Going to college is an extremely exciting time but the cold, boring concrete walls of a standard dorm room are far from inspiring. Your dorm needs to pack a ton of function into a very small space but it also has to have a homey feeling. These beautiful dorm room decor items will help you design a gorgeous and girly dorm room on a budget.

Design a Dorm Room

Don’t be afraid to add your personal style to the design of your dorm room. Colorful bedding is a great start but that is far from enough to complete the design of your new room. Dorm decor should be beautiful but it should also serve a very specific function. Here are four of our favorites.

Light Strands

Light strands aren’t just for the holidays anymore. There are so many different shapes and colors available. With choices like that it is a great way to reinforce a favorite color or show off some school spirit. After a long day of studying turn off your dorm lights, turn on your light strands, and enjoy your evening.

Pictured: G40 LED Light Strand $28.00

Mirrors

Fill that empty space above your bed or desk with a beautiful, feminine mirror. The reflection makes the room look both bigger and brighter. I used to hang a mirror above my desk and keep a basket of cosmetics on a nearby shelf. When I was getting ready for class my desk was able to double as a vanity.

Pictured: Ren-Wil Emma Oval Mirror $85.80

Desk Lamps

I can not express how important task lighting is for a dorm room. A portionable desk lamp such as this one is absolutely essential for late-night study sessions. If your desk is next to your bed, simply swivel the lamp over for some bedtime reading.

Pictured: Ren-Wil Elgin Desk Lamp $196.00

A Small Floral Arrangement

Dorms have a way of seeming impersonal and cold. A bright, bold artificial flower display is just the thing to make it feel a little bit more like home. When choosing the one that is right for you, consider choosing a bloom that reminds you of home. Artificial plants and flowers are a great choice for first-time college students because they don’t have to worry about keeping them alive.

Pictured: Cymbidium Orchid in Acrylic Water $39.00