by Tony Catalano

Created on: August 11, 2009   Last Updated: October 18, 2010

College dorm room decorating will put your wits to the test. The space is limited and so is your money. You're going to have to get crafty, and  I think we can do it!

First of all, get furniture that doubles function. A classic example is a futon (which is decidedly cheaper than a regular couch in the first place) for your bed and seating needs. Consider using a portion of your desk to hold your TV instead of moving a dresser out into the middle of your room for that purpose. A fridge can also just about always make a solid TV stand.

If you loft your bed you are suddenly presented with a large amount of space and a plethora of new decorating options. You can try putting your mattress on the top and then sleeping in a hammock below. You can put your desk and the dresser under the bed and easily have room for just about anything else.

Look for stuff people don't want. Freecycle and Craigslist are host to a variety of free and perfectly fine furniture. Even take a look around your college town, especially around late May/early June. This is when a lot of off-campus housed kids move in or out, so there will be a vast array of free furniture. It won't be at all difficult at any point in the year to find something as simple as a chair, and it will bring a bit more character into your room.

A rug may turn out to be your most expensive investment. You more likely than not don't want the dirty rug someone used for five years and then threw outside to get rid of. Sic vita est. you should expect to at least buy something, and why not have it be a rug. Rugs more than anything else can pull a room together.

Any kind of table (you'll likely choose a small one) is enough to instantly make your dorm room look much more legit. It will make it look less like a bedroom and more like a living room. Just a little, square, table kind of thing should be easy to find for free, or if needed, won't run you too much to buy.

There are nearly limitless options in decorating your dorm room, but as I said you have to be creative. I mean, you ARE a college student, so figure it out kid!

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