5 DIY Dorm Art Ideas

Don't let cramped quarters keep you from showing your true style. Bet your new roomie will also be grateful.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Easy ideas for decorating bare dorm walls. Just. Like. Home.

2014-07-15-DIYDorm1.jpeg

Don't let cramped quarters keep you from showing your true style. Bet your new roomie will also be grateful.

Idea #1:
2014-07-15-DIYDorm2.jpeg
photography by BERNHAUT JUSTIN
Stick to a palette that you can easily weave into a small area. Keep in mind, too many colors in a small space can be overwhelming. A graphic print electrifies a space in a chic shade like cherry red or sky blue.

Idea #2:
2014-07-15-DIYDorm3.jpeg
photography by KRISTIN JACKSON
Create a custom wallpaper panel for the room in seconds. Attach a favorite scrap of paper--wallpaper, wrapping paper, a map, even fabric--to the board with either spray adhesive or by wrapping the paper around the board and taping it to the backside. For a classy finishing touch, glue pieces of wood trim to the edges.

Idea #3:
2014-07-15-DIYDorm4.jpeg
photography by MELANIE ACEVEDO
The black-and-white piece that hangs here can be recreated with acrylic paint on canvas. Don't be afraid to make the circles a little messy--imperfection is what gives the piece interest and your room a bit of your personality.

Idea #4:
2014-07-15-DIYDorm5.jpeg
photography by SOLVI DOS SANTOS
Consider getting a huge print of a favorite photo for cheap by going to a print or office supply store and asking for an engineering print. Most stores charge about $3 for a 2-by-3-foot black-and-white picture. The picture quality won't be amazing, but it'll be worth three bucks.

Idea #5:
2014-07-15-DIYDorm6.jpeg
photography by CORBIS CORP.
A handmade, brightly colored tapestry hung behind the bed is the ultimate makeshift headboard. Make your own with a piece of muslin or an old flat sheet and acrylic paint in your favorite shades. To avoid bright colors mixing and turning brown, wait until each color is dry before painting another on top.

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE