When I was in college, I swore that having a well-designed, functional, and organized dorm room enhanced my overall productivity and success in school. My friends thought I was crazy, but I believed (and still do believe) that success starts from within – within the dorm room, that is.
Often, college dorms are dark, sterile, and not conducive to productivity. However, the right dorm room decor can spruce up the space and truly make it work for you. IKEA's latest dorm room collection has all the essentials to do just that. These pieces are practical in nature and stylish by design – products that'd my Type-A self would want in her dorm room if she were still in school.
From ambient desk lamps to help brighten your workspace to hanging closet organizers to create ease while picking outfits, the products from IKEA's dorm room collection can help you create a neat, organized, and stress-free room. And in my opinion, that's essential for you to be your best self at college.
Whether you're heading back as an upper-classman or starting as a freshman, set yourself up for a successful year with IKEA's dorm room collection. Shop my favorite picks below.
Dorm rooms are notorious for having terrible lighting, and if there's one thing that can help you feel more productive while you work, it's a well lit space. Rather than relying on a singular big light, incorporate a table lamp on your desk. This one is fun in color and its generous light output will help create a bright spot to complete assignments.
Although you might have access to the dining hall, it's always a good idea to keep snacks in your dorm room in case you're up late studying and need some fuel. This trolley serves as an organized place to store it all. Plus, it has a bamboo lid that can hide the top shelf and act as a flat surface to hold a coffee machine and cups.
Dorm rooms have an unfortunate tendency to feel quite dark, enclosed, and almost cell-like. That's why it's important to brighten up the space with your decor. This bold striped duvet cover and pillowcase set can do the trick. It's comfortable for a good night's sleep, and will look stylish during the day.
In my first year at college, I shared a tiny closet space with two other roommates. To make the space work for all three of us, I bought a hanging organizer just like this. Perfect for tee-shirts, pants, or other foldable clothing, this organizer can create more space in a small closet. Plus, it'll make you feel better knowing your clothes aren't cramped on hangers or jumbled up in drawers.
One thing is for sure about dorm room decorating – no matter how hard you try, you'll never have enough space. That's why it's helpful to utilize wall space when you can. This pegboard can mount to the wall vertically or horizontally, and it comes with attachments to help store pens, pencils, scissors, or a stapler. It's also sold with five hooks to hang headphones or keys.
If you're living in a dorm, there's a high chance you'll be sharing a bathroom with everyone on your floor. Since you won't be able to store your bathroom necessities in a communal space, a shower caddy will become your best friend. This one is ideal in size and practical by design – it can fit your shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, hairbrush, and any other necessities. With a top handle, it's easy to carry back and forth.
An area rug is a great way to cozy up your dorm and make it feel more comforting – just like your room at home. Since it's made from cotton, this rug will be soft underfoot. Its stripe design is bold and playful, but certainly won't overwhelm your space. To make sure this rug doesn't slide around, you'll want an anti-slip underlay to go with it.
There's a high chance that your college dorm room won't have a lot of outlets, so it's a good idea to invest in an extension cord for all of your electronics. This one is cute, stylish, and hard to miss with its bright yellow color. It features four outlets so you can charge lots of devices at once. Trust me, an extension cord like this will certainly make your life easier at college.
Even if you have a drawer and a closet, I can almost guarantee you'll need more space to store your clothes and other belongings. Make use of underneath your bed with this clever storage case. It keeps things out of the way and zips up to hid any mess. Its white and black checkered pattern is simple enough that it won't clash with your dorm room decor scheme.
Living off-campus this year? We can help you design that space, too. Find our advice on how to decorate a small apartment to make your off-campus housing feel like a home.
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