Extreme Makeover: Dorm Edition

Recently, dorm room before and afters that resemble an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition have been flooding the Instagram and Twitter timelines of college students across the nation. As an incoming freshman or sophomore at Loyola, this could feel extremely stressful with the limited space students seem to have here in midst of the housing shortage. Loyola Cribs is here to help with 3 hot decorating tips that will make your room feel like a home.

1. Wallpaper the Wall Saver

Walking into a dorm room, the signature Loyola style of completely plain walls can make your room feel extra cramped. No worries, you can work with that! A quick and easy way to make your room feel 10x larger and cover up that overbearing emptiness is removable wallpaper. Loyola has a very strict rule on what can and can’t be placed on the walls- and a heavy price (literally) to pay if you break said rules. With a stick-and-peel wallpaper, such as the one linked here - leaving absolutely no damage left behind, your walls will be the talk of the hall and will give that homestyle appeal to your dorm.

2: Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Most Loyola dorms do not supply any mirrors except the occasional bathroom vanity. With size being your greatest enemy when it comes to feeling at home, don’t ever underestimate the power of a mirror. Adding mirrors will give that illusion of more space, especially when placed in the correct setting to add depth to the room. According to Fresh Home, placing a mirror next to a window is the most effective way to add fake space because adding the reflected light will make your room feel that much more open. Stick a cute body mirror like the one linked here on the wall with some command strips and say hello to your new - somehow bigger - space.

3: A Little Loft goes a Long Way

With very little space offered to you, mixed with a decent amount of large furniture already in the dorm- storage and breathing room can feel almost non-existent. An easy way to create space is to High Loft the beds. Though it can be on the more expensive side, a high loft can create a storage space for your desk and dresser and leaves room for you to feel like you’re living. With your things being placed underneath your bed, you now have room for a futon or a living room type space. If high lofting your bed isn’t for you - an alternative is to junior loft your bed. With junior lofting (a free service offered by Loyola), you automatically create under-the-bed storage for extra clothing, supplies, snacks, and whatever you want to keep hidden. Even your dresser can fit under there. To loft your bed just submit a request on the Loyola website and you’ll find your room feeling bigger than ever.

Creating a home in a small space can be difficult, but decorating makes a difference. Start with these three steps and you’ll be shocked at the large results of your small space. LUC Cribs would love to see your extreme dorm makeover. Head over to @luccribs on instagram and DM us some pictures of you in your dorm!