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How to Make a Small Dorm Room Appear Bigger

Posted on January 9, 2012
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Sitting in a small, cramped room can be downright depressing. But, think about it this way: small is a relative term. Sure, you might want to fill it up with furniture and stuff, but if you keep your belongings to an absolute minimum, you might be able to create the feeling that you’re sitting in a larger room than you are. That’s one trick to fooling yourself into thinking your dorm isn’t the smallest room you’ve ever inhabited. Here are a few more:

  1. Don’t fill the walls with stuff. I would definitely encourage you to hang a few pictures, but don’t go crazy with the collages. The more stuff you have on the walls, the smaller your room will feel. Also, try not to hang things that will stick out too far from the wall. A well-placed wall tattoo might be the only wall décor you need (aside from #2).
  2. Do hang a good-sized mirror. Not only will a mirror help ensure you’re looking fab at all times, but it’ll also help create the illusion of a larger space.
  3. Brighten things up a bit. Since you can’t paint, you only have two options. Add lighting via lamps and get curtains that allow natural light to shine into the room. This will make things seem bigger, but more importantly, much less dreary.
  4. Decorate with light or bright colors. Whatever you do, avoid using black, brown or grey for your main colors. They’re ok as small accents, but in large quantities, they’ll just make your space feel small. Instead, choose pastels or bright colors, such as hot pink or bright yellow.
  5. Measure your room and plan to fill the space accordingly. Don’t just go out and buy furniture willy-nilly. You could end up with a piece that dwarfs everything in your room – including you. It might be cute in the store, but measure your space to make sure it’ll still be cute in your room.

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Accent Lighting Tips

Posted on December 25, 2011
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When you’re designing a tiny room, such as a dorm, there are only a few things that can make a difference. You can add an area rug; you can design fancy bedding; you can change the drapes; or you can add accent lighting. Today, we’re going to talk more about accent lighting. In a dorm room, you might need different lights to set different moods. Let’s take a look at a few different options:

Desk lighting: If you’re planning to do late night cram sessions at your desk, you should really invest in a good desk lamp. If you don’t, you run the risk of keeping your roommate awake with a light blaring in her face. You might be bestest friends, but that doesn’t mean a few sleepless nights won’t tear a gaping hole through your friendship. All you have to do is get a lamp that you can direct away from her bed. A traditional desk lamp will do the trick.

Bright lighting: When you spend most of your time in one small room, it’s a good idea to have a brighter option than what the standard overhead lamp gives you. Consider getting a floor standing halogen lamp to help brighten some of the gloomier days. Floor standing halogens are really bright, but their light bounces off the ceiling instead of in your eyes, so they are a good option for adding light without having it be overbearing.

Mood lighting: There may be times when you aren’t studying, but your roommate is sleeping and you want to stay awake for a little longer. Mood lighting could work in this situation, much like a nightlight would. And there are those other times when your roommate is spending the night elsewhere and you have your honey coming over to spend the night. Certainly, a halogen lamp wouldn’t do in this instance. Consider getting a dimmer light or candles to illuminate these situations.

All this lighting may seem like overkill, but when you spend so much time in one room, you begin to realize that the room itself needs to change to fit different situations. Get some good accent lighting to be prepared for anything. Choosing the right lamp is somewhat of common sense. You don’t need to learn how to become a fashion designer to choose the right piece for your space. Just be sure to get the right size, lighting intensity, and a color to coordinate with the rest of the room.

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