Decorating your dorm or apartment can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. As a senior, I’ll admit it’s been a while since I’ve been in a dorm myself. But I like to think my decorating expertise has stayed consistent through my freshman dorm and my apartment now.
I think of dorm decorating a little like locker decorating in middle school. Yes, there is wallpaper available. No, you don’t need it. The magnetic chandelier can go, too.
Dorms are small and temporary. It’s important to own your space while it’s yours, but it’s also important to remember you’ll be moving out in just a few months, likely while juggling finals. Indiana University doesn’t give you much time to move out, and at the end of the year you’ll be thankful you’re not trying to stuff a headboard into your tiny hatchback car.
The biggest things you’ll need in terms of decor are bedding and maybe a rug. I still love the bedding I picked out, and I never got tired of seeing it. I think it really pulled my side of the room together. The rug wasn’t as much of a need, but it did make the room feel cozier. Mine wasn’t anything fancy — I think it was less than $20 — but it helped cover the gross dorm floors and brightened up the room.
This is true in apartments, too, but it can be slightly different depending on if you choose a furnished or unfurnished space. My apartment came furnished, so my only real decision was new bedding. I ditched the rug in my room this time, though we have one in our living room that I love. My friends with unfurnished places have done their fair share of Facebook Marketplace scrolling with some pretty impressive results, too.
In terms of actual decor, I’m a big fan of a full wall. It was true in my dorm room, and it’s true in my room now. The only difference here is that I have a lot more walls to fill. I hang everything up, from Indiana Daily Student staff awards to notes from friends to the parking tickets I’ve accumulated through my academic career. This is obviously personal choice, but I think college is a unique time where you can really go all out on unserious decor. When you graduate, it’s a lot less socially acceptable to hang parking tickets on the wall, though who am I to judge?
My point is, now is the time to be goofy with your decor. Sure, it’s nice to have a spot that feels cohesive, but it’s also so special to be able to walk into a room full of things that make you smile. Even if you’re not as maximalist as I am, I think it’s important to insert a little bit of yourself into your space. My roommates’ rooms are completely different than mine, so our living room is a lot more subdued. We’ve all still put our personal touches on it. I have some of my prints hanging from a letterpress class I took last semester, and we have birthday streamers hanging from a sophomore year party. Nothing is fancy or super expensive, but it makes our apartment feel like it’s ours.
There’s so much pressure online to make your space look and feel perfect. Of course, each August a new wave of social media posts pops up that urges people to buy into whatever’s trending at the time. If that’s something you’re into, more power to you. But I think there are so many more important things to care about than whether that throw pillow goes with the blanket you got from your aunt 10 years ago. Worry about what will make you happy after a long day of classes or work, and remember everything is temporary, so enjoy the space you’re in while you’re in it.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student’s spring 2026 Housing and Living Guide.
