decorating dorm rooms

Decorating small spaces like dorm rooms can be really challenging, here're some tips on how to style a dorm room by Nate Berkus and Daphne Oz:

Find your style: Determine what colors you like and what inspires you. Daphne said she likes cool colors—blues and greens—and was inspired by her father's home country, Turkey. "I definitely have the Mediterranean influences from going to Turkey, and I always bring back artifacts from that area of the world to decorate with," she said.

Multifunctional furniture: Every piece of furniture in a small space should do double duty. Look for an ottoman with built-in storage or a daybed that can work as a couch. In addition to supplying extra seating, daybeds are elegant alternatives to futons.

Declutter your dorm: Get rid of items you don't need or don't love so you can focus on the things you do love. Organize your space so you fit in 90 percent of everything and have 10 percent open. If you have openness, the world will bring more to you!

Bring items from home: Instead of buying new stuff for your dorm, bring items from home that will make you feel comfortable. Nate says he brought a lamp, a framed picture and chest of drawers to college. Daphne said she brought her bed from home. "I brought my own bed to college—that was crucial, it really changed everything," she said.

Maximize storage space: Designate a place for every belonging. Also, don't display lotions and creams on your dresser. If you need to store something, keep it in an attractive box or basket.

Stylize your shelves: Break up books on your bookshelf with interesting items: travel souvenirs, mismatched picture frames or a collection of something you love.

Little touches: Buy fresh flowers from the supermarket or use a beautiful container to store your toothbrush—little touches can make a big difference, Nate says. "It is a present that you give yourself every day, and I think it is a really good thing," he says.

P.S. Gilt's dorm essentials

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