Spruce Up Your Dorm Room Walls With These Affordable Decor Ideas

Add a little personality and inspiration to your dorm room (or home office!) walls with prints, peel-and-stick wallpaper, tapestries and more.

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July 26, 2021

As the calendar gets closer and closer to the first day of school, it’s time to dive into your dorm room decor planning. One of the biggest challenges to tackle? What to do with all the blank, white space on your walls. Below, we share our 10 favorite dorm room wall art, hangings, prints and more — all with an affordable price tag of less than $60. Our picks will help you jazz up your temporary living space and make it feel more like a home.

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Cher said it best when she recalled in a 1996 interview her mom telling her, “You know, sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man.” Her response: “Mom, I am a rich man.” Talk about a daily dose of inspiration!

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Whether you’re showing pride for your new state or missing your home state, this sweet collection of illustrated state bird and flower prints is a perfect addition to your dorm walls.

I know you probably wish you could be exploring your favorite national park right now, but these prints are the second best thing (maybe). This retro-inspired Yellowstone National Park topography poster is an original graphic print by independent artist Curtis Waidley. We love that 10 percent of all poster sales are donated to the National Park Foundation, and each print is numbered, dated and signed by the artist, ensuring its authenticity from Save America Prints.

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Looking to cover more square footage than an art print can offer? Try easy peel-and-stick wallpaper designs from Society6. They’re perfect for accent walls and flat surfaces (like your desktop!). We’re smitten with this “Good Peaceful Morning” print by creator Flow Line that will inspire you to start every morning on the right foot.

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Wall tapestries are another great temporary solution for dressing up empty dorm walls. They’re lightweight, easy to hang and with four sizes to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find the perfect fit for your space. The pink and glittery boots by Vertigo Artography gives us major Dolly Parton vibes.

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You've invested hours into completing that puzzle. Why just break it down or toss it? You can apply a few coats of decoupage glue to the puzzle to keep it intact and frame your hard work. We love Gustav Klimt's famous 1907 "Flower Garden" oil painting as a puzzle and wall art.

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Support individual artists while displaying something truly unique with prints from Society6. There are thousands of designs to choose from, so you'll be sure to find something that fits your lifestyle. We love this motivational quote delivered via marquee sign at an Austin, Texas motel.

Etsy has many options to download and print designs, and frame or display however you wish. We think this indigo watercolor art will add that burst of color your makeshift home office needs.

Sometimes you only have enough space for a small desk. But, that doesn't mean you can't add a little personality to your tiny workspace. We love this shag tufted wall hanging because it utilizes vertical wall space that'll add the cheerfulness you need while working.

Not only does this wall hanging hold your favorite photos, but it can store memos, postcards and mail, too. It's wall storage that doesn't compromise on style, and that's why we love it.

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