10 Of The Best Dorm Friendly DIY Decor Ideas

I’ve rounded up the 10 best dorm friendly DIY decor ideas to give your basic dorm room some personality. From extra storage, to organization ideas, to mirrors and lighting, you’ll find everything you need to keep your dorm room cozy, functional, and on trend this year. All of these ideas come with quick and easy video tutorials, so get ready to DIY!

1) DIY ROPE RUG
A rope rug adds great texture to any room, and it’s super on trend this season. Plus, it makes for a perfect mirror selfie styling accessory.

Welcome to another DIY for less! Today I am tackling the task of creating a rope area rug. Rope rugs can be expensive, but if you do it yourself, you can have one for a fraction of the price. See how I made a round area rug to add some style to my room, and try it out for yourself!

2) DIY BOHO MIRROR
For the boho decor lovers out there, this rattan style mirror made with macrame cord not only looks gorgeous on the wall, but is helpful for a quick mirror check before you run out the door to class.

Learn how to DIY a rattan style mirror with rope! Today I am going to show you how to recreate this trendy, sunburst rattan style mirror, and all you need is some macrame cord or thin rope. I love that rattan decor is in right now, so I searched for a design that I liked on Pinterest, and made my own version.

3) DIY HANGING SIDE TABLE/NIGHTSTAND
Floor space is limited in dorm rooms, so a hanging table is a perfect spot to charge your phone, hold your planner, and maybe a cute little succulent or two.

Excited to share another incredibly simple DIY that will cost you just $5 to make! Not only do I love the look of hanging nightstands/side tables, but they are also extremely functional if you are working with a small space like a dorm or apartment.

4) DIY ROPE BASKET/TRASH CAN
Let’s be honest, waste baskets aren’t usually cute, but a rope basket is a versatile decor piece that can be used as a waste basket for wrappers and papers, or even as extra storage for throw pillows and blankets. This one can be customized to any size you want.

These are 2 easy DIYs that you can make to recreate desk decor and office decor from Urban Outfitters. I wanted to decorate my office and give it a little bit of a makeover but the items that I found were too expensive, so I decided to see if I could DIY a rope basket and a chalkboard wall organizer for less!

5) DIY CHALKBOARD WALL STORAGE ORGANIZER
This Urban Outfitters inspired wall organizer goes perfectly above a desk, and has baskets to store books, papers, or folders. Use the hooks at the bottom to hang your keys so you’ll never lose them, and jot down important notes or messages on the all over chalkboard. See the video above.

6) DIY ETCHED LED LIGHT UP SIGN
Add extra lighting and motivation to your room with this LED quote light box. Pick your favorite phrase and etch it onto glass for your daily dose of inspiration that also looks pretty damn cool.

Who else is obsessed with these etched light boxes that seem to be everywhere right now? Well now you can DIY it and customize it to say whatever you want!

7) DIY WALL ART
Create a gallery wall or decorate a side table or desk with some trendy artwork. DIY these pieces of wall art that were inspired by Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and West Elm, but at a much cheaper price.

These are 3 easy DIY art pieces that were inspired by Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and West Elm. Learn how to decorate on a budget with these affordable DIY art hacks. My goal was to recreate them for less than $20. Links to the originals below for comparison!

8) DIY ROUND GOLD MIRROR
Another super easy mirror option that you can make any color that you want.

DIY this super simple mirror that is perfect for an entryway or any blank wall space that could use a little something extra! This is an extremely budget friendly project!

9) DIY TASSEL BASKET
Extra storage in a dorm room is key, so baskets are your friend! You might as well make them look cute and tassel them up while you’re at it.

Anthropologie is one of my favorite places to shop, but sometimes the decor that I love is out of my price range. I recently saw these tassel baskets on their website and thought it would be fun to recreate it on a budget. I'll show you the step by step DIY as well as the price breakdown.

10) DIY HANGING ORGANIZER STORAGE POCKETS
Add a bit of fun organizer pockets to your walls using cork. These are great for holding your sunglasses, keys, little notes, and can even double as a message board if you use chalk paint.

DIY wall pockets are amazing for storage and organization, from office and desk area decor, to room decor, to storing mail and keys in an entry way. The possibilities are endless and wall pockets are a stylish solution to storing small items that might not otherwise have a home. ....

I hope that these ideas will help you to transform your dorm into a cozy and cute hangout spot this year. To stay up to date with all of my DIYs, make sure you’re subscribed to my YouTube channel. See you over there!