decoration ideas?

Question

I am moving into a dorm in August, and as strange as it sounds, I am absolutly terrified of the idea of having plan walls. Does anyone have any ideas in what I can do to make them a little... a lot less bare. I can't paint them.

So far we have come up with
pinning sheets on the walls.
placemats
bulliten boards

Answer 1

You can starch fabric to them and peel it off without damage to the walls when you leave. Choose an inexpensive fabric either in the clearance section of JoAnnes where prices start a $1.00 per yard or at the big discounters. Get one of those wallpaper paste trays and fill it with several bottles of the cheapest liquid starch you can find. Soak the fabric by feeding it through the tray trying not to wrinkle it. Hold the fabric to the wall and use a cedit card, plastic spackle applicator or brayer to smooth out the wrinkles. If you have to put two pieces side to side, overlap because some fabric shrinks just a little. You can finish the edges with gimp or cording glued to just the fabric. The starch will hold the fabric to the walls and then to remove pick an edge and pull. This is an old military wives trick because they often move a lot and cannot paint walls, either. PS Try to pick a light weight fabric they stick better. And, should you choose a fabric with a pattern match it when applying the one next to it. You can also re-use the fabric for something else when you are finished, just launder it.

Answer 2

The success of any decorating scheme depends on how well it suits all the members of your family. To create a décor that you will be happy with, think about what you want and also what you don’t want.

It’s a good idea to know what you have before you begun to change things. As you begin to pull your design ideas together, think about your preference and what will work in your home.

Color can work wonders... it can change the look of a room and change your feeling about the room. You can start by looking through magazines, and catalogs. Give yourself plenty of time, it will take longer than you think, and your ideas will develop as you go.

Gathering samples is a great way to begin. If you are starting with a color, your samples might include fabric, paint chips, wallpaper, carpet, wood, stone, and tile.

Knowing what you can spend on a project will give you a clearer idea of what you can achieve. If you’ll on a limited budget, mark off those things that will make the most difference, such as a new wall color and a new sofa.

You can set the mood of a room in lots of ways, such as lights, and furnishings. There are no hard or fast rules or must-do sequence for this process.

Answer 3

You should try hanging framed posters or pictures. I have the same problem you have. I cannot paint my walls. So, I put up shelves, shadow boxes, framed posters and pictures. You could even put up clocks, neat statues or plants. Some people use candles. Mirrors make the room look bigger. I don't know what state you are from but the following stores have the best decorations on a low budget. Christmas Tree Shop, Job Lot or Building 19. Yard sales and thrift shops are awesome as well! Have fun decorating!

Answer 4

You can buy peel and stick murals and cut-outs that you can stick to the wall, leave there for months (even years) and remove them with no adhesive stuck to the wall and reuse them. I have Winnie the Pooh peel and stick in my daughter's room and we moved them to a different wall when we rearranged her furniture. The website www.wallpaper-inc.com has lighthouses, flowers, seashells, dolphins, fruit, chili peppers, dogs, teddy bears, Christmas and Thanksgiving and more. There's a beach mural that is interesting. Just type in self adhesive in their search box. They're not really that expensive. I bought my daughter's at Home Depot. I have purchased self adhesive wallpaper border in the past, too. I hope this helps. I had the same problem in my dorm. We just decorated with posters and my roommate cut out pictures of Mel Gibson from magazines and built a "shrine" to him. That tells you how old I am!

Answer 5

I always like the idea of buying a painter's drop clothe and painting it. You can trim it (with no sewing or hemming involved!) to fit the wall you want covered. Paint a mural or a funky design. You could even paint a single color and then pin photos of things over the top. This can also be used to make a room sized rug. Be creative.

Answer 6

There are oodles of ideas for decorating walls. Check in a paint store for special removable adhesives for posters. Remember, large wall = large posters. Color coordinate them to your bedding, but you don't have to get crazy about matching everything. Check out magnetic boards or surfaces you can use magnets on.

Even colored chalk which washes off easily could work and is easily changed.

Think picture frames too.

Answer 7

Try to find some art - posters of you fave band, a picture you drew in 3rd grade, a family portrait - to make the space your own. You can add frames to liven up to room, help keep with your color scheme, or because you can personalize them any way you want. If you use those sticky "command" hooks, you won't even leave a nail hole in the wall.

Answer 8

We bought colorful paint, put on hands in it, then put our hands on the wall.. We used reds, blues, yellows and plastered the paint on our hands onto the walls. When we got ready to leave the dorm (end of the school year) we just made sure to repaint that one wall.

Answer 9

When I was in college (years ago) we covered the walls with white contact paper and let everyone who came in sign the walls, leave messages or draw. We took pictures at the end of the year and put it in our scrapbooks. It was fun. They also make chalk board contact paper. Of course, our walls were cinderblock.

Answer 10

What do you love? What will you miss most?
Know one can answer this as well as you. You will need to see it every day and it needs to be a reflection of who you are. Every time my son wears out another skateboard, we take the wheels and trucks off and hang the board on the wall. It is a reminder of his growth, personality and passion. To keep from getting lost at a time when you are definig who you are, cling to your roots. congrats, good luck and be bold--be yourself.