5 Items Designers Love To Buy For Dorm Rooms
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Their picks are pretty and practical.
Wayfair
When it comes to shopping for dorm decor, gone are the days of simply filling up a couple of gigantic carts at a big box store and calling it quits. Students like to take time to plan and design their new space so it'll be warm, welcoming, and functional. Plus, it's a way to express their personal style and personality. Today’s college students know want to make their living spaces shine, and they aren’t afraid to work items into their rooms that aren’t necessarily dorm specific. After all, there are so many accent pieces that would look just as lovely in a college apartment as they would in a post grad space.
Below, four Southern designers share the top finds they’re eyeing for dorm rooms this year.
Linen Bath Towels
Etsy
You’ll want to be sure to keep plenty of towels on hand in the dorm room for extra busy weeks where doing laundry just isn’t an option. Ginger Curtis, the founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs in Dallas, Texas, is a fan of linen bath towels like these. “Their texture and visual appeal elevate the aesthetic of the dorm while their quick-drying and naturally antibacterial properties add a touch of practicality to the mix,” she says.
Framed Artwork
Artfully Walls
Add some personality and style to your dorm room walls by hanging up some artwork—you can use Command Strips to adhere frames to the wall temporarily. “Artfully Walls has been my go-to source for fun prints lately,” says Mary Kathryn Wells, the founder of Mary Kathryn Wells Interior Design in Nashville, Tennessee. “Adding frames rather than just taping things up makes the room look so much more complete and less bland or dorm-like.” Artfully Walls offers a framing option for each of its prints, making it easy to place a singular order and call it a day.
Comfy Pillows
Target
Don’t forget to bring tons of throw pillows with you to your dorm room to place on the side of your bed that’s pushed against the wall, Wells says. “Your bed will become more like a cozy sofa or daybed for lounging and also creates more seating for friends to hang out.” A patterned pillow like this one will add plenty of energy to any space.
A Storage Ottoman
Wayfair
Maybe you’re not as enthused about having friends sit on your bed, which is totally ok. “A storage ottoman can do double-duty as extra storage for towels and sheets and also serve as a place for friends to sit when they drop by,” Wells explains. We love the peppy stripes on this one.
Chic Curtains
Pepper Home
Colorful curtains will come in handy in the dorm room when placed over open wardrobes. “Not only do they add a pop of color and pattern to the space, but they also keep clothing, shoes and clutter out of sight,” says Melanie Bryant, the founder of Melanie Bryant Interiors in Jackson, Mississippi. In particular, she’s drawn to the vibrant prints Pepper Home offers. If you wish to go the extra mile and transform plain dorm room windows, you can certainly do so, too. “I used large Command Hooks to hang curtain rods in my dorm rooms when I was in college, and they made the space so much more inviting,” shares Kevin O’Gara, the founder of Kevin Francis Design in Atlanta, Georgia.
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