1. Use Natural Light

Taking advantage of light is one of the easiest ways to make your dorm room seem bigger. Avoid covering up your windows with curtains and even if you would prefer to have them, try a sheer or lighter color to allow natural light through. It instantly makes your room look brighter and appear bigger.

2. Or Any Light at All

If you are not fortunate enough to have a large window in your dorm room for natural light, you can always substitute artificial light. Most schools probably won’t let you put in a chandelier, but tall lamps and desk lamps are great alternatives to brighten up your room. You can even string up some Christmas lights for a fun lighting alternative.

3. Keep the Walls Clean

Posters and pictures are a great way to add some personality to your room, but if you cover up your white walls with dark posters, it will make the room seem more cave-like. If you want to spruce up the walls, keep it to a minimum or choose lighter colored decorations.

4. Build up

Dorm rooms are notoriously small, so you have to be careful in the amount of stuff you bring with you. Instead of crowding your floors with beanbags and boxes, think of building up instead of out. You can purchase shelving to go above your bed and desk to clear up some clutter on the floor. Also think about getting bed risers for extra storage below your bed. The more you build you, the more floor space you will have and the bigger your room will appear.

5. Mirrors

While I shudder at the thought of not being able to check out my outfit in a full-length mirror, they are also a great way to make your dorm room seem bigger. The reflection makes it appear as if the room goes on and on. In addition to a simple full-length mirror, try adding some fun decorative mirrors to your wall.

6. Keep the Bare Necessities

Although you might think you need tons of beanbags and extra drawers and every other thing you could possibly think of for your dorm room, keeping it to a minimum is essential to making your room appear bigger. Less clutter means more floor space and essentially more room for you to move around. When it comes time to pack for college, really think about how much use you will be getting out of your stuff and if you absolutely need it in your room.

7. Make a Floor Plan

If you are lucky enough to have a room that doesn’t bolt the beds and desks to the floor, you have an opportunity to play around with the set up of your space. The traditional twin bed set up is great, but to maximize space and make your room feel bigger, you might want to try something else. Work with your roommate on moving your furniture around in a way that gives you more floor space while you two still have your own personal space.

It will take some time and decoration skills to make your dorm room finally seem bigger, but it will be well worth it. You will be living in that room for the next year of your life, so you want it to be as comfortable as possible. What did you think of these ways to make your dorm room seem bigger? Do you know of any other tips on making your dorm room seem bigger?