10 Creative DIY Dorm Decor Ideas to Liven Up Your Space

Moving to a college dorm can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Even if you're far from the comfort of home, your bedroom is a blank canvas to express your style. Giving a new touch to your room will fill you with energy to start your year on the right foot.

If you're looking for ideas to decorate your room or want to make sure you have everything you need before moving into a bedroom, check out our list of essentials for your dorm. From creative organizers to original shelves, here you'll find items to make your room your dream room.

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1 ERASABLE MESSAGE BOARD

Do you often forget things? Create your own message board that will go perfectly with your new dorm room. All you’ll need is a picture frame, some spray paint. You can then write all your messages right on the glass with a dry-erase marker.

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2 CEREAL BOX ORGANIZERS

Get some cereal boxes and cut them into the shape of organizers. Paint or decorate them as you like and place them on your desk to keep your belongings under control!

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3 PAINTED MASON JARS

These are so easy and great for holding any school of office supplies you need. Next time you’re at your local dollar store, pick up a couple of mason jars! Paint them whatever colors you’d like, let them dry, and voila!

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4 DECORATIVE MIRROR

Instead of spending all your money on a decked out mirror from the store, why not make your own? Save your money and buy a plain mirror from somewhere like Target, or perhaps even a yard-sale. You can then decorate the mirror by hot-gluing things like flowers, and even plastic spoons onto the frame! Just let your imagination fly!

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5 HANGING PIN-BOARD

With only a few materials, you can make and customize your own pin-board to decor your dorm! All you need is a cardboard, scissors, glue, colored paper, and your favorite photo or phrase. Simply cut the colored paper to the shape of the cardboard, glue it down, and hang them evenly on the wall before securing your photos and papers. The best part of this DIY dorm decor is that you can switch out photos or magazines any time you like.

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6 PAINTED ANIMAL BOOKENDS

It is important to have our books organized, and what a better way than balancing those books with figurines from your childhood. Spray paint in a vibrant color, glue to a piece wood and voila! Now your shelves will look glamorous!

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7 MAKE YOUR OWN CHEESE GRATER EARRING HOLDER

This DIY is one of the most popular and easy to make. It is a great way to re-use a common kitchen item. Spray paint a cheese grater and hot glue large beads to the bottom for feet! Many young college students have lots of earrings, and this is a great way for them to organize all their earrings and piercings. The rest depends on how you would like to organize your earrings.

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8 DIY VOTIVES

Decorate glass jars with colorful paint. Place battery-operated tea lights inside instead of real candles to make sure you and your roommate stay safe. These will look lovely on your desk, or by your nightstand!

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9 POLYMER CLAY PHOTO HOLDER

Use polymer clay and a large paper clip to create a modern photo holder. This will look great on your desk and you can display a mini collection of your favorite photos. This will help you to stay in touch by seeing your friends and family when looking at the photos while studying. You can also paint the polymer clay and get a colorful set of photo holders.

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10 WASHI TAPE FRAME

Customize a picture frame with the color and style you want. Adhere washi tape evenly across a picture frame for this simple yet stylish DIY dorm decor. You can also use the wall to display your beautiful photos.