Let’s face the facts, college isn’t cheap. Granted, attending an online school or online college can take some of the bite out of the cost, but even an online degree can set you back more than a few of the old green bucks. No fear though future professionals, your dorm room can still look swanky, even on a student budget. Less money just means that you need to be more creative. Don’t panic if you’re not a crafty sort of person because here are a couple of room changing ideas using nothing more than bed sheets and pillow cases. No sewing skill required!
The quickest way to brighten, freshen, or change a room is color. Painting the walls a fun shade seems obvious but if you’re living in a dorm, chances are that painting walls is off limits. There are other ways to infuse color into your room though, and all relatively cheap and easy. Instead of spending fifty or more dollars on a brightly printed duvet cover, check out the store’s selection of sheets. Most often you can buy flat sheets by themselves rather than as part of a set and if you get it one size larger than you need you have just created an inexpensive bedspread. Sheets also tend to come in a wider selection of patterns, colors, and styles than actual duvet covers, and at a fraction of the cost. Add a couple of bright pillow cases and you’ve already given your room a whole new vibe.
Pillow cases can also be used to create bright cushions for your couch or chairs. Just fold the excess material inside, and as they are also most often sold as separates, you can mix and match the colors and patterns. Bed sheets can also make excellent window coverings without that tacky “towel pinned to the wall” look. If your window doesn’t have a curtain rod, you will need to buy and install one. They are very inexpensive, easy to install and can be picked up at any hardware or department store. Bed sheets of course only come in predetermined sizes whereas windows do not. Take the wide hem (the one that would be at the head of the bed) and cut just enough of the stitches along the side of the hemmed part to fit the curtain rod through. If they are too long for the window, simply let them drop as it will give your windows the appearance of being larger than they are. Getting two smaller sheets to cover a window is a far better idea than a single large one as you will have a part in the middle like regular drapes that you can open or pin back. They will have the neatly hemmed and finished look of drapes but again, at only a couple of bucks each!
Color is an excellent way to jazz up a plain room, and at only the cost of a couple of bed sheets, why wouldn’t you?
Tags: cheap dorm decor, dorm decor, dorm decor on a budget, dorm life, student life, students