Room to ❤

Home & Decorating

Lisa Thomas

College

Bedroom

How to Create a Gallery Wall for Your College Dorm

So, you want to trick out your dorm room. A gallery wall is an awesome way to express yourself while creating a focal point that&rsquo;s a definite conversation starter. Whether your style is classic or kooky, choose objects that reflect your personality. This is your chance to show off who you are and what you love, so go for it! Here&rsquo;s how to take your space from generic to top of the class.

Step Away from the Hammer

If you want to turn bland cinder block into a concrete expression of your identity, you&rsquo;ll need a way to hang stuff without damaging the walls. Your solution: 3M Command&trade; products. They&rsquo;re gentle on paint but strong enough to support decor like frames and mirrors, so there&rsquo;s no need to worry about passing room inspections.

Nail Down What You Want

Collect the items you want to hang. Include pictures of family and friends to help make your room feel like home. Keep things interesting by mixing horizontal and vertical pieces and different elements like mirrors, motivational sayings, monogrammed pieces, clocks, mini shelves, and art. And use string lights to make sure your room is lit&mdash;literally and figuratively.

Win at the Frame Game

If you want your gallery wall to have a clean and classic look, choose frames that are the same shape and color. But if you want it to be eclectic, select a variety of frame materials, styles, and sizes.

Love Your Layout

Here comes the tricky part&mdash;figuring out how to arrange your art in a way that visually works. You&rsquo;ll need to bust out a few basic tools and measuring skills. But don&rsquo;t worry, it&rsquo;s easy. We&rsquo;ll walk you through it!

Tools Needed Measuring tape, kraft paper or newspaper, pencil, scissors, painter&rsquo;s tape, Command Strips&trade;

Instructions 

<ol>
	<li>Measure the wall space you want to fill and mark the area with painter&rsquo;s tape.</li>
	<li>Use tape to section off an area on the floor that&rsquo;s the same as the wall measurements.</li>
	<li>Lay all of your pieces out on the floor within the taped area.</li>
	<li>Spread paper on the floor, trace your pieces onto it, and cut out the shapes.</li>
	<li>Put down the largest cutout first and build the rest around that.</li>
	<li>Leave 1 &frac12; to 3 inches between each item.</li>
	<li>Place the paper cutouts on the floor in the way you&rsquo;d like to see them on your wall.</li>
	<li>Try different arrangements until you&rsquo;re happy with the look.</li>
	<li>Once you&rsquo;ve locked down a pattern, take a picture and use it as a guide.</li>
	<li>Tape the paper cutouts to your wall.</li>
	<li>Remove the paper as you hang each piece.</li>
</ol>

Voila! Stand back and admire your new gallery wall.

Dana Eisenberg

Style

Organizing

Room to Love: Organize Your Entryway

You only get one chance to make a first impression. In your home, that first impression is often made by your entryway. You want it to look stunning, welcoming, and put together. However, this is also the last place you see before you leave and the first place you see when you come into the house. So it has to be functional, too. Here&rsquo;s how to make your entryway a place you and your guests will want to encounter again and again.

Make Space for Storage Pieces

No coat closet? No problem. A hall tree with shelving and hooks is a great way to add storage space. Use the hooks to hang outerwear for the current season, as well as any hats. Put baskets on the shelves to hold smaller accessories.

If you want to hold on to your wall space, try a storage bench. You&rsquo;ll get similar functionality to that of the hall tree and still have plenty of space for artwork. The bottom baskets are great for storing accessories out of sight and keeping them organized. The bench itself is great for putting on or taking off your shoes.

To get the full effect, add hooks above the bench. Just choose your material and finish!

Add additional entryway solutions where you can fit them. When it comes to storage, we believe more is always more. It&rsquo;s much easier to stay organized when everything has a designated spot. An umbrella stand is useful and doesn&rsquo;t take up much room. Use it for umbrellas, of course, but also for sporting equipment like baseball bats and lacrosse sticks. Fill in the surrounding areas with additional baskets where you can.

Don’t Forget Decor

To make the entrance just a bit more grand, add some splashy decor. A chandelier adds style and elegance without taking up practical space, and a mirror hanging on the wall is perfect for getting one last look before you head out.

We&rsquo;re always fans of filling the walls with affordable art. It brightens up and personalizes your space.

How to Refresh Your L-Shaped Living & Dining Room

How-to

Some rooms are so easy, they basically decorate themselves. Others are nearly impossible. And others, still, are L-shaped, and they fall somewhere in between. They take time and effort, and when it’s time for a refresh, the task can be daunting. If you’re looking to elevate your room and redecorate a bit without doing any major renovations, here are some tips!

Choose Some New Chairs

If your dining area is looking drab, don’t toss the table just yet. One great way to refresh the space without breaking the bank is to swap out your old chairs with some new ones.

If you don’t want a whole new set, just go with some extra side chairs that make a statement. They’re perfect for when you’re using the dining table or anytime you need extra seating in the living room, like for your weekly Bachelor watch party.

The same goes for your living space. Spruce it up by adding some fresh new seating. It’s easier and less expensive than getting a whole new couch, but might be just what your room needs to look completely new!

Make Your Side Pieces Your Focus

Side tables are another great way to change something small and get big results. Choose something modern, simple, or fun (think: pop of color), and go from there. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.

Accessorize Accordingly

Swap out accessories liberally. In the dining room, go with a new runner, new candlesticks, new vases, and replace old table linens with something fresh. Remember, small things add up!

In the living room, a new tray for your coffee table and new throw pillows and blankets can make the same old furniture look totally unrecognizable.

Plant It

Is it just us or do plants make everything better? They provide oxygen, they’re cheerful, and they give you something to take care of. They’re conversation starters, and they make your place homier. If you don’t currently have any, it will give the room an instant lift. Trust us.

No time to take care of the real thing? No matter. Fake plants add the pretty and the cheer, minus the work. We won’t tell anyone!

Light it Up

Changing up the lighting, even if you’re just rearranging the lamps you currently have, can revive your space and give it new energy. Replacing old lamps and lamp shades on top of that can give the room a totally different vibe.

Room to ❤

room to

How to Create a Gallery Wall for Your College Dorm

room to

Room to Love: Organize Your Entryway

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How to Refresh Your L-Shaped Living & Dining Room

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