How to Give Your Dorm Room a Mid-Year Refresh

28.12.2023 - 12:21 / bhg.com / Maggie Gillette

School is out for winter break, and if you're a college student, hopefully that means you’ve adjusted to dorm life a bit. This rite of passage marks a step toward independence and adulthood, and it can bring up a lot of emotions. But there are ways to ease this sometimes difficult transition, even if the first few months weren’t quite what you hoped for—and making sure your living space is one that you really love can help out a ton.

A dorm room isn't just the epitome of a multifunctional space: It's also an avenue for expressing your personality and making a fun first impression on new friends. Plus, with one semester complete, you’ve probably picked up a few fresh ideas for how you want your dorm room to look and function—and you’ve probably got a list of what you would change about your space for a better second semester.

As you’ve certainly realized, dorms also have limited space, so going into your mid-year refresh with a game plan—especially if you have a roommate—is key. If you or someone you love is looking for ways to revamp their space for the back half of the academic year, check out some of our top tips and trends for a fun and functional space.

Giving a dorm a home-away-from-home feeling doesn't need to be costly or take a lot of work, especially if you already have the foundation of your space in place from the first semester, but it does require planning ahead. Read on for some of our best advice for making a practical place that you or your student(s) will be excited to return to at the end of winter break.

Going all-in on a trend you're loving this year is one of the easiest ways to plan for a dorm. A trend gives you a clear jumping-off point for your design and makes decision making a bit easier—you