1. Tarynn (Rowan University): Modern Country

Tarynn calls her design “girly Midwestern,” and refers to her dorm as her “second home.” The clean, minimalist interior, tied together by the simple and elegant color scheme of sky blues, greens, and golds, is a testimony to her Missouri roots. Read on to learn more about Tarynn’s design!

1. What inspired your design?

“I wanted to go for something a little more Midwestern in feel. Being from rural Missouri and going to school in New Jersey, I needed something to remind me of home. It all started with the bedding. I fell in love with the pastel floral sheets and everything just branched from there. I feel like my room is country-chic and a little whimsical.”

The unexpected country elements in Tarynn’s decor add so much character to her room, especially the clotheslines with photos that crisscross over the bed, and the painting of the cow that Tarynn describes below!

2. What are your favorite pieces and where are they from?

“Most of my favorite pieces I made myself. The prints on the wall are fabric duct taped to Styrofoam poster board. The photo line was really easy to put together and a great way to display my favorite photos without cluttering up my walls or my dresser.  My absolute favorite piece, though, is the cow picture my best friend, Matt, gave me for Christmas. He took a special trip to IKEA just to get it. It’s so funny and goes perfectly with my room. Plus, it’s just like looking out my window at home and seeing cattle out in the pasture.”

3. What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?

“DIY! Getting crafty during the break before the semester starts keeps you from getting too bored and saves you a ton of money. Although I haven’t tried anything out yet for my room, I love looking at sites like Pinterest for fun ideas. You don’t need to buy lots of trinkets, especially if you’re really limited on space like I am. But think of creative ways to add color and texture and pattern to your room.”

Colorful, welcoming, and elegant, Tarynn’s personality perfectly reflects on her room, which started out as “random pieces” that came together to create a comfortable and gorgeous living space. 

4. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“I really don’t spend tons of time in my room, but my best memory would be at the beginning of last semester when everyone on my floor was still getting to know each other. We all ordered pizza and watched Mean Girls. That sparked some really strong friendships and some spontaneous movie quoting since then.”

2. Katie (University of California, Santa Cruz): Nautical and Swedish

In her dorm decor, Katie of UC Santa Cruz managed to blend two things that wouldn’t strike you as having too much in common: Sweden and sailing. On a recent study abroad trip, Katie collected “much of the decor in my room, including the Swedish flag, map of Europe, and the postcards from a Danish zoo.” Her marine biology major is also extensively featured in her design, and she loves photography (with good reason, she’s fantastic at it!) and “being surrounded by images of sailboats, anchors, and seashells.” Let’s explore Katie’s room!

I love the many unique elements of Katie’s room, especially the vintage oar on the wall, and the homey and comfortable nature of the mismatched photo frame display. She makes excellent use of wall space, building upwards to make the room seem larger.

1. What inspired your design?

“My design is inspired by my love of the sea and of travel. I’ve always wanted to live close to the ocean, and now I’m majoring in marine biology and living in a beautiful beach town, so nautical symbols are some of my favorite things to decorate with. This past summer, I studied abroad in Sweden, and many of the other decorations in my room were collected during my trip.”

2. Where are your favorite pieces from?

“My favorite pieces in my room are the photographs hanging on the walls. They are all recent photos that I’ve taken during my travels or of my loved ones, and they are what make my room feel like home. My favorite hobby is photography, so seeing the photos each day also encourages me to keep photographing as often as possible.”

The splash of red in the rug is complemented by the various red accents in the room, like in the postcards and lamp, and is echoed by the rich wood color of the side table. Everywhere you look, there’s something fascinating with a great history!

3. What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?

“I love shopping at HomeGoods with my mom, who works in interior design. It’s a hit-or-miss type of store, but I’ve found some really great pieces there (including most of my bedding) at very affordable prices. I also tend to buy small pieces for my room over time at whatever shops I happen to visit, instead of buying a ton of stuff at once, so it doesn’t drain my bank account.”

4. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“My favorite memory has to be a three-way tie between when my boyfriend Edward visited from LA after finals this quarter, when my best friend Roni paid me a surprise visit, and when I got to decorate my room at the start of the quarter! After sharing a tiny room with two people last year, it was, and still is, really nice to have a space of my own to decorate however I like.”

3. Kalli (University of Oregon): “Scrapbook” Sorority Chic

Kalli’s room in her sorority house at the University of Oregon is cheerful, bubbly, and scrapbook-themed. Her color scheme focuses on teals, pinks, and pale greens, and is continued throughout the whole space. I love how her and her roomie took the time to match their bedspreads and decor!

1. What inspired your design?

“When my best friend moved to Korea after high school, I made her a scrapbook as a going away present.  From that, I had a ton of leftover paper and crafting supplies.”

Kalli (in the peach scarf) and her roommate put up Christmas lights all around the room, making the dorm feel cozier, and made sure to furnish it with plenty of soft pillows and ribbons.

2. Where are your favorite pieces from?

“We got the lights from Costco, and I love them! We love to turn off the overhead lights at night, turn on the Christmas lights, and watch a movie. It’s so cozy!”

3. What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?

“Paper! When we moved in, there were these ugly grey closets in our room. Instead of buying all new closets, we just covered them in paper. Now they’re one of my favorite things in our room!”

4. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“One of my favorite things to do in my room is actually getting ready. We usually have four or five girls in our room sharing two tiny mirrors, blasting music, and being ridiculous. I swear those are the moments I’ll remember forever.”

What do you think?

Dormspiration’s been around for a while now — got any feedback? Which room was your favorite? Does your room have a unique theme like the three featured above, and if so, how did you achieve it? Let us know with a comment!

Think you have a great dorm or apartment?

Submit 1-2 photos and a brief description of your decor to amy@collegefashion.net for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Dormspiration post! We’ll make you and your room famous!

Of course, no new semester is complete without a few new additions to your dorm decor – whether you’re adding new art to the walls or just getting more organized, there’s no better way to kick off the semester than in an inviting, comfortable space. To get your ideas going, our Dormspiration series is back! (In case you missed past editions, see Dormspiration Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3!)

This fourth installation of Dormspiration takes a trip across America, showcasing three stellar dorms from Columbia University, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Stanford University. Let’s let these gorgeous dorms and sorority houses speak for themselves!

1. Jessica (FIT): Modern and Trendy

According to Jessica, a student at FIT, her roommate once called her dorm room a “photographer’s paradise”. That compliment certainly rings true when one takes a peek at her beautiful room, which perfectly blends modernity and personal touches, all while using generous splashes of brilliant color. The ruffled bedspread adds texture and visual interest to the room, while the oversized typography on the wall echoes the bed’s colors and speaks to Jessica’s tastes.

1. What inspired your design?

“I was inspired by so many things. I wanted my room to be as much of a reflection on myself as possible. I don’t really include myself in any sort of specific style (fashion-wise) so I didn’t really want my room to be any sort of specific style either. I just figured that if I’m decorating for me, I can just throw things I like together and hopefully it will turn out nicely.

I’m a very visual person so it was really important to make the room as visually pleasing as possible. In addition to fashion (I’m a Fashion Design major) I’m very interested in photography. Photography helps me capture inspiration floating around in my head and it also helps me remember exactly how certain memories felt. All the photos on my walls in my room are my own photography and they remind me of all the beautiful things I have seen and experienced. I’m also really into nature and not so into New York, so my nature photos are there to make me feel better about living in a city where there aren’t many trees or flowers.”

Jessica explains, “The quote on my wall has a lot of meaning to me as well. I believe that God has called me into the fashion industry despite it being in a place that I’m uncomfortable. Because it’s my first time living away from home (and home was in a farm town in Pennsylvania) and because I’m at such a competitive school, I have to have a lot of trust that God’s gonna make sure I’m taken care of. ‘Commission my soul with a fire uncontrollable’ reminds me of what I’m at school for: to follow my passions and to follow where God’s leading me.”

2. What are your favorite pieces and where are they from?

“I really love my bed, I feel like it’s the main focus of the room. My mom made the big blue ruffle duvet for me and some of the pillows. I also really love all my blue glass on my window ledge. That specific color blue is such a gorgeous color. Most of the pieces came from my mom but one came from my Papaw who lives in Ohio. I’m pretty sure all of them are antiques.”

3. What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?

“I’m sure it is not much of a secret but making things and buying from thrift stores or antique stores saves so much money! I actually preferred the pieces I found in thrift stores to new ones: I could mesh together so many different things that I liked and spend very minimal money on all of it. My paper lantern, my rug, some of my decorative vases/jars, and all of my pots, pans, and dishes came from Goodwill.

As I said before, a lot of my pillows were homemade, along with my duvet cover. My mom actually copied it off of a duvet cover I had wanted from Urban Outfitters and she did it in some of my favorite colors. My walls are covered with my own photography and the quote above my bed I cut out myself. I ended up spending less money than if I had shopped at Target and my room ended up being much more interesting than a room copied out of a store catalog.”

The rich, blue glass placed against the window bathes the whole room in a luxurious glow. 

4. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“I don’t get to spend a lot of time being social or hanging out in my room because my program is so intensive, but I have enjoyed some good times in my room nonetheless. My favorite is when my boyfriend Ryan comes to visit. We are in a long distance relationship so I don’t get to see him much so when I do see him I value the time a lot. When he visits I am finally able to relax and focus on something other than homework and do things that are more fun (like watch movies and eat junk food!).”

2. Amanda (Columbia University): Cozy and Crafty

Amanda, a freshman at Columbia University, has a dorm full of mementos and DIY elements, making it the perfect single to kick back and relax in! Her personal touches are in every corner of the room, from wall decals she made herself to mustache-inspired decor. Below, she details the inspiration behind her design.

1. What inspired your design?

“Everything, but I focused on do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, fun & things I love, and coziness.”

2. What are your favorite pieces and where are they from?

“My favorite pieces are things that I made myself, actually! When I moved in I had only two suitcases and the chance to decorate a completely new space, so I pulled together cheap used furniture and focused on decorating the walls. One of the things I enjoyed creating was a quote made out of letters that I cut out of magazine ads and taped above my desk, near the ceiling. Also, Zazzle.com lets you upload and design your own posters; I made one of a picture of my hometown in Hawai’i!”

At left: Amanda’s door is decorated just as much as the inside of her dorm is, which ties her whole room together. Also, the wall decal of the telephone pole (bottom right) is adorable and perfectly placed!

3. What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?

“Make anything and everything! Firstly, wall decals are very pricey – I was looking at ones from Etsy and Urban Outfitters and they can be quite expensive. However, a roll of contact paper (it’s like wrapping paper with a sticky backing) can be purchased for $4 in any type of pattern or color you desire! I bought a roll of plain black, and I traced out my own designs. It’s like a DIY wall decal! I used contact paper to make a skyline of NYC that I put on my door, moustaches that are all over the place, and birds on a wire on the wall above my closet. Basically, anything you find, you can make yourself, and save TONS of $$!”

4. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“Sometimes it can get lonely because this year, I live in a single, and all my friends live together a few floors up. However, the other day, a whole bunch of them came down to surprise me and check out my room. It made me so happy to be the host for once! We took pics and hung out for a little while. It meant so much to me!”

I love the posters Amanda put up in her room, as well as the clean and classic yellow-and-grey color scheme. Gorgeous design!

3. Danielle (Stanford University): Sensual Parisian-chic Meets Studious American Girl

When you think of Stanford University, high-end fashion might not be the first thing to pop into your mind. However, Danielle, a senior and sorority sister, proves otherwise. Her stylish and richly textured dorm room in a Stanford sorority house is chic, creative, and reminiscent of posh residences in France. As a Palo Alto native myself, I’m thrilled to showcase Danielle’s dorm, which features warm fabrics and a color scheme ripe with dark reds and blacks.

When entering Danielle’s room, the rich red curtain immediately evokes a sense of mystery, and is countered by the cheerful blooms of fresh flowers that sit on naturally lit surfaces. Danielle makes excellent use of sunlight coupled with textured fabrics to create a sense of air filtering through a dimly lit, upscale boudoir. Below, she describes her interior design in greater detail.

1. What inspired your design?

“My room décor is inspired by Parisian sensuality and elegant glamour. I chose rich shades of red and black as my color scheme, with lots of soft textures to make a potentially stark, standard-issue white-wall dorm room look cozy. I love candles, fresh flowers, and subtly feminine details, like rhinestones on the stick-on wall chandelier, golden keys as a curtain tie, and satin pillowcases. I wanted the overall motif to be classy and romantic.

I’m a double major in American Studies and Human Biology, doing pre-med requirements, and writing an Honors Thesis, so I do a ton of studying in my room and needed to have space conducive to creativity and productivity. I put up quotes and pictures that inspired me, while keeping the majority of the wall space and desk clear and clutter-free. I’m also quite the neat freak… my room is always cleaned and vacuumed!”

The Parisian air is echoed in the wall decor, with a classic chandelier wall decal and artwork in the room’s colors. The inspirational words balance the sensual interior, perfectly speaking to Danielle’s personality. She declares, “You just can’t wear sweatpants after seeing Angelina Jolie and Victoria Beckham’s outfits.”

2. Where are your favorite pieces from?

“I made my curtains, my closet ‘doors’, and my chair cover from fabrics I bought at a craft store. The room originally had an accordion-style closet door, which I replaced with a rich red fabric that reminded me of elegant European stage curtains. I printed and taped photos of my style-icons and outfit pairings (mostly from College Fashion!) to create a border around my full-length mirror for fashion inspiration every morning.

3. What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?

“My advice is to invest in pieces that would also be suitable for an apartment after college. I also recommend organizational pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.  Things I use the most often, like makeup, I keep in clear sectioned trays on my shelf, which keeps everything organized and within easy reach. I originally had my shoe collection hidden away in my closet, but now I have my many pairs of stilettos displayed under my bed on a multilevel shoe rack, and my boots are placed in three rows next to it. Seeing all my shoes makes me happy!”

4. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“Watching all of Stanford football’s victorious away games streamed onto my computer screen with my fellow Tridelts (can you tell I LOVE my school?) or styling hair, applying makeup, and blasting music with my friends while getting ready for various senior year social events.”

At left, Danielle is every bit as classic and richly attired as her room is.

What do you think?

Got any feedback on Dormspiration’s fourth installment? Have some creative tips for college fashionistas looking to spruce up their rooms? Which of the three rooms did you like the most? Let us know with a comment!

And if you’ve got a gorgeous dorm or apartment…

Send 1-2 photos and a brief description of your decor to amy@collegefashion.net for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Dormspiration article and to show off your style to thousands of readers across the country!

Well, it’s 2012 already, and fall semester absolutely flew by! The Spring 2012 semester is definitely a lot closer to this side of the holidays, and with it comes the anxiety that goes along with a return to campus.

Of course, when I need a fresh outlook on life, the first thing I do is spruce up my bedroom! There’s no better way to revitalize and prepare yourself for whatever life throws at you, and it’s thankfully a relatively easy process for the low-budget college fashionista. Just waking up in a slightly (or dramatically) revamped room can completely change your attitude and get you out of bed with a smile.

In this article, we’ll talk about some inexpensive, simple, and creative ways to spruce up your room for spring semester, with tips that every college girl will find useful. Let’s get started!

1. Reorganize Your Closet

Photo Credit

What better place to start revamping your room than your closet? By the end of fall semester, my tiny closet was nowhere near as organized as it was at the beginning of the year… and I’m sure many of you can relate!

Once you get back to campus, there’s plenty of time before the homework load starts getting heavy, so why not take an hour or two, shamelessly blast some Taylor Swift, and sing along while you spring clean your closet? It’ll streamline your getting-ready process in the morning and will freshen up your mood every time you look for that perfect outfit. Here are some tips for re-organizing your closet for the spring:

• Clean out everything — reach waayy back there for whatever might have fallen off the hanger! Once everything is out (and I mean everything!) and strewn in a huge pile on your bed, use a wet wipe or dust cloth to lightly clean off your shelves, the floor, the back wall, etc. Dust can settle everywhere, and you certainly don’t want it on your clothes.
• Re-color the sides and back of your closet interior with a bright hue, like yellow! Just opening the door will give you a wake-up jolt, and it’s a great way to add some fun to your day. Use colored paper with tape or sticky-tac to adhere, or paint it if you’re daring!

Photo Credit

• Find a new clothing organization pattern. My clothes are currently organized by color, but I might try grouping them by type — button-down shirts together, dresses together, blazers together, etc. It would definitely be a fresh start, and it might even work better. Other closet organization patterns include by fabric, by sleeve length, or by outfit.
• Learn which clothes deserve to be in your closet. According to the 20/80 rule, we wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time, while the other 80% includes impulse purchases, that almost-but-not-quite-your-size blouse that was on sale, and trendy pieces that aren’t in style anymore. Here’s a good way to figure out which clothes are which: Start by hanging all of the clothes with the hooks facing towards you, and, as you wear, wash, and re-hang them, make sure you hang them with the hook facing away (the way they normally would be). After a few months, re-evaluate: The clothes with wrong-facing hangers belong in a bottom drawer or somewhere less accessible.
• Scent your closet (and clothes!) with a sachet of a sweet-smelling plant, like lavender. The smell will be subtle enough not to overwhelm your perfume, but will add a hint of freshness to your outfits. Alternatively, use perfume samples from magazines taped in hidden corners to add a nice smell every time you open your closet.
• Check out more ways to re-organize your closet here and here!

2. Rearrange Your Furniture

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Why not try moving your bed to a different location in your room? Waking up in a new spot makes me feel like I’m in a whole new room, and it’s completely free! Granted, this may be a struggle, considering the dimensions of your bedroom or dorm, but it’s definitely feasible — enlist the help of your strongest girlfriend or a cute guy if you like!

• Try placing your bed near or facing the window. The sun warming you awake every morning is better than an alarm clock any day.
• Enlist the help of the CF guide to dorm room layouts to sketch out a new floor plan.
• Consider your study and sleep needs, and re-organize the furniture based on that. Put your first semester knowledge to good use!

3. Update the Wall Decor

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Blank walls are the quintessential empty canvas, but the same decorations after a whole semester can seem a little boring. You don’t need to go out and buy new posters, though! Even just re-arranging some photos or getting some prints of new ones will give your room a whole new feel. Try these tips for a simple wall decor revamp:

• Add a calendar to your wall. You can try this chalkboard wall decal calendar (that I’m absolutely in love with) or simply use colorful Post-its for a budget-friendly and chic monthly view. Alternatively, find a funny, gorgeous, or elegant 2012 calendar at your local mall kiosk (my friend got me one with shirtless Hawaiian men, haha) and hang it over your desk.
• Update the photos you have on display! Add some of new friends you’ve met, or dig through those endless baby albums for some childhood photographs to proudly show off. Prints are always cheap, and there are countless deals and sales at places like Snapfish and Shutterfly.
• Add another mirror or other reflective materials to make your room seem larger and to increase the amount of light. Try small mirrors in patterns on the wall, or put mirrors across from the window(s) to reflect sunlight.

What do you think?

How do you spruce up your room or dorm for a new semester? What did you think of these tips? Do you have any advice for CF readers trying to add a new twist to their room on a budget? Let us know with a comment!

Style, however, never takes a vacation — so while we’re all busy digesting our holiday meals, let’s take a look at three beautifully decorated dorm rooms and apartments of CF readers, each with their own unique tastes and interior design. In this third installation of Dormspiration, we’ll be exploring Epiphany’s single at Wake Forest University, Sarah’s apartment bedroom at Truman State University, and Camille’s on-campus apartment at the University of Maryland. Enjoy!

Epiphany (Wake Forest University): Inspired by India

As soon as I saw Epiphany’s room, I was immediately drawn to its rich color scheme and unique pieces. Everywhere you turn, there’s something unusual and gorgeous, whether it’s a carved piece or an interesting texture. Epiphany really worked hard to make her room feel warm and homey, and she certainly achieved it!

The key elements of Epiphany’s dorm that make it so cohesive include a color scheme of golds, reds, and browns, a taste for blending unique patterns and textures together (see her gallery of frames!), and a collection of fascinating pieces picked up from her travels. Read on to learn about Epiphany’s interior design style!

The deep blue of Epiphany’s bedspread complements the reds and golds of her decor, and I love the juxtaposition of damask and bohemian prints, as well as the framed prints that create symmetry.

Epiphany doesn’t let the confines of a small single limit her creativity! A true college fashionista, she incorporated “many trinkets from thrift stores” and even “managed to fit a couch” in her room, which is her favorite aspect of the space. Below, I asked her to explain her design and share some budget-friendly dorm design tips:

What inspired your dorm room’s design? 
“My design is inspired by my trip to India and the love I have for the people in my life. Dorm rooms tend to be a bit cold, and I’m living there for an entire year, so I wanted it to be warm and homey. I spend a lot of time in my room and I thought it was important for me to feel the most comfortable in it. I absolutely love how it turned out.”

Where are your favorite pieces from?
“My pieces come from a variety of places. Some from India, thrift stores, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Target, and Walmart. I love finding unique items in the most obscure places!”

Epiphany’s metallic elephant is absolutely gorgeous, as is the arrangement of frames, keeping in line with the room’s symmetry. Even her accessories contribute to the cohesive and homey nature of the dorm.

What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?
“My secret to decorating on a budget is patience. The sale racks have become my best friend over the years. I’ve also learned that if you absolutely love something, then don’t risk losing it by waiting. If it is in your price range, go ahead and get it if it is a timeless piece that you can use for years. Also, thrift stores and consignment shops are great places for decorative items because often you can bargain down the price with the owner.”

What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?
“One time, my friends ambushed me at 10 o’clock at night on a Thursday and said we were going out to a club in a nearby city. I am not a huge club person, but they gave me no choice! All three of us were in my room, getting dressed and chatting. It was so much fun – and we had a blast at the club, too!”

Epiphany is every bit as eclectic and put-together as her room, and I love how she made a shadowbox out of a shelf with a few trinkets and a framed photo. Also, you’ve probably noticed that she is a phenomenal photographer! 

Sarah (Truman State University): Liberty of London

Sarah’s apartment bedroom at Truman State University is light, bright, and full of Liberty of London prints (with many from their Target collection!). I love the pops of bright color everywhere, and the unexpected pieces that make the room feel so cheerful and feminine.

White is definitely the clean slate that Sarah has made full use of as a simple backdrop for her eye-popping design. It helps her room feel so whimsy and lighthearted — the perfect place to come home to after a stressful day at school! Below, she describes what inspired her style.

What inspired your design?
“Liberty of London! Their collections are pretty, fun, quirky, and retro – all of which are things that I love.”

Where are your favorite pieces from?
“My most favorite piece in my room is my pink desk. It was brown, ugly, and falling apart when I bought it off of Craigslist for $15. It’s crazy what a can of “soda pop pink” paint and a few hours can do. My second favorite piece is my cork board necklace display, also a DIY project. It’s both functional and decorative! And lastly, my stuffed penguin named Pippin (who sits atop my armoire) is an essential piece in my room. Forget boys, every girl needs a penguin to make her smile.”

Sarah found the desk and hutch on Craigslist and painted them pink herself! I love the Target dogs on the shelf above her bed, as well as the simple and pretty jewelry organizer that she made herself. 

What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?
“My secret for decorating on a budget is to shop often and be creative. I became obsessed with the Liberty of London for Target collaboration that came out last summer, and all of the pieces I bought were at least 50% off because I went to 2 different Targets twice a week to find what I wanted for less. The curtains and the makeshift wallpaper are actually re-purposed fashion scarves, which I bought for about $4 apiece (they retailed at around $20 apiece). Thrifting and searching through your grandparent’s old stuff is also great, that is how I found the pretty lace and the flowers that are on top my armoire. And lastly, display what you already have! Random knickknacks and awards always have a place, just play around with arranging them in a fun and creative way.”

What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?
“Since I live in an apartment, my bedroom itself is a pretty peaceful place (limited mostly to doing homework, sleeping, and pinteresting)… but I did watch all of Arrested Development on Netflix and that was pretty awesome.”

The flowers atop the armoire bring so much life into the room, as do the fun prints on the pillows and lampshade. I love the pinks and greens on the bedspread — they’re so fresh and pretty!

Camille (University of Maryland): Trendy, Calm, Fun

Camille’s on-campus apartment at the University of Maryland perfectly showcases her interests while staying on top of interior design trends and still looking totally unique. How did she manage this difficult feat? Camille blends a geometric display of various pop culture images and posters, perfectly placed typography, and a bright, colorful color scheme to tie everything together.

I’m absolutely in love with how comprehensive and creative Camille is when it comes to wall decor — she definitely has an eye for how to arrange photos and posters, and she really makes an effort to make her room reflect who she is as a person. Below, she answers a few questions about her style and decor.

What inspired your design?
“I’m not sure there is one specific thing that inspired my design! I knew that there were large posters that I was dying to have on my wall , but I also knew I wouldn’t be able to afford to keep buying posters. That’s when I turned to magazine pages, which in actuality are just miniature posters! I ripped out magazine pages of pictures that intrigued me, of people that I liked, and of colors, images and brands that I gravitate towards.

I wanted to put entire pages on my wall rather than cutting out abstract shapes because the geometry of it gives it a cleaner feel and more chic of a look. I’m also a Marketing major, so I’m naturally inclined towards advertisements, especially fashion ones!”

Camille’s wall has a fantastic blend of images from pop culture and historic artwork, and everything is arranged wonderfully, with the larger posters evenly spaced amidst the smaller ones. Also, the DIY collage on the wall is the perfect contrast to the geometric arrangement of the posters!

What are your favorite pieces in your room?
“I’d have to say my favorite pieces in my room are all the images of Lady Gaga I have, especially the huge poster of her sitting at the piano, which I ordered from Amazon for ONE dollar! I, too, am a musician and I look up to her so much as a fellow artist and as a woman. She inspires me every day! I got most of my images of her from magazines.

Aside from my Lady Gaga obsession, my favorite piece on my wall is my vision board — a poster collage of phrases and images that I hope to manifest into my life. This piece is completely unique to me since I made it. I draw a lot of inspiration from it and it keeps me in alignment with what I want out of life.”

What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?
“My secret for decorating on a budget is staying true to what actually interests me. I didn’t want to assign my room one specific theme or aesthetic so I would have to go out and buy things that fit that style. I wanted my room to be a hodgepodge of things that I like, which in turn made my room more distinctive and it made it easier to find random and cheap things. Magazines are a very easy way to decorate on a budget, and I had a lot of magazines laying around so I figured instead of throwing them away, I’d make use of them!

I decorated using things I already owned. Perfume bottles are easy to decorate with, for example. I also hung up all my necklaces with push pins, and I have a lot of keepsakes like concert ticket stubs and inspirational quotes that I stick up for design and encouragement. And we all know Christmas lights (or in my case, Halloween lights, since they’re purple and orange) can make a room appear more whimsical and enchanting, which can be very relaxing after a long day.”

What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?
“My favorite memories from my room are all the times I’ve had friends over and we’ve sat on my bed and just watched TV. It’s the simple things.”

Camille is just as trendy and fun-loving as her room, and the personal touches everywhere truly make her on-campus apartment her home!

What do you think?

Which of the three rooms was your favorite? Do you prefer a minimalist approach to interior design, or are you a fan of making your walls a canvas for your imagination? Where were the unique pieces in your dorms and apartments found? Let us know with a comment!

Want to be in an upcoming Dormspiration post?

We’re always looking for more reader submissions for future Dormspiration posts! To see your room featured here, just send in 1-2 photos of your decor and a brief description of your design to amy@collegefashion.net. Bonus points if you have a friend take a picture of you in your room. Can’t wait to see your submissions!

As with the first Dormspiration installment, these posts will show you that it is possible to create a chic, unique dorm on a college student’s budget. Amelea favors a calm, cozy room with warm lighting and plenty of colorful inspiration, while Gillian’s room is full of typographic elements and quirky accents. Read on to check out their rooms!

Amelea (University of Oregon): Calm and Cozy

Meet Amelea, who’s studying public relations, business, and Japanese at the University of Oregon. Her room reflects exactly what she wanted it to. Says Amelea,

“Coming to college, I had no idea what my dorm room would be like. I just wanted to make sure that it was super cozy and relaxing. I made sure I had lots of color, lights and photos of my friends and family.”

She certainly achieved the calm and cozy look! The warm, dark reds are perfect to come home to on a cold winter night, and I love how she mixes patterns and textures in her pillows, bedspread, and the curtain that serves as a faux headboard. The rich colors help to counteract the chilly pale walls, and the ambient lighting (I love that star light!) makes the room feel relaxing.

I especially love her photo displays, and the contrast between the collage and the grid-like organization of the pictures. The juxtaposition of the two adds so much visual interest, and the round mirrors on the wall draw the eye upward and create an illusion of more space.

Amelea added a few more cool details to her room. First, she turned her dresser into a vanity by propping up the square mirror against the wall – such a cool idea! I also love how her Christmas lights continue all around her room. The plant in the corner of her dorm brings so much life into it, and I like how the red color scheme continues on with her desk lamp.

Want more info on Amelea’s dorm? I asked her a few questions about what inspired her dorm room design.

1. What inspired your dorm design?

“I love the color red so I wanted the red curtain behind my bed to be the main focal point of my room. Going into college, I knew that the rooms were going to be pretty bland, so I wanted to use as much color as possible without going overboard.”

2. What are your favorite pieces in your dorm?

“I love my white star lamp above my bed. I turn that on along with my Christmas lights when I want to relax. We’re not allowed to have candles in the room so I wanted to have some other form of lighting to create a calm atmosphere.”

3. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“My roommate and I invite people from our floor to have ‘Just Dance’ parties with us on the Wii.”

4. What are your tips for decorating on a budget?

“Since dorm rooms are very plain, have fun with color, print and other fun details that will bring life to your room. You don’t have to spend money to have a great dorm room. I made an inspiration board with pictures from my favorite fashion magazines and also printed out pictures to hang on my wall to remind me of home. Another thing that adds A LOT to your room is lighting – Christmas lights are fun all year round and very inexpensive.”

Amelea in her gorgeous and relaxing room

Gillian (University of Wisconsin-Stout): Vintage and Graphic Design-Inspired

Gillian, a Graphic Design major at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, sent me a few photos of her dorm there, and I fell completely in love. She merges vintage touches with graphic design elements like typography to create a wonderfully unique room filled with quirky elements and fun prints. Gillian classifies her interior design style as “artsy-hippie-vintage”, and her walls are covered with her own sketches, collages, and photographs.

Gillian used an eclectic, muted color palette to create her room’s soothing ambiance, and her room is filled with gorgeous surprises, like the Snow White laptop decal and artwork displayed everywhere. Let’s go explore her room!

Gillian’s unique pieces make her room fascinating — everything from the graphic design displays to her vintage Coke bottle holder and jewelry holders adds something to the room.

1. What inspired your design?

“Everything! Art, design, music, typography, photos, my Mom & Dad & sisterface, fashion, traveling, my friends…I could go on forever! I think my room really reflects my personality, its a warm inviting and creative space.”

2. Where are your favorite pieces from?

“A lot of my favorite pieces – including my Coca-cola bottle holder, the roller skate box, patterned record boxes and the bowls that hold my makeup – are all from my parents. They have always has a great eye for vintage pieces, which is probably where I developed my taste for antiques. I also love my globe lamp that I bought at a furniture consignment shop in Chippewa Falls, WI. The majority of the other pieces are gifts from friends or thrift store finds. Most of the art on the walls are my drawings and photographs, mixed with old postcards and inspiring pictures from magazines.”

I absolutely love the geometric arrangement of magazine pictures and photos — they add structure to her room, which is balanced by the star light and colorful paints and artwork.

3. What’s your secret for decorating on a budget?

“Thrift stores, consignment shops, antique stores, and garage sales! I am always keeping my eye open for unique pieces and I’ve been collecting since I was 15 or 16.”

4. What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?

“Anytime my friends are around – I love that people feel comfortable to just come and hang out in my space.”

What Do You Think?

Did you like this second Dormspiration installment? What are your favorite aspects of Amelea and Gillian’s rooms? Do you have any tips for decorating on a budget? Let us know with a comment!

Want to be featured in an upcoming Dormspiration article?

Send 1-2 photos of your room and a brief description of your decor to amy@collegefashion.net for a chance to show off your fabulous interior design to hundreds of thousands of other college students! Can’t wait to see your submissions!

As I’m writing this, I’m playing the Glee Christmas album at full volume with my door wide open — sorry, floormates! The holiday season puts me in such a good mood that I find it difficult to keep a straight face whenever I hear festive music or see colorful decorations – I’m sure many of you can relate.

Of course, I couldn’t truly be a sucker for holiday spirit without bringing it into my dorm room! Seasonal dorm room decorations are always a fun creative outlet, and Christmas is the mother of all decorating holidays — you only need to venture outside to see giant red ornaments and bedecked trees everywhere.

In this article, we’ll show you some gorgeous (and inexpensive!) ways to decorate your dorm room for the holidays. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, it’s impossible not to be drawn into the wonderful giving spirit that December brings us.

Turn on the Pandora Christmas station, throw on a cozy sweater and a grin, and let’s get started!

1. Christmas Lights

Photo Credit

The quintessential dorm room lighting choice takes on a whole new dimension during the holidays! Christmas lights are the cheapest and easiest way to decorate for the holidays, and have a myriad of uses:

• Wrap multicolored Christmas lights around your bedpost and bed frame for sugarplum dreams!
• Drape icicle Christmas lights from your closet or dresser top.
• Create a glowing illusion by running lights all around the perimeter of your room where your ceiling meets the walls.
• Use Christmas lights (white or multicolored) to create a faux headboard over your bed.
• Crisscross the lights from wall to wall near the ceiling to really make the room feel cozy.
• Stuff the cord of lights inside a large jar or around an empty bottle for simple and festive decor.
• Use the lights to make an outline of a Christmas tree, Star of David, or Kwanzaa symbols on your wall or in the hallway.

To hang your lights, use Command hooks or strong, clear tape (I use packing tape) to keep them from falling and keep your walls in tact.

2. Wrapping Paper

Taylor, who lives on my floor, wrapped her door like a present!

I always seem to end up with an excess of holiday wrapping paper, so this holiday season, I’m putting all that extra Christmas paper to good use for a chic and inexpensive way to decorate my dorm! Here are my ideas for using wrapping paper:

• Like Taylor did above, wrap your door in wrapping paper and use either ribbon or duct tape (shown above) to create a bow. Every time you come back to your room, you’ll smile!
• Cover a few medium-sized pieces of flat cardboard in wrapping paper and add some ribbon, bows, or colorful duct tape to make presents you can hang on your wall like posters.
• Cover your bulletin board with wrapping paper for a festive touch.
• Wrap your lampshade in wrapping paper for an instant and noticeable change (Just be sure to do this with a shade that doesn’t get hot!)

3. Wreaths, Stars of David, Kinaras

Photo Credit (and tutorial)

I used to think wreaths were only made of evergreen branches and the occasional silk flower — but then I stumbled across this gorgeous wreath made of teabags, and the whole world of creative and DIY wreaths was opened up to me. There are also fabulous DIY tutorials for making Hanukkah wreaths, Stars of David, and even for making Kwanzaa Kinaras and other symbols!

• Check out Apartment Therapy’s roundup of 8 cheap DIY Christmas wreaths, complete with tutorials — I’m absolutely in love with the pom pom one!
• Support the local community and buy a wreath in town! Hang it on the inside or outside of your door, depending on how rowdy your building gets on the weekends.
• Try your hand at making this Hanukkah wreath out of wire and toilet paper rolls.
• For a return to childhood craft days, make this Kwanzaa garland or this egg carton kinara!
• Grab your camera, take some photos of your (hopefully snowy) campus, and arrange them in a ring with a big bow for a cute customized wreath.

A few more ideas…

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree – $19.95 at Amazon

• Bring the Peanuts spirit into your room with this adorable Charlie Brown Christmas tree! At barely 18″ tall, it’s right at home on your dresser or desk.
• Cut snowflakes out of printer paper (we’re particularly fond of making 3D paper snowflakes) and hang them from your ceiling or stick them onto your window!
• Throw a Santa hat on your bedpost or pillows for instant decor.
• Hang up some stockings, or make some out of felt or cardboard wrapped in paper, with your name written in glitter or puffy paint on top.
• Replace the bulbs in your lamp with red or green ones!

And of course, don’t forget the mistletoe above your doorway!

What do you think?

Do you like our holiday decorating tips? How have you decorated your dorm room for the holidays? What’s your favorite part of the holidays, and how do you bring it to your decor? Let us know with a comment!

Setting out to decorate a dorm or apartment can be a daunting task. Starting with a basic color scheme will make the whole process so much easier, and helps to visually organize the space. We’ve already covered how to decorate your dorm around a color scheme, but sometimes, choosing the perfect color scheme is more difficult.

Want to discover the best dorm room color scheme for your personality? Take our quiz below and eliminate the need to hunt through endless color palettes.

Take the Quiz!

Can’t see the quiz? Click here to download a PDF of the questions, then come back to tally your score!

Quiz Results

Now that you have your result, here are four sample color schemes based off of the quiz answers. Take a look to see if you agree with the selections!

Mostly A’s: Preppy Reds and Blues

Product Information: Pink Bedding, Owl Lamp, Blue Pillow, Woven Basket, Chair, Pink Pillow, Clock

This feminine, classic color scheme is quintessentially chic. The pink bedding and seafoam blue-green pillows are a fresh take on standard preppy colors, and the accessories provide a vintage, cottage-like appeal. The woven basket is a perfect choice for storage or as a laundry hamper, the anchor pillow brings a bit of nautical interest, and the chair fits in wonderfully with its air of casual sophistication. The owl lamp and oversize clock round off the classic room by providing the trademark prep-school decorations.

Mostly B’s: Sunny Brights

Product Information: “One Step At A Time”, Bedding, Pillow, Chair & Footrest, Rug, Lamp

It’s all about the brights with this cheery color scheme! Inspired by summertime, this palette features plenty of reds, oranges, and yellows — perfect for a pick-me-up after a trying day in class. The motivational “One Step At A Time” keeps you going, as does the “Keep Calm and Carry On” pillow, and it’s been proven that seeing yellow in your bedroom visibly wakes you up. Round off the bright decor with a comfy chair and Ottoman, cover your tile or hardwood floor with a cozy orange rug, and get some studying done under the light of a sunny yellow industrial lamp that will heighten your mood every time you get down to work.

Mostly C’s: Warm Neutrals

Product Information: Bedding, Jewelry Tree, Pillow, Deer Artwork, Rug, Side Table

You believe your dorm room or apartment should be a welcome respite from your hectic everyday life. This color scheme, based upon natural neutrals and soothing tones, helps do just that. The gorgeous ruffled white bedding provides a clean, calm atmosphere, while the rustic raw wood side table hints at a return to simple living. The element of nature is continued with the jewelry tree and whimsy art piece of a deer wearing gym socks, and the room’s peaceful look is completed with a gently patterned area rug and boho-inspired throw pillow.

Mostly D’s: Edgy Reds and Blacks

Product Information: Pillow, Mobile, Bookends, Clock, Key, Poster, Bedding

This room’s modern and edgy color scheme is all about metallics, reds, and blacks, with pops of yellow. The bedding’s Victorian-esque damask print is trendy while still being classic, and the throw pillow helps establish this rockstar color scheme. The chic mobile provides visual interest in the room, drawing the eye upwards, and the shiny bookends are a clever way to incorporate the typography design trend. Round off the room with a Queen-head clock, a fun vintage poster, and a giant key sculpture, and your room tells the whole world that you’re a trendsetter and 100% proud of it.

What do you think?

Did these sample color schemes fit your personality? What colors do you use in your dorm room or apartment? Do you have any tips for students trying to choose color schemes for their rooms? Let us know with a comment!

And Don’t Forget…

Loved our first Dormspiration post? We’re still looking for dorm submissions for our next article in the series! If  you want to make your room (and yourself) famous, send 1-2 photos of your room or apartment to amy@collegefashion.net (bonus points if you can get a friend to take a photo of you in your room!) and a brief description of your decor.

In this new series entitled Dormspiration, we’ll be showcasing the very best dorm room decor, proving that it is possible to transform a 9′ x 12′ empty space into a room you can truly call your own — all on a college student’s budget!

In this first installment, we’ll look at three beautifully decorated rooms, each uniquely furnished by their inhabitants. Emily focused on a clean color scheme, letting images and quirky decor speak for themselves, Mallory and Allegra used an eclectic blend of colors and materials, and Andy proved that men can (and do!) decorate their rooms with taste and class. Let’s get started!

1. Emily (Oberlin College): Simple, with a Unique Twist

Emily’s side of her double room at Oberlin, based around a clean color scheme of blues and greens, perfectly reflects her pensive personality. The gorgeous collage of pictures and postcards adds so much visual interest, and contrasts wonderfully with the simply matted prints and Glee poster on the opposite walls.

If you look closely, you’ll see all of Emily’s unique pieces that bring so much life and creativity to her room: everything from her knitted eggplant to her vintage desk accessories. The coolest thing is that she makes all of her knitted decorations herself! Emily is one of my best friends, and I’ve always been in awe of her impeccable taste.

Read on to see what inspired her dorm style!

Emily’s collection of pictures and postcards are grouped into a simple collage that showcases her interests perfectly.

Did you have a theme in mind when you set out to decorate your room?
“I began with a color scheme — I wanted a blue and green room, since they’re common colors and also my favorites. It worked out perfectly because my room has blue walls. I didn’t really choose a theme, I just chose a color scheme and went from there.”

How did you achieve your room’s look?
“I started with my blue and green duvet, and some matching pillows to set up the color scheme. The postcards are from friends, museums, and my travels, and I also used a few posters and photographs I’ve taken.”

What are your favorite pieces in the room?
“I really like my hand-knitted tchotchkes, the cat made out of a sock sitting on my desk, and the knitted garlic that sits next to my alarm so that I see it every morning and smile. One time, I uploaded a photo of the knitted pea pod to Flickr, and someone from a British smoothie company emailed me about using the photo on their packaging. They ended up paying me one hundred pounds to use it, and I got a bunch of free stuff from them!”

What are your tips for decorating on a college student’s budget?
“Use things you already have! I didn’t buy all that much to decorate; I used a chair I had at home, and I already had the photos and posters. I only bought the bedding new.”

Were there any challenges?
“Oberlin paints their dorm walls different colors. In my room, two of the walls are blue, and two are oatmeal. Before coming here, I was worried that the walls would be a weird color (the walls upstairs are red), and I didn’t know how big my room was going to be. I had to guess and hope that everything would fit.”

Emily’s hand-knitted pieces are probably my favorite part of her room.

Mallory and Allegra (St. Lawrence University): Vibrant and Eclectic

Mallory (left) and Allegra’s (right) room is covered in everything imaginable, from photos and posters to magazine covers and wrapping paper. Their creativity and love for art and clothing is perfectly reflected in their room design, and their styles complement each other seamlessly.

You could stay in their room for hours and not see everything that they’ve added to their dorm — and that’s just the way they want it. According to the two roommates, they’re constantly adding things to the walls, and are always on the lookout for new pieces. When I first stopped by their room one Saturday night, I was immediately struck by how different it was from any room that I’d ever seen, and I just had to ask them about their interior design style!

Mallory’s side of the cozy double.

Allegra’s side of the room. 

Does your room have a theme?
“We decorated our room around songs and movies. Our intent was to cover every inch of the walls, and to make it as homey as possible. We love color, and the more space we cover with decorations, the more comfortable we feel. It’s important to like the room you live in — your dresser and closet are just wood, but you can make them your own. We have quotes everywhere, pictures of friends from back home; it’s a good mix. We literally put up anything we could find: cards from home, candy wrappers, fairy wings from Halloween, Victoria’s Secret bags, and so much more.”

Did you have a color scheme in mind?
“We didn’t really have a color scheme — the more colors, the better! We had already bought our stuff, and it just happened that we both had blues as the main color with extra colors added, and it makes sense to us now that we know each other. The decorations become more cohesive as we get to know each other.”

What are your favorite pieces, and where are they from?
Allegra: “The vintage Coca-Cola bottle on my dresser is from Mallory’s dad’s hophouse (basically a giant barn filled with the coolest antiques ever). For our Finding A Voice class, we had to make instruments, and Mallory’s dad told us to go through the hophouse and bring back whatever we wanted. One morning, Mallory left me the Coke bottle with a lollipop, and I thought it was just too cute to eat. I also love the cards I’ve received from people, like one from my ten-year-old cousin, and one from Mallory’s grandparents.”

Mallory: “My bulletin-board frame was from my aunt Jodie as a graduation gift, and I added family pictures and a sort of whiteboard-thing I can write on. My friend who’s majoring in dance got a new pair of ballet slippers, and she signed and mailed me one of her old slippers when she got her new ones. I also have a record player that my dad got for me. My collection of records has grown over the years — I wasn’t going to bring the record player to school, but it was almost like I had to.”

Left: Mallory’s bulletin board made from an antique frame, with her friend’s ballet slipper dangling over the top. Right: Allegra’s vintage Coca-Cola bottle, a gift from Mallory, adorns her dresser with a cute yellow ribbon and Tootsie Roll Pop. 

What are your tips for decorating on a budget?
“Magazines, wrapping paper, and ribbon! We did the border and bottom drawers of our closets with wrapping paper, it’s so easy to stick it up and put things on it. We also love our colorful duct tape — we have tie-dye, gold, and leopard print. We use lots of scarves: anything that’s not pretty, just toss a scarf over it.”

What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room? 
“It’s where we first met each other — we always think back to that one night where we all did our nails. We’re really close with two girls down the hall, that day sort of solidified our friendship. So much has happened in here that I haven’t realized it’s all happened in here.”

Left: Mallory’s jewelry collection is artfully organized above her dresser in a simple bulletin strip. Right: Allegra’s window reflects her personality perfectly with quirky details like the Harry Potter pumpkin and seashells.

Andy (St. Lawrence University): Classic and Preppy

Andy’s room is the epitome of a classic, tastefully decorated dorm. There’s a tremendous shortage of well-put-together men’s dorms, and when I heard about Andy’s room, I had to go see it for myself.

Andy uses similar-sized posters and a number of unique elements to make his dorm his own, utilizing white space and symmetry. It just goes to show that a guy’s room doesn’t have to be bare or decorated with a solitary Sports Illustrated poster — dorm design should never be exclusively a “female” thing. Andy’s room is a room that everyone wants to hang out in, and partly because he put effort into making it more than just a place to sleep and do homework.

Andy uses a lot of preppy elements in his room like the St. Lawrence pennant and Salvador Dali poster — and who doesn’t love a guy with a floral comforter?

How did you decorate your room?
“I brought this painting I got in New York City, and most things I got for free or from places like Wal-Mart. My mom sent me the Christmas lights–I didn’t really bring most of my decorations.”

What are your favorite pieces, and where are they from?
“My favorite is the painting from NYC — I got it from a vendor outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was dirt cheap, so I bought it. I took the erg (rowing machine) handle out of the erg room, and I like the Christmas lights — especially when it’s dark and people are hanging out in my room, it’s great.”

What’s your favorite memory of something that’s happened in your room?
“Nothing you can publish!”

Andy: as preppy and chill as his room.

Want to be featured in an upcoming Dormspiration post?

Would your room medal if dorm room design was an Olympic event? Is your apartment an interior design haven? We want to know about it!

If you’d like to be considered for a Dormspiration article, email 1-2 photos of your room or apartment (bonus points if you can have a friend take a photo of you in your room!) and a brief description of your design to amy@collegefashion.net. Can’t wait to read your submissions!

What Do You Think?

How did you like the first installment of the Dormspiration series? Which room was your favorite? What are your best tips for decorating on a budget? Let us know with a comment!

For most of us, social networking has been a part of our lives since middle school, starting with sites like Xanga, moving through MySpace and LiveJournal, and coming to a (temporary?) stop at Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and more recently, Google+.

Whether or not you subscribe to a particular provider, social networking is a huge part of modern life, and we have all developed a sense of which sites we like the best. I confess that I’ve (occasionally wrongly!) grouped people in my head by which site they spend the most time on — the Tumblr hipsters, the Facebook social butterflies, the Twitter celebrity followers, and the Google+ trendsetters, just to name a few.

It’s interesting to entertain the idea that fans of different social networking sites have different preferences in real life, too — so without further ado, here’s a quiz to determine which social networking site inspires your interior design style!

Take the Quiz!

Can’t see the quiz? Click here to download a PDF of the quiz questions, and come back here to tally your results!

Quiz Results

Below I’ve put together a few interior design elements like bedding and decor inspired by each of the four social networking sites. See if they fit with your tastes!

Mostly A’s: Facebook

Product Information: Bedding, Floral Pillow, Yellow Accent Table, Nautical Pillow, Frames, Rug

Facebook’s signature crisp navy blue and white are classic colors that create a warm, welcoming room, perfect for inviting friends in to hang out and chat. The fun throw pillows add conversational touches, and the fuzzy round rug promotes connectedness and is the perfect invitation to sit on the floor when other seating is filled.

Next, it’s time to add interest with accessories and pops of color. Frames are arranged (with the largest one in the middle!) on the wall to showcase your family and friends, and they don’t even have to match; I personally think mismatched frames look more homey. The pop of yellow in the nightstand breaks up the striped monotony and doubles as a bookcase and makeup drawer to conserve precious space.

More ways to create a Facebook-inspired room:

• Search for clever ways to display photographs, like turning them into Polaroids, stringing them on a clothesline, or clothespinning them to a “web” of string in the ceiling corners.
• Break up a rigid color scheme with bright, cheery colors like orange, yellow, or turquoise.
• Keep the wall decor cozy with canvas-inspired hangings or shoebox wall art.

Mostly B’s: Twitter

Product Information: Book, Pillows, Lamp, Typography, Bedding, Wall Art, Bird Hooks

Twitter’s gentle palette of sky blues and pale greens is an excellent color scheme for a relaxing space. Invite conversation with an eye-catching coffee table book, and add hints of nature with the grass-inspired pillows. The orange table lamp eases the monochrome without being overpowering, and the wall art is a great way to motivate yourself (to get out of bed!).

Of course, a Twitter-inspired room wouldn’t be complete without plenty of typography and, of course, birds. Bird-inspired pieces have had a great showing in interior design this year, and I’m willing to bet that they’re here to stay. These cute bird hooks are just the thing to round off your style.

More ways to create a Twitter-inspired room:

• Attach mirrored bird silhouettes to your wall, climbing upward, and hang paper cranes from the ceiling to create a 3-D illusion of transformation.
• Print or cut out a favorite quote out of vinyl and put it on your wall where everyone can see it.
• Use our tips on decorating your room with typography: Make a word or phrase the focal point of your room, and organize your decor around it.

Mostly C’s: Google Plus

Product Information: Table, Wallpaper, Bedding, Rug, Artwork (DIY), Lamp, Pillow

Google+, the newest high-profile addition to the social networking scene, boasts a minimalist layout organized around primary colors. Take this chic sophistication to your dorm room with these modern design elements! The bright blue table immediately commands attention against the trend-setting air of the white shag rug.

This room is all about the extras: The textured wallpaper provides a simple backdrop, and the bedding is the perfect template for a room that boasts refined poise while still managing to be whimsy and youthful. The futuristic lamp and sunny yellow throw pillow add light to your room and offset the white, and the gorgeous DIY melted-crayon artwork will have everyone stopping at your door to gawk inside at your minimalist elegance.

More ways to create a Google Plus-inspired room:

• Create abstract art on a canvas (just hang it up and splatter paint at it with your friends, or pull a Princess Diaries: fill balloons with paint, and throw darts at them) and hang it up. Instant artist!
• Go thrift-store shopping, find old lawn chairs, and breathe new life into them with a fresh coat of bright paint.
• Take inspiration from Google+’s sleek layout and incorporate elements of chrome and silver into your room, especially in your desk accessories.

Mostly D’s: Tumblr

Product Information: Chandelier, Poster, Plates, Pillows, Damask Bedding, Rug

Tumblr, the go-to website for fashion photos, dramatic images, and hilarious memes, is an image-based blog that holds plenty of interior design inspiration. Be whimsy and quirky with the chandelier sticker, and pay homage to your pensive side with the vintage-esque washed-out poster of a river. The babushka doll plates add playfulness to the “seriousness” of Tumblr’s hipster side, and of course, a room isn’t complete without a mustache somewhere in it.

The damask bedding appeals to the elegant side of Tumblr that appreciates beauty and Victorian-inspired design, while the rug is a good conversation piece as well as a warm neutral that makes your room seem more comfortable.

More ways to create a Tumblr-inspired room:

• Think of your favorite memes and try to incorporate them in your style — a troll face on the inside of your dresser drawers is a hilarious wake-up call!
• Incorporate Tumblr’s love for nature and photo stories with a gallery (taken by you, of course) of photographs lining your walls.
• Use lots of creams, ivories, and soft neutrals to create the relaxed and easygoing vibe Tumblr promotes.

What do you think?

Did these interior design ideas fit your personality? What other sources do you look to for design inspiration? Do you think that these social networking sites’ “stereotypes” ring true? Let us know with a comment!

I’m pretty sure we can all agree that buying school supplies is very near the top on the list of Life’s Greatest Little Pleasures. Remember getting our supply lists in elementary school and begging Mom and Dad to take us to the local office supply store? Even now, when I walk through an OfficeMax or Staples, I get thoroughly overexcited about the neatly packaged rows of pens, notebooks, and protractors.

“Not that I’ve needed a protractor since I was eleven – but don’t they look nice, all clean and unscratched in their packets?” – Becky Bloomwood, Confessions of a Shopaholic

That being said, it’s very important to stay organized during college. After all, you’re there to learn! Staying on top of things will give you so much more free time and will minimize stress. And of course, if anyone can make organizing look chic and effortless, it would have to be CF readers.

In this article, we’ll talk about some inexpensive and creative ways to organize your dorm room study space, ranging from keeping your literature in line to managing your writing utensils. Once your study area is organized to fit your needs and style, everyone on your floor will be trying to figure out ways to make off with your desk!

Managing Your Literature

Even if you didn’t bring half your home library to college with you, there are undoubtedly textbooks, magazines, and binders floating around your dorm room. Keeping these organized will help you tremendously when you’re packing your bag for a sojourn at the library, and will also help you keep track of every printed work so that you leave with the same number you came with.

Our Picks for Organizing Books and Magazines

Product Information: Bright Magazine Holders, Elephant Bookend, Metal Tier, Bookshelf

• These colorful magazine holders are chic and functional, and can be labeled however you want! I would recommend labeling them first by issue title, then by date.
• Bookends are adorable and come in virtually every shape and size! I picked this cute elephant bookend because it’s unique and is a great conversation starter.
• Vertical literature organizers like this metal tier are especially handy because they use wall space. Try using these to store important papers for class, or even smaller textbooks that you can easily reach.
• I can’t overstress the importance of bookshelves as a simple and chic way to store literature. My bookshelf is organized by color, even though I only brought about 20 books to school with me, and looks like a scaled-down version of this image. Bonus: the bookshelf can double as a display case, and you can even group your collectibles and displays to match the colors of the books they’re next to!

Pens, Pencils, Markers, Oh My!

Writing is glorious. Writing with nice pens is even better, as is coloring with brand-new markers. (Everyone can agree on that!) You probably brought nearly all of the following things to school with you: pens, mechanical pencils, highlighters, regular pencils, permanent markers, regular markers… and the list goes on and on. With all of these utensils, keeping them organized is essential, and there are plenty of ways to do so.

Chic Ways to Organize Your Writing Utensils

Product Information: Rubik’s Cube Mug, Glass Jar Labels, Brocade Pencil Cup, Rotating Desk Caddy, Tin Buckets, Spinning Desktop Organizer

• Try a unique-looking coffee mug to store your pens and pencils! This awesome Rubik’s cube-inspired mug will add so much visual interest to your desk.
• Glass jars lined up against the wall on your desk or dresser and labeled with chalkboard labels are absolutely fantastic and such a creative way to organize your writing utensils. They’re also inexpensive and can be easily re-purposed. I really wanted to do this, but I decided on another way to store mine, which I’ll talk about below.
• Of course, simple pencil cups like this feminine brocade one are a sweet way to add some life to your desk.
• This Pottery Barn Rotating Desk Caddy is supposed to be for younger children, but isn’t it gorgeous? I took it upon myself to make my own version, learning from this DIY tutorial, and I now have a $15 (versus $35) replica living on my desk!
• Tin pails are clever and unique ways to store your pens and pencils. Target has them for $1 each in the dollar section, which is where I stocked up on about 20 of them. You can also try sticking Command hooks to the wall above your desk and hanging the pails on them to hold your writing implements!
• A nice spinning desktop organizer is functional and also saves space on your desk, leaving you free to spread out your books and laptop.

What do you think?

Will you be using any of these tips? How is your desk at college or home organized? Have you ever made an expensive accessory your own using DIY? What are your tips for college students seeking to stay organized during their four years? Let us know with a comment!