By Trilby Goouch
Blogs Editor

You’ve just moved in, but now what comes next? We know you’ll be busy running around with your faculty and meeting your floor mates, but when the craziness of frosh weak ceases, you’re going to become very accustomed to spending time in your dorm room. QJBlogs gives you a few DIY ideas to decorate and personalize your room without breaking the bank.

Display your photos with…

Photo “clothes” line: clothes pegs, ribbon, sticky tac.
• Attach a ribbon horizontally against the wall; secure with sticky tax at both ends
• Hang photos off of ribbon by using clothes pins, like a clothes line
Source: bedifferentactnormal.com

Magnet board: fabric, glue gun, metal flat cookie tray
• Wrap fabric around cookie tray with hot glue, pulling tight and securing on back edge of tray; trim excess
• Place magnets on board for displaying photos, to-do lists etc.
Source: etsy.com

Photo ribbon board: bristol board, fabric, glue gun, ribbon, pins
• Take a piece of Bristol board and cover it with a piece of fabric
• Secure by pulling fabric tight over edges and glue with hot glue; trim excess
• Create ribbon lattice using hot glue; make cross-cross pattern and secure by gluing ribbon ends to back of board
• Place pins at intersecting points; also helps to put a dab of glue at intersections

Stay organized with…

Framed wipe-off boards: Photo frame, piece of scrapbook/lined paper, dry erase markers
• Place piece of paper into the frame
• Use glass as a dry erase surface for notes and to-do lists
Source: realsimple.com

Chalk board: chalk paint, Bristol board, chalk
• Paint chalk paint onto a piece of smooth Bristol board
• Do a couple of coats, waiting for layers to dry in between

Eat & Drink with…

Personalized plastic cups: modge podge, glitter, plastic wine cups, spray sealant
• Take plastic glass and paint modge podge onto base and up the neck of the glass
• Dust sprinkles over the modge podge until well coated
• Shake off excess
• When dry, cover the non-glittered part of the glass with tape or tissue to protect from sealer
• Spray sealer over glittered surface
Source: inspiredesignandcreate.com

DIY nutella dorm cake:
Ingredients

4 tablespoons self-rising flour

4 tablespoons white granulated sugar

1 egg

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

3 tablespoons Nutella

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug. Whisk well with a fork or mini whisk until smooth. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 – 3 minutes. (Time depends on microwave wattage. Mine took 3 minutes.) Make sure your cake is cooked throughout the mug. Top with whipped cream or chocolate syrup and enjoy!
Source: blog.dormify.com

Light up your room with…

Button-adorned lampshade: buttons, glue gun, lampshade
Take a plain lampshade and make a small dot of glue; secure a button and repeat
Source: meganlydialittlepiecesofme.blogspot.ca

Dixie cup lights: cups, Christmas lights, construction/scrapbook paper
• Create holes on bottom of Dixie cups to allow light bulbs to push through so that the bulbs sits within the cup
• You can simply string on red Dixie cups for a college-themed look, or cut construction/scrapbook paper and glue to cover cups
• Once each bulb on the string of lights is covered with a Dixie cup, hang up
Source: heygorg.com

Decorate your walls and furniture with…

Frame a jersey: jersey, poster frame
• Lay jersey of choice flat against backing of frame
• Lay glass sheet over top
• Secure and hang

Coaster souvenir table: coasters, glue gun, table, modge podge
• Take coasters and glue one by one onto tabletop surface
• Keep adding coasters as you collect them through the year; when tabletop is fully covered, paint a coat or two of modge podge overtop to act as a sealant

You’re going to be living in that room for 8 months, why not take the time to personalize it and make it your own? And these DIY ideas aren’t limited to residence; you can try out these DIY projects in your student house as well!