No-Fuss Dorm Room Decor for Dudes

The average dorm room is pretty basic by design, but with a smart style and storage strategy, your new digs will feel more like a studio apartment in no time.

It’s no secret functional dorm-living starts and ends with STORAGE. Staying organized in a small space keeps your place looking tidy and welcoming. Label bins, baskets and storage boxes so finding your favorite t-shirt doesn’t require rifling through the entire closet. And always think vertically to score even more storage! A couple of zip ties and a hanging organizer turned this under-utilized space at the end of the bed into a shoe HQ (plus it adds a little privacy).

Even if you’re rooming with your BFF, you'll need alone time to study or recharge, so if possible, create zones for work, play and sleep. Hang a curtain panel, tapestry or rug to create a sense of privacy. If hanging them from the ceiling isn't an option, you can make a free-standing frame using galvanized pipe. And never underestimate the transformative power of re-arranging furniture to help differentiate one space from another. PS — Hanging curtains can also hide cinderblock walls if you're not into that look.

Whether your room comes fully furnished or feels a tad bare, you can dial up the style factor by coordinating decor with your roommate. Yeah, we get it, he may snicker at you when you ask him about his favorite color palette, but if you go for matching comforters or keep everything in the same color family, a coordinated look helps create a pulled-together, bachelor-pad vibe.