Filling a dorm room with pieces of home and decor that reflect our style can be daunting. Dorms have numerous rules about what you can do to the space, which can make us feel limited in our choices. Thankfully, we have a wealth of inspiration at our disposal. Follow along as we explore affordable options for bookish necessities and accessories to fill your dorm room on a budget.
Places to Spotlight Your Book Collection
The most challenging aspect of any dorm room is the confined space. To maximize potential, we need to think creatively about where we can store our books. A standard bookshelf might be suitable, or we can use smaller footprint options.
If you want librarian vibes, there’s the incredibly versatile rolling cart. These are great to roll under desks, under a loft bed, or into a tight corner. With a wide variety of styles now available, you can easily find one in the color that suits you best. Rolling carts also have the added benefit of organizational potential, complemented by a few cute storage bins.
My dorm had a built-in hutch over the desk, so I had a bit of space for books. If your room doesn’t, there are plenty of styles to choose from, including ones that boast adjustable configurations, that can accommodate a variety of books, decor, and school supplies, all while matching your aesthetic. Similar to the rolling cart, you can easily customize the shelves with baskets or caddies to keep items neatly organized and put away.
Depending on the rules of your dorm, some excellent work has been happening in adhesive and non-damaging hanging techniques. There are countless styles to hold some bookish decor and a few books. Picture ledges and floating shelves are the perfect accent to any blank wall. My personal favorites are those with hooks, which serve a dual purpose.
Setting up the Ultimate Reading Nook
Similarly, when it comes to storing our ever-growing book collections, we need a good place to read. The most obvious place would be at our desk. When we aren’t studying for the next test, we can sit in the chair and enjoy a book. To stay cozy, don’t forget a good cushion!
Most likely, though, we’ll want to be more relaxed when we read. When in doubt, turn to the bed for ultimate comfort. Bringing a headboard into dorm rooms is very trendy. However, we can’t neglect staying comfortable and well-supported. Reading pillows are an excellent choice for a dorm room, as they can match any aesthetic. Who can resist cuddling up to this cat pillow?
For those of us who don’t read in bed or can’t find a comfortable position to read there, we need another option. I was lucky enough to have a loft bed, and it was perfect for creating a cozy seating area underneath when I wanted to relax. There are affordable options, ranging from humble bean bags to saucer chairs.
Bookish Wall Decor That Will Make You Stand Out
Wall decor is where you can let your personality shine. There is a wide variety of books that can match any aesthetic, from coastal grandmother to dark academia, to complement the shelves we found earlier. But it doesn’t stop there.
I’m currently obsessed with people who make art from old book pages. These would look fantastic in any dorm room style. Whether you paste the pages onto a piece of poster board to create a funky bulletin board or make 3D statement pieces, the options are unlimited. Add mood lighting, and you have a certified cozy space any book lover would enjoy being in.
Another great idea is to find art prints of your favorite characters or book titles to hang on the wall. If you have a favorite artist, you could even dedicate a section to their work. Similarly, I’ve seen more crafty people than I blowing up images of book covers and using them to make a gallery wall.
Outstanding Finishing Touches for Your Epic Dorm Room
All your dorm room needs now are just a few finishing touches. A good throw blanket is a significant first step. Not to mention, they are multi-purpose, perfect for staying bundled up while reading and looking good, draped over a chair or bedside when not in use. I can’t get enough of the one that looks like a library checkout card.
Another great addition is pillows. They can spice up any space at relatively inexpensive price points. Whether you love pillows with words, pillows with your favorite characters, or more abstract shapes, there is sure to be one for you. Check out the Suriel Tea Co pillow here.
We can’t forget the trinkets, either. With how stressful college can be, I couldn’t help but add the anxiety bookshelf to the list. Available in a variety of sizes and with an endless supply of book covers to choose from, an anxiety bookshelf is the perfect addition to a dorm room. You can put it on a shelf to shake and reorganize as needed, keep it in your backpack for on-the-go stress relief, or keep it neatly shelved sitting at your desk for added decor.
When we think about the time we spend in our dorm room, we need to be intentional about the things we bring to foster dedicated studying time, while also maintaining a relaxing space to unwind from the day’s activities. Options aplenty, these affordable additions to your room will help you achieve your aesthetic goals for the new school year.
For more college preparedness, read our article on Useful Books to Help with Homesickness While at College.
Grab some books to read that aren’t part of your coursework with these Bookstr Team Recs!
