6 Hacks to Elevate Your Dorm Decor

Grey and orange don't have to be drab. Build around the neutral colors of your empty dorm room with layers of multi-textured beige and tan. The coordinated blankets, rugs and pillows in the dorm pictured here elevate the gloomy colors of the bed frame and wooden dresser to a carefully thought-out warm color palette.

Insufficient lighting has been found to contribute to depression and vitamin D deficiencies, so adding some lighting to your dorm is a great way to avoid getting bogged down with freshman year blues. String lights or neon signs that you can hang on the walls are an efficient way to brighten your mood in a cramped dorm space.

Dorm space might be a little tight, so maximize all of it that you can -- even the floor. Throw down a big shaggy carpet to make it comfy and cleaner, and put down some items you don't mind having on the ground, like storage boxes or baskets, or neatly-organized books.

Plants the seeds for a great semester by decorating your dorm with flowers. They can be as simple as a modest bunch in a jar full of water on your desk, or a carefully pinned and spaced-out assortment on the wall with a matching cover like the ones pictured here.

Another great hack is making the most of the area under your bed. Transform the unused space under a bed on extra-tall risers or a vacant bunk bed into a work station and/or storage unit.