Screw the Jester poster sale — unless of course you want to pay too much for that lame movie poster that everyone’s 13-year-old sister already has. There are far more interesting ways to spruce up your room, and they don’t have to cost you a fortune. We’ve listed the prices each of these projects cost us, and they are so low, they may make you want to ditch cheesy posters for good.
Dorm Room Decorating
Fabric! Perhaps the easiest way to transform any room into an Arabian Kasbah. Hang it from the ceiling, cover an entire wall with it or use it to divide the space. Fabric stores can sometimes be pricey, but check the sale bins or, better yet, do some thrift store exploration to get the fabulous vintage (and cheap!) stuff. We found an amazing length of mod 60s graphic print polyester for 50 cents that is now serving as a room divider.
Frames! Ten dollars will get you five to 10 neat, vintage frames at a thrift store like Savers. Just print out some pictures you like (ours are a smattering of religious figures and vintage photographs) and cover a wall with your newfound collection. In addition to its aesthetic value, this is a good way to appear cultured and eclectic to your visitors even if you’re really not.
Plants! They really aren’t as much work as you probably think, and according to the ancient art of feng shui, plants will actually make you happier and luckier with the ladies and/or gentlemen. Three is a particularly lucky plant number. If you stick to varieties that only require partial sun or shade, they will be perfectly fine in your dorm or apartment window. Succulents and cacti are also a safe way to go—we haven’t watered ours in months. We’ve spruced up our plants (which were $3.50 each at Home Depot) with some plastic miniature garden gnomes; they can be found at Toy Joy for $12 a pair.
Free Stuff! Perhaps you are young and innocent, but if you have never perused the free section of craigslist.org — get thee to a computer immediately! A one-day sample of the goods to be found: a white bamboo window shade, two televisions, a king-size headboard, a vintage Singer sewing machine, an entertainment center and four aquariums.
Remember: A well decorated room is the key to world domination ... or success, but probably both.
For more ideas, visit our blog.
The Simple Sisters
Published: Thursday, September 11, 2008
Updated: Thursday, September 11, 2008
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