9 tips from decor experts for a comfortable and functional dorm room

For many college students, dorm life is an introduction to independent living — their very first “home away from home.” And as exciting as this chapter is, it’s also a challenge: How do you turn one room into a work, sleep and hangout space? (Also Read | Create a home office you’ll love: 7 expert tips for personalising your workspace)
We got some advice from decor pros:
“Talk to your roommate and make a plan for who’s bringing what,” advises Lauren Phillips, associate editorial director at Better Homes & Gardens. “Letting everyone feel like they have a say in the room can go a long way towards building a strong relationship.”
“Does it have a semi-private bathroom or a hall bath? Are the walls bare cement blocks or plaster? … Shop to the space you’re actually moving into,” says Phillips.
“It’s fun for a few days or weeks, but by fall break, you’ll regret having to climb up a ladder to go to bed every night,” Phillips says. She does recommend raising the bed enough to allow for under-bed storage. In any case, bring a mattress pad for some added softness and cleanliness.
Prioritize things like hanging rods that double your closet’s capacity, over-door shoe racks, stacking bins and those under-bed organizers.
“There almost definitely won’t be enough outlets, and the ones you do have will inevitably be in inconvenient spots,” says Emily White of Dormify, a website that specializes in dorm stuff. And consider furniture with built-in plugs or ports. There are headboards, bedframes and tables that fit the bill.
College isn’t the time for investing in high-quality pieces. “Between moving pretty much every single year… and the general wear and tear of college life, your items are going to wear out quick,” Phillips notes. “And unless you plan to have a bean bag chair in your first apartment or sleep on a twin bed forever, you probably won’t take a lot of your college furnishings with you into post-college life.”
Since you can stream on other devices, a TV might not be worth the space. Phillips suggests something better: a projector. “There are great mini or portable ones now that connect easily to your device, and you can set up a movie night in just a few minutes,” she says. For extra seating, get some foldable chairs, bean bags and small ottomans (ideally with built-in storage) that can be tucked away.
For those who want a dorm-decorating theme, White says some popular ones are “coastal beachy,” “music fan,” “outdoors life/nature,” “’70s era,” “coquette” and “quiet luxury.”
Take a beat before decorating too much or making any major changes to your dorm room. “You’ll learn how you function best in this new environment throughout your first semester, so make sure your space can grow with you,” says Phillips.