Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
9 Dorm Room Classics Schooled in Grown-Up Style
Furniture, shelves and lighting from college years past make for high-grade interiors with a bright future
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
Not too long ago, I worked for a local university, and the first time I got a peek inside one of the dorms on campus, my jaw dropped. Gone were the warrens of tiny rooms and stark, spare furniture that I remember from my own college days — these were full suites, decked out with comfy sofas and chairs, well-equipped kitchens, ambient lighting and walk-in closets. (In contrast, my freshman roommate and I felt swanky because we had matching comforters and a sink in our room.)
But there's something to be said for the beloved staples of dorms past: futons and papasan chairs, modular wire shelving and milk-crate storage. And with the right approach, there's no reason you can't work a few of these nostalgic classics into a grown-up space. Try these nine ideas to start.
But there's something to be said for the beloved staples of dorms past: futons and papasan chairs, modular wire shelving and milk-crate storage. And with the right approach, there's no reason you can't work a few of these nostalgic classics into a grown-up space. Try these nine ideas to start.
1. Futon. The ultimate dorm room multitasker, a futon can be whatever it needs to be: a place where friends can pile on with the popcorn on movie night, a spot for stretching out and studying for finals, a crash pad for a pal who's locked herself out of her room. And its flexibility makes it a superb addition to an adult space as well.
The difference? Styling. Instead of the lumpy old futon handed down from your roommate's big sister, choose a sleek design such as this one. Give it a worldly note with global-patterned throw pillows and elevate it with a restrained, neutral setting.
The difference? Styling. Instead of the lumpy old futon handed down from your roommate's big sister, choose a sleek design such as this one. Give it a worldly note with global-patterned throw pillows and elevate it with a restrained, neutral setting.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A futon strikes just the right relaxed note in this restful sitting area. Because it sits low to the ground, it doesn't dominate the low-slung space. The monochromatic palette keeps the focus on the to-die-for view out the window — exactly as it should be. |
| 2. Board and cinder block shelving. Before the dawn of Ikea, this bare-bones approach to storage was almost de rigeur for dorm life. But that's no reason to settle for raw 2-by-4s and crumbling concrete. In this chic yet cheeky space, cinder blocks with an appealing grid pattern are topped with boards painted white, a thoroughly inviting twist on the old favorite. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 3. Milk crates. Remember those big plastic milk crates that you used for stashing books, CDs and snacks? Here's the stylish version: weathered wooden crates mounted on the wall and turned into floating shelves for decorative accessories. There ... that's better. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
4. Task lighting. What's a dorm room without a flexible-arm task lamp for late-night cramming? This staple has migrated to other parts of the house, and its industrial lines add a little edge to a space. Try substituting it where you might be tempted to use a traditional table lamp, as in this living area.
|
by Nicole Lanteri
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 5. Shower-curtained closets. If your dorm room was anything like mine, your closet was an open niche with a rod and a few hooks. The solution: shower curtains. There are loads of them on the market that offer high style on a student budget (even if your bank account is in better shape these days). This nursery takes that notion in a more upscale direction, with a pretty curtain to soften the closet doorway and boost the room's palette. |
by Kim Armstrong
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
7. Concert posters. You road-tripped to that show in the next state and pulled back into town just in time to ace your midterm, and you still have the poster to prove it. Instead of sticking it on the wall with thumbtacks, frame it in a grouping of other band posters and hang them in a gallery-style arrangement. It's mature but still fun.
by Carey Dodson
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Or you could take the opposite approach: Choose your favorite poster, then display it solo on a blank wall for a clean, graphic touch.
8. Butterfly chairs. These folding seats have become synonymous with dorm design, but they're actually one of the great furniture icons of the modern era. Restore them to the prominence they deserve by choosing a version in a good-quality material such as leather, and use them to enhance the casual feel of your space or loosen up a traditional design.
|
by FORMA Design
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| This simple pair of butterfly chairs represents a fresh take on porch furniture. Their sculptural lines are all the ornamentation the balcony needs. |
|
by Kia Designs
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 9. Loft beds. You or your dad probably sweated through an afternoon of building a wooden platform, then heaving your bed on top of it so you could save an extra few feet of floor space. Take that idea to a new level (no pun intended) with custom built-ins and a simple platform-style bed, such as this setup. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Sleekly paneled walls, pared-down architecture and a slim ladder take this loft bed far beyond childhood versions.
Tell us: What budget-friendly furnishings did you have in your dorm room, and how would you update them in your home? Share below!
Tell us: What budget-friendly furnishings did you have in your dorm room, and how would you update them in your home? Share below!
Ideabook published on Aug. 20, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
http://www.houzz.com/photos/users/artisanbooks