Tag Archives: decor

D.I.Y. Dorm Decor

Filed under: College Life, Money/Budget, Tips - Angelina
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It’s the return to school, homework, and studying time of the year. For some of us, we pack up our bedrooms at home and move whatever we can into what will be our home away from home for the next 8-9 months. Since most of us are on a student budget, we look for ways to live inexpensively (cheap meals and cheap dorm furnishings), but that doesn’t mean our dorm has to take the grunt of it. Believe it or not, there are some easy and affordable ways to decorate without breaking the bank.

1. Stylish Lighting

Hot glue flowers to a lamp shade. This one is probably more for the ladies, unless you can find a pattern you like, guys. Stop at Target and pick up one of their $10 lamps, a white lamp shade, and then hit the craft store for some fake flowers. You could also use feathers, beads, or ribbon.

Flowers Glued to Homemade Lampshade

Photo © Star's Fault

2. Where Are My Keys?

Take a wooden board, cover with the fabric of your choice, and add hooks. Use for jewelry or keys. Check out these key holders for more creative inspiration.

Monkey Wall Key Hook

Photo © bending light

3. Drink In Style.

Pick up some small frames at Ross, TJ Maxx (or another similar store), and instead of putting a picture in them, fill them with corks to create some rustic-looking and original coasters. You could also use beer bottle cap or create drawings on the basic white coasters. It’s a built-in conversation starter!

Creative Drink Coasters with Drawings

Photo © Vedran Židanik

4. Bottlecap Memories.

You know those photos on your computer of you and your friends? Print them out in a small size and glue them to the inside of bottle caps. Or create fridge magnets out of them! Follow this simple tutorial.

Bottle Cap with Glue Gun

Photo © sorakirei

5. Make a museum.

When was the last time you painted? With this tutorial, you can get back the little kid in you and create a piece no one else will have. Experiment with different designs, such as spirals, circles or another funky pattern.

Modern Painting

Photo © LaBetenoir

What are your favorite ways to decorate your dorm? Let us know in the comments!

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Happy wallets. Happy homes. Happy hearts.

Filed under: College Life - BookRenter Team
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Deck out your college apartment on a budget. It’s possible!

by Guest Blogger Jessica Ridgway

Whether you’re fresh out of the dorms or moving away from a cranky landlord, every college student eventually faces the dilemma of making a new apartment feel like home.

It’s the age-old question of, “How am I going to decorate my apartment?” And, more importantly, “How am I going to pimp out my pad on a budget?”

Don’t fret! BookRenter’s here to share some wallet-friendly suggestions to spruce up your space.

1. Hang up YOUR art. Frame childhood masterpieces and pieces from recent years to add a personal accent  to your abode. Not an artist? Commission one of your artsy friends (we all have them) to create something for you. You’ll support a friend’s passion and have something original to decorate your empty walls with. Everyone wins!

2. Make a photography wall. Pick your favorite digital photos, put them on a disc or flash drive, and boogie on over to the nearest grocery store’s self-service kiosk. Print out your prized photography, purchase some wall-safe putty or photography tape, and arrange your treasured snapshots to your heart’s content. Plan out your design ahead of time. Maybe your photos would look best in an organized square, spiral, heart, or favorite word – the possibilities are endless.

Worried about ripping the plaster off of the walls? Create a photography clothesline.

by Curbly

It’ll take a little elbow grease, but it’ll be easier to switch out photos, and boy, does it look professional!

3. Visit Goodwill or Salvation Army, and scour for interesting containers. You can find plenty of beautiful vases and jars for cheap! Another option: have some friends over for wine, polish off a few bottles, rinse them out, and your place will be looking classy in no time! Sprinkle other containers around your space in unexpected spots to hold kitchen supplies, pens, beer pong balls…everything! You can also fill clear ones with reflective glass marbles; sitting on the windowsill, they will create a stained-glass window effect.

4. Paint - if your realtor/landlord allows it. Jazz up your walls with lively shades (your school colors, perhaps?), words, designs, or patterns. Turn your living room into a seafaring journey with seafoam green and aquamarine blue splashed on adjacent walls. Be creative!

5. If paint isn’t an option for you, try contact paper. Brittany Boileu, 21, created this telephone pole silhouette with contact paper, which is like a giant roll of tape. You can also use electrical tape or painter’s tape to spice up the colors and textures.

by Brittany Boileau

How are you personalizing your space this year?

Happy decorating!

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