Thanks for sharing!

This post is sponsored by At Home Stores. All writing, photos and opinions are that of Our Southern Home.

Dorm Decorating Ideas

I still shake my head at the realization that I have 2 kids in college. It seems like yesterday that we were learning multiplication tables and working on science projects. Time sure does flies by at the speed of light. 

Sending your kids off to college is not just an emotional experience for you the parent, but for your child as well. Yes, they will have a carefree demeanor full of excitement, but they will yearn for home. They will enjoy their new freedom and college life, but there is always no place like home.

At Home is the perfect destination for all your Back to Campus needs when it comes to decorating your dorm or college apartment space!

To ease the transition, you'll want to help them make their new living space as fun, organized and conducive to studying as possible on a budget!

Ashlyn will be starting her 3rd year of college and Woods will be in his 5th year. Don't freak out about Woods…..he's a double major in math and computer engineering plus losing a bit of class time with an internship this fall. 

They've both lived the dorm life, but this year will be sharing an apartment with 2 other friends at Clemson University. So yes, they will have a bit more living space and their own bedrooms!

They won't be able to start moving into the new space until July, and will start living there in mid-August. I've styled a sitting area vignette in our home to give you an idea.

Be sure to check out my Instagram stories Highlight under Back to Campus for our in store shopping adventures. At Home has so much to offer and at great prices. Some of these items, you may just want for yourself.

College is the perfect time to try a different style. Ashlyn's bedroom is a cottage farmhouse style. For college she has gone with a more eclectic boho chic look. 

All of the pillows, the furry blanket, the storage ottoman and the rug are all pieces that we've purchased at At Home over the last couple of years. I love how it all works with the new items that we just purchased from the Back to Campus Collection at At Home. 

This was Ashlyn's grandmother's chair. It used to be floral, but we had it recovered about 8 years ago. In her room here she has a white throw on it because she doesn't like the green fabric any longer. Look how great it looks with the boho vibe! She's loving it now. It's such a comfortable chair. Beach Grandma used to sit in this chair to work on her cross stitch projects. It's such a comfy chair, and Ashlyn plans to use it in her apartment bedroom for a study/reading area. Her existing ottoman is absolutely perfect with it! Having this special chair will give her the comforts of home.

Look at this fabulously funky charging table. I'll admit that I wasn't completely sold on it. I'm more traditional, but this is her space so she's decorating it. Ashlyn loved the antique gold finish and the shape. The shelving is perfect for storage. 

How cool is this feature! The backside has a main cord that you plug into the wall outlet. Then you have USB charging ports as well as plugins in the front. This is perfect for a nightstand or a reading area like this. She can charge her phone, watch and computer right from this spot. That's pretty genius! At Home has other options if the gold isn't your cup of tea. I am seriously loving the table now that it is all styled together. It's fabulous for the look she wanted. She took a chance and it totally worked!

It's got a nice surface area for a lamp, books, knickknacks and coasters for that late night cup of coffee for study sessions. 

Look for items that can utilize all options for storage. Having 2 extra shelves for storage is great for small spaces. 

This jewelry box is just one of the many items from the Back to Campus collection that I'd love to have as well. This box comes with other organizing pieces to create a cohesive look. It comes in this white option as well as black. The bottom drawer pulls out for more storage. We plan to go back once she moves into the apartment to see what else we need. I know she wants to get some of the coordinating desk items like pencil holder and magazine/file storage containers. 

In a small space like a dorm, you want every item to have a space. Ashlyn is a bit of a neat freak so she will keep things in their place. At Home has so many stylish and affordable options for organizing. 

As soon as Ashlyn saw this unique lamp, it went in the cart. It really gives off a great amount of light and is so cool looking. Don't forget to add a few coasters to protect the surfaces in your space. She opted for these coasters, but they have so many to select from. Even some of the cute small dishes available are perfect for coasters. 

Ashlyn has quite the thing for llamas. She has another llama pillow that she got at At Home last year. She loved this cute little set that we just picked up there. The solid color really looks sharp against the gold and colors in the books and tiny, vintage oil painting. 

See the glow the lamp gives the space! 

Decide on your inspiration piece for your dorm space. Ashlyn fell in love with rug last year when we were in At Home. All of the girls on her hall were so envious of her room last year. 

Her dorm room evolved over her first 2 years in college. We didn't buy everything all at once. As our budget allowed, we added things here and there. 

Find a few things from home that your child can add to their home away from home. They may not realize it, but it will add comfort. Ashlyn will be adding her green chair to her apartment space, but I draw the line with taking Jack with her. Ha, ha!

Small ottomans like this one are great for extra seating. They can easily be picked up and moved around. One like this one from At Home last year has storage capabilities. This is perfect for extra blankets, scarves, hats and gloves…..storage capabilities are endless. 

Pillows are an affordable way to add style, pattern, texture and comfort. All of these pillows and throw are from Ashlyn's dorm room. 

The wall art is a DIY project that I'll be sharing with you soon. 

Planning a back to school space doesn't have to start when you are going off to college. The Back to School collection at At Home stores is perfect for all ages. Take a trip to At Home and check out what they have to offer. Start adding a few things here and there and when the big day comes to head off to college, you'll have some fabulous stylish items that will create a wonderful space. 

Dorm Decorating Tips

• Pick an inspiration piece as a starting board for your space: comforter set, rug, fab pillow or piece art.
• Build your space off of the above by adding pillows, throws and small art pieces.
• Storage is key! Look for items that do double duty like a table with shelves and charging outlets.
• Small lamps add task and mood lighting.
• String lights are a fun touch.
• Ottomans add extra seating and possible storage capabilities.
• Trunks offer storage and can work as an impromptu space for a pizza party.
• Add a few pieces from home to offer comfort.
• Layer rugs even on carpet. Dorm carpet is often boring and may have seen better days. A fun rug can add pattern and an extra layer of comfort.
• Allow your child to put their stamp on this new space. Dorm and college apartments are the perfect time to experiment with a different style from their space at home. 
• Don't feel like you have to decorate the space completely at one time.
• Have fun!!! 

 

Be sure to visit your local At Home Store for their Back to Campus collection. There are various styles and themes to select from. You can decorate and get organized all in one stop! 

Ashlyn's At Home Decor Items

• Venice Rug
• Storage Ottoman
• Charging Table
• White Globe Lamp
• Jewelry Box
• Set of Llamas
• Pillows
• Trash can not pictured
• Coasters

Check out the entire Back to Campus collection HERE.

Visit At Home online to find a location near you. I highly recommend signing up for Insider Perks. I opted for email and texts. I get notifications about sales which is great! 

I'd love to hear about any college dorm tips you might have. Places share with us in the comments. 

 

Buffer

Thanks for sharing!