10 Steps to Create a Cozy Apartment/Dorm 

Ansley Nevils – Baylor University Sophomore

College- one of the most fun, intimidating, dynamic times of your whole life! You make real, life long friends, begin to figure out your life, form your own identity, and move away from home. Personally, I wanted to create a comfortable, fun, relaxing environment to come back to at the end of the day. I wanted to create a “home away from home.” Doing so allowed me to get more sleep, enjoy my living space, and be productive. I am going to share 10 easy steps to create a welcoming, aesthetically pleasing, and warm dorm or apartment. 

Obviously, different dorms and apartments have different rules. But, I will be giving tips based off the rules from Collins Residence my freshman year. I will also be attaching pictures from my freshman dorm, and current apartment, off campus. Feel free to use the photos as inspiration to decorate your dorm or apartment.  

1) First thing is first,  you must purchase removable WALL PAPER! In Collins you are allowed to use removable wallpaper on 2/3 wall space of the room. The limit is placed because of fire hazards. You should add the removable wallpaper to the furniture in the room as well. Let’s be honest, the desks and walls in most dorms are not super easy on the eyes. I recommend using a different pattern then the walls; maybe use a wood grain. At my apartment, my sophomore year, I also used removable wall paper. I had a solid wall, backsplash in my kitchen, and stripes in my entrance/living room. I got the wallpaper from Walmart, Lowe’s, and Etsy! 

2) Spaciousness is key to a comfortable living space! Play with the layout of your furniture to find the layout that makes the room look the largest. I personally think beds that aren’t raised make the room look larger. The more wall space that’s visible, the bigger the room will look and feel.  

3) Stay with a color theme of a couple of colors. Some popular color schemes are grey and pink, choral and blue, navy and gray, pink and gray, yellow and white, navy and tan. Ideally you want one or two fun colors with a neutral to balance them! 

4) Simple is better with such small rooms. Therefore, a color scheme comes in handy. Lots of colors, patterns, and decor can lead to visual chaos. 

5) Use a couple different curtains to add depth. I purchased some sheer short curtains to fit in the frame of the window, and then some thick black out curtains to keep the room dark when I was sleeping, add dimension, and style.  

6) Use lamps to make the room warm! I purchased 2-3 lamps for my dorm and roughly 6 for my apartment! Lights make a room feel like home. Lights bring attention to the decor, stimulate a welcoming environment, and help you feel like your space is always “put together.” I got cute lights at hobby lobby. I place them on bed side tables, countertops, or in corners that may be dark. 

7) Have carpet or use a fun rug for a color pop. Installing carpet into my dorm at Collins was a game changer. There’s nothing more unsettling than having your feet hit an aged, stained, cold, tile floor right when you hop out of bed in the mornings. Obviously, some places may not allow you to install carpet, or it may not be cost effective for you. However, getting a cute rug can help do the trick! Ikea, World Market, and Nebraska Furniture Mart have the best rugs. Rugs can be a cute pop of color, help keep a room neutral, and dramatically effect the comfortability of your living arrangement.  

8) Get storage containers to store extra clothes under your bed because, as we all know, in dorms the closet space is very LIMITED. I bought my storage containers from the container store!  

9) Make use out of the storage closet if you have one. There’s a lot of great space to help you be more organized.  

10)Appeal to your senses! now that we have paid attention to touch, and sight, appeal to your sense of smell. Smells can give a sense of home or nostalgia. Candles or essential oils can help you achieve this goal. If you are in a dorm, you will not be able to have a candle because of the flame. Therefore, an easy alternative would be essential oils. A diffuser would be better for you anyways! In my apartment I have a mix of both! Use a candle or essential oil smell that relaxes you, reminds you of home, or brings you joy! 

Below are images taken in my dorm and apartment. Little things such as monogramed towels to differentiate with a roommate, a sink skirt to hide storage, sweet memories in picture frames, a personalized letter board, cute door wreath, Eno/flags in the yard, and canisters in the kitchen can all help you feel comfortable and enjoy a practical, efficient living environment.