The exciting world of Pinterest has started a new trend of DIY (“do it yourself”) projects. From clothing to decor to wedding decorations, there are ideas posted every day about crafts anyone can do in their own home. Creating these projects yourself is perfect if you’re a college girl on a budget! It's often relatively inexpensive to create DIY home decor crafts. Here are a few ideas you won’t want to go without trying.



Looking for a unique way to display your pictures in your room to make it feel a little more like “home sweet home?" Here’s a fresh, new way to hang them! Instead of just taping them up on the wall, go to the store and buy some string or yarn and some clothespins. Hang the string from the wall and use the clothespins to attach the pictures to the string. It displays all your pictures in your room in a cute and quirky way -- plus you don't have to worry about taped-up photos falling off the wall!



An increasingly popular craft that has exploded on Pinterest is crayon art, and it adds a great splash of color to any room. Simply tape or hot glue crayons to the top of a canvas or sturdy piece of paper and use a hair dryer to melt the crayons so they drip down the canvas and form a colorful design. The crayons look the best if you line them up in a rainbow, so the colors blend well together. You can also put stickers or tape on the canvas before you start so that when you’re finished and peel the stickers away, you have a quote or lyric written in white in the midst of all the color. But be forewarned: this craft does get messy! Don't forget to check out our previous post on this unique crayon art project, too!


Looking for a little extra light in your room? Here’s an awesome trick to brighten up your space. Get a canvas and apply stickers, decals, etc. and then spray paint with whatever color you want. After you peel off the designs, hang white lights (like Christmas lights!) behind it and check out the pretty design that becomes illuminated!


Instead of having a traditional, boring mirror, try this cool new do-it-yourself idea! Buy a regular mirror with a colored frame. Get some old CDs and break them into a bunch of pieces, then take the pieces and hot glue them to the frame of the mirror. The shards of CD add color from the reflection of other lights. Absolutely adorable!

Did you love these ideas and want to make even more crafty things for your dorm? Log onto pinterest.com and look under the “DIY and Crafts” category to specify your search. Good luck, and happy crafting!

By: Kelly Glasson | Images: Source

Not sure what to pack for your dorm? Have an idea but don’t want to spend a ton of money? Here is your ultimate guide on what to pack for college, of five items under $25! And even if you've already moved into your cramped, little dorm, these are still great items to add to your new humble abode!

Storage Containers: Since you’ll be living in an extra small space for the next nine months, chances are you’ll need extra storage space. These containers are a very stylish option thanks to their bright and fun colors. You can even stack them for even more space. You can fit school supplies, shoes, books, and more in these containers.
Sterilite Storage Box, 12 for $26

Lamp: You will need a desk lamp since you’ll be living with a roommate. If your roommate goes to bed earlier than you, this is perfect so you can do your late-night homework or studying. This desk lamp also provides a base to keep school supplies in. There is even a storage compartment for your MP3 player!
Boston Harbor Table Lamp, $12.29


Towel Wrap: Since your shower will be a little further away than what you’re used to at home, you will need a towel wrap. These are perfect for walking from the shower to your room. You don’t have to worry about it falling down like you would with a towel, because it has straps. The ruffle on the top makes it a little more stylish, too.
Women's Terry Cotton Towel Wrap , $19.99

Hamper: This hamper folds flat for easy storage. The handle makes it easy to transport laundry. Plus, it’s linen so your laundry won’t get smelly.
Rubbermaid Foldable Laundry Hamper, $13.99


Mirror: Most dorms don’t come with a mirror, so the closest mirror will be in the bathroom. When you have an 8 a.m. class, who wants to share a mirror? This mirror goes over the door, so you can hang it on your closet and check out your outfit super quickly.
Target mirror, $24.99

These are five must-have items for a dorm! Put these on your checklist, and your dorm room will be feeling “homey” in no time.

By: Meg Bauer

Target:

Target stores are a great place to consider when designing your ideal dorm room. Not only does Target have locations in almost every city nationwide, but they also sell awesome accessories at low prices. A dorm room’s number one necessity is a quality set of organizers, and thankfully, Target stores feature several different organizers in a variety of colors.

Home Goods:

Home Goods is a store in the TJ Maxx family that specializes in interior design on a dime. If you’re looking for affordable prices and stylish home necessities, Home Goods is the perfect one-stop shop. With options varying from brand-name bedding to cozy towels, it is nearly impossible to leave Home Goods empty-handed and guaranteed that you will find what you’re looking for. 

Proof? In my search for college essentials, I was able to find these items all at Home Goods.
☑ Damask pattern comforter & pillow cases
☑  Tommy Hilfiger XL twin sheets (Ahh, dorm beds…)
☑  Small rug
☑  Bedside lamp (Turquoise lampshade, white lamp base… adorbs)
☑  Too many picture frames to count

IKEA:

Some might say it’s the most wonderful place on Earth. Reason? Well, perhaps it’s the fact that you can buy two hot dogs, a bag of chips and a medium pop for $2, but mostly because every piece of furniture you could possibly fathom is housed in this Swedish Disneyland. College students would be absolutely crazy to skip over this stop in their mission for cheap college essentials.

The final touch for a perfect desk is a lamp. While some college students may go the route of buying the typical bendable desk lamp, the “Orgel” table lamp from IKEA is anything but typical. The “Orgel” provides decent lighting that isn’t too bright and doesn’t take up valuable space on your coveted desk. For $9.99, this is a lamp that you cannot pass up.

Get Shopping!

Though these three spots are not the only places you can find great college décor for your dorm room or apartment, they provide the basic necessities at prices your parents will love. The thrill of the hunt paired with a stunning new space will get you itching to move in. Is it September yet? 

By: Annie Michaelson | Images: Dorm to Die For, Target, IKEA