stores mostly have these goods. 

How can I make my dorm room look nice?

Many students have creative gallery walls in their dorms. But you can always use simpler designs or hand artisanal things like tapestries, posters, photo collages, or just your guitar. 

Final words 

College dorm room wall decor is a fun and rewarding process. You only need a pinch of creativity with much more enthusiasm and effort. 

BAAM! Your small space is your cool and stylish hub away from home. 

You can use the tips from this blog to create the dorm room of your dreams. 

It not only lifts your mood. But boosts your confidence, too. 

I am here to help you with more unique and DIY dorm room wall decor ideas. Ping me below for further guidance. 

Also read

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

View All Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE