Ali Luciani, arts & living editor

For many college students, a dorm room can become a blank canvas — a small space that can be transformed into a reflection of their personality, interests and memories. Decorating a dorm is a little like putting together a puzzle. There is only so much space to work with and students have to balance personality with practicality, comfort with functionality and creativity with campus rules. For sophomore Bella Patton, a resident assistant, the process starts before move-in.

“Most of my decor is definitely planned,” Patton said. “I always have a pinboard that I make. I made one last year and I made one this year and it’s full of photos of my family and friends.”

Patton’s room follows a pink-and-floral theme with butterflies and a touch of Dolly Parton. While she plans most of her decorations ahead of time, she leaves room for the unexpected.

“Most of the stuff that isn’t planned is just random things that we end up finding when we’re getting extra stuff,” Patton said. “[Sometimes] I find a sticker that I like, or just another piece of wall decor.”

That balance between planning and spontaneity can help students avoid buying more than they need. Senior Jackson Pruett, who was an RA for two years, recommends starting with less and adding to the room over time.

“One of the biggest decorating tips that I have is to pack light,” Pruett said. “You can always add more.”

Pruett also said it is important to make sure a room is functional before filling it
with decorations.

“You have to [find] the perfect mix between the functionality of [a space] versus decorating it,” Pruett said. “You have to make sure that it’s completely usable.”

In smaller residence halls, every inch can matter. Pruett said adding a rug can create a comfortable area without taking up too much space.

“My biggest [piece of] advice is to add a rug,” Pruett said. “Rugs are something that are so simple, and especially in like the smaller rooms when it’s more of a confined space.”

Decorating, however, comes with responsibilities. Students have to consider how their decorations will affect their walls and other parts of their room.

Patton said she has seen the consequences of improper decorating. Her advice is to plan and use appropriate materials.

“Take care of your space, plan it ahead, use whatever you need to put on the wall before, whether that be command strips and don’t drill things into the wall,” Patton said.

Pruett recommends using blue painter’s tape to test where decorations should go before putting up adhesive.

“When hanging things, I normally tell people to use blue painters tape before they put the command strips on,” Pruett said.

Students should also be cautious with cheaper adhesives. While they may seem like an inexpensive alternative, they can cause more damage when removed.

“When it comes to hanging items, I always will recommend using Command Strips over anything,” Pruett said. “[There] these cheaper dollar tree adhesives, and they are always such a pain to get off the wall because it sticks so well that it takes off the paint.”

Safety is another important consideration. Pruett said students should never hang decorations from sprinklers or fire alarms.

“The biggest thing that we find normally is that people are hanging things from the sprinkler or fire alarms,” Pruett said.

Other decorations can also create problems. Pruett said to make sure a mirror over the door does not interfere with opening or closing the door and to be cautious with LED lights, which can damage paint. Furniture should also be placed carefully so it does not block vents.

For sophomore Sydney Platt, the most important decorating rule is simple: make the room your own.

Platt’s own room centers around purple and collages. She bought some decorations from Amazon and Walmart and made other pieces herself.

“Having a comfortable living space is really important, because I want to be able to feel at home and feel comfortable in my space, but also let it be inviting to others,” Platt said.

Creating this feeling does not necessarily require a large budget. Patton recommends using items students already have before purchasing new decorations.

“I’ve had stickers and things that my friends have made me over the years,” Patton said. “You don’t have to go out and buy new things necessarily if you want to decorate your dorm.”

DIY projects can also add personality without costing much. Patton has made paper and pipe-cleaner flowers for her room, while Platt has created her own wall collages.

For students looking for inexpensive finds, Pruett said Goodwill, Ross and TJ Maxx have good items at a reasonable price.

“Number one, like, going to Goodwill, going to TJ Maxx,” Pruett said. “TJ Maxx has so many good finds.”

Ultimately, decorating a dorm is not about creating the perfect room. It is about creating a space where students can relax, surround themselves with things they love and feel comfortable in a place that may initially feel unfamiliar.

For Patton moving into a new room her freshman year was difficult because she was leaving her life at home.

“My room at home is full of just everything that I’ve ever had in my life, obviously,” Patton said. “And when I came to Berry, I was kind of sad that I was having to leave behind my childhood bedroom.”

Taking items from her room at home made her transition feel less intimidating.

“Being able to bring aspects of my home here and kind of connect that to my life at Berry has really made my transition into a college student, especially last year as a freshman, a lot easier,” Patton said.

Pruett found that decorating also helped him connect with his roommate as they learned how to combine their different styles.

“We got to talk about what we liked, what we did not like, and that was a really good aspect between me and my roommate,” Pruett said. “We bonded very closely about that.”

A dorm room may start as an unfamiliar room, but it does not have to stay that way. With a little planning, creativity and attention to campus rules, students can turn even the smallest residence dorm into a space that feels uniquely theirs and a place they are happy to come home to.