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Eats, Drinks and Crafts on a Budget!

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      • high school
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        • wellness
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        • women’s health
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        • 4th of July
        • Christmas
        • Easter
        • Father’s Day
        • Halloween
        • Memorial Day
        • New Year’s Eve
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        • Thanksgiving
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      • Beauty
        • fashion
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  • Eats
    • Food
      • appetizers
      • desserts
      • main dishes
      • sides
  • Drinks
    • cocktails
    • Mocktails
    • Beverages
  • Crafts
    • bath bombs
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How To Decorate A College Dorm Room For Under $300

December 27, 2019 by Kelly 63 Comments

This is a sponsored post. However, all opinions about my Dorel Home Products Mainstays Mattress and how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget for under $300 are all mine.

Empty Nest Syndrome Already?

How did my baby girl become a college student already? Wasn’t she starting Kindergarten a few minutes ago?!

This is an exciting time for us. Caitlin will be the third person in our family to go to college. And this is over a span of many generations. That is something to celebrate!

Do you have a kid who is college bound? Before you start shopping, here are my top tips how to decorate a college dorm room for under $300

How To Decorate A College Dorm Room For Under $300

Now that the excitement has subsided, it is time to focus our attention to getting Caitlin set up at school. We have had a lot of fun shopping for the dorm room necessities. I had no idea how much stuff she needed!  

Do you have a kid who is college bound? Before you start shopping, here are my top tips on how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget.

Inventory Before You Shop

Take Stock Of What You Have: There is no need to shop for things you already have. Caitlin found several items in her room she could transfer to her dorm room. When you do this step, be sure your child has everything they need back at home when they come back for visits.

Visit The Dorm Room: Before you start shopping, know what you are working with. Take your measuring tape and something to take notes with when you visit the dorm room.

If you know who your kids roommate is, contact them. Check to see what they are bringing. This can save you time, money and effort. No need to buy an area rug or fridge if the roomie already has one!

Shop At Thrift Stores: My daughter loves anything vintage. We found some great thrift store decor that was perfect for her dorm room. We save a huge part of the budget with these treasures.

how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget mattress

Choose A Good Mattress: Your child needs to get the proper amount of sleep in college. They need a good mattress to ensure they get a good night’s rest. But mattresses can be hugely expensive. We found a great option with the Mainstays 8″ Memory Foam Mattress from Walmart.

It is well made, affordable and perfect for Caitlin’s dorm room. If you are short on space in your dorm, you may want to consider purchasing a platform bed.

Bring Out That Glue Gun!

Get Creative: Save on store-bought decor when you can make your own. Making your own shelves can save you a ton. Take a bright metal trash can and flip it upside down. Now you have an eclectic side table!  

Make A Snack Station: College kids need to keep up their strength. Instead of buying expensive cafeteria food, set up a snack and drink station for them.

how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget 2

Kids Need Their Rest

We all function better when we’ve have had a good night’s sleep. I slept poorly for many years because I had a bad mattress. Once I replaced it, I was sleeping better than I had for a long time.

Did you know you should replace your mattress at least every 10 years? According to the National Sleep Foundation, you should. They also said you should replace it earlier if you don’t sleep well.

how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget box

Finding The Perfect Mattress

When we shopped for Caitlin’s mattress, I had several things I wanted. It had to be comfortable and a good value for the price.  

When we found the Mainstays 8″ Memory Foam Mattress, we knew it was perfect for our needs. You can have your mattress shipped to your home or it is also available for Walmart pickup.  

Unboxing Your Mattress Is Half The Fun!

The box the mattress comes in is well sealed. Once we got the mattress from the cardboard, we opened the plastic covering.

Once the mattress is “free”, it is like it takes a breath! It expands as it unfolds onto the bed. Super cool! It was like watching a magic trick!

how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget cait on bed

A Mattress For Many Needs

I love that the Mainstays 8″ Memory Foam Mattress from Walmart is so versatile. You can use it for your dorm room, the kid’s or your room or the guest room.

It is great for a bedroom update or to keep up with your growing family! And it is affordable with a price of $88 for a twin to $199 for a queen. 

how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget mattresses

Stay current with Walmart on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Follow DHP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Do you have a kid going to college or have a bedroom that needs an updated mattress? I would love to hear in the comments below!

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Kelly Hutchinson

Filed Under: House & Home Tagged With: college, college dorm, dorm, home decor, how to decorate a college dorm room for under $300, how to decorate the perfect dorm room on a budget, walmart

About Kelly

Hi! My name is Kelly. I am a Southern mom, autism advocate, camera bug, foodie & crafter. Never miss a budget friendly recipe, DIY/craft project or fun tip

Comments

  1. Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says

    August 25, 2017 at 5:54 pm

    OUR bedroom needs an updated mattress. We have gotten all the use we can out of the one we have now. And then some!

    Reply
  2. Jeanette says

    August 25, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    We need a new mattress! I need to check in to these and see if it works for us! It looks like you got some great stuff for he dorm room!

    Reply
  3. Theresa says

    August 25, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    I am sending this to my daughter. We just dropped her off at college and the first thing I noticed was how ugly her room is. She definitely needs to spruce up the place a bit!

    Reply
  4. Stacie says

    August 25, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    My daughter is heading off to university really soon. These are all great tips I will have to keep in mind when it comes to her dorm room.

    Reply
  5. Sherry says

    August 25, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    My daughter is staying local for college so she is living at home. I am due for a new mattress. I find my back hurts in the mornings when I get up.

    Reply
  6. Nancy Johnson Horn says

    August 25, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    Awesome tips! I will definitely have to refer back to this when my kids start college 🙂

    Reply
  7. Barb Webb says

    August 25, 2017 at 8:38 pm

    I’ll be needing this in a few years, thanks for all the great tips! I love the snack station idea. With two sons, I know that’s something they will truly appreciate!

    Reply
  8. Chelley Martinka says

    August 25, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    I wish dorm decor was such a big thing when I went to school! These are great tips- and love the outcome!

    Reply
  9. Jacqui Odell says

    August 25, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    These are great tips and will help a lot of college students. I like the idea shopping at a thrift store.

    Reply
  10. Lana simanovicki says

    August 25, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    You have some great ideas I just need to remember these

    Reply
  11. Claudia Krusch says

    August 25, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Thrift stores are a great way to get the items you need at a great price. I always check out our local thrift shops first.. I always find something great.

    Reply
  12. Elizabeth Lampman says

    August 25, 2017 at 9:35 pm

    These are great ways to decorate your dorm room on a budget. I will have to check out our local thrift store for a desk. I need one for my home office.

    Reply
  13. tara pittman says

    August 25, 2017 at 10:40 pm

    Those memory foam mattress are amazing at how they inflate. What a great room that she has.

    Reply
  14. Sarah L says

    August 25, 2017 at 11:08 pm

    Thrift stores are great places to find lots of usable treasures. Not just clothes.

    Reply
  15. Heather Johnson says

    August 25, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    I am all about decorating with what you have. College is expensive enough without adding in decorating expenses.

    Reply
  16. Dawn Lopez says

    August 25, 2017 at 11:46 pm

    I’ve been wanting to try out a new memory foam mattress. I keep hearing about how comfortable they are.

    Reply
  17. ChrissyAdventures says

    August 26, 2017 at 12:32 am

    Now that is a cool mattress! I have one left in college but he’s on his junior year and already feels like a professional at the dorm decorating thing, LOL!

    Reply
  18. Hali @daytodayMOMents says

    August 26, 2017 at 1:20 am

    This mattress looks really great, I have been wanting to learn how comfortable these type of mattresses are. What a great idea for dorm and student rooms.

    Reply
  19. Ruth I. says

    August 26, 2017 at 3:10 am

    I am happy to know these tips! They are really helpful. Not in a dorm but I am planning to decorate my room soon.

    Reply
  20. Angela Tolsma says

    August 26, 2017 at 4:52 am

    Love the cat artwork! Sleep is so important! I did the same thing recently with my mattress and it made a difference in my insomnia for sure!

    Reply
  21. Leta says

    August 26, 2017 at 5:31 am

    Sounds like a great mattress. Teens and students definitely need good sleep. I hope she has a great time at college! Loving the cat art too.

    Reply
  22. mycraftingworld says

    August 26, 2017 at 6:27 am

    Wow, she is at college. That is another big step for you and her. I wish her well. My son bought that mattress. He really likes it.

    Reply
  23. Helene Cohen Bludman says

    August 26, 2017 at 7:33 am

    We always made great use of the coupons from Bed Bath and Beyond. A good mattress would be awesome for a college student.. Good luck to Caitlin!

    Reply
  24. Stephanie Jeannot says

    August 26, 2017 at 7:57 am

    Yup you can take things you already have and transfer them to the room to just make it a bit more you.

    Reply
  25. Stephanie Jeannot says

    August 26, 2017 at 7:57 am

    Yup you can take things you already have and transfer them to the room to just make it a bit more you..

    Reply
  26. leslie says

    August 26, 2017 at 8:43 am

    Great tips! My son is only three so it will be quite a while before he’s moving into a dorm room. I’m sure it will come faster than I think though!

    Reply
  27. Sarah Bailey says

    August 26, 2017 at 10:23 am

    What a lovely looking way to make a dorm room feel like home, so much time is going to spent there and so much stress will happen it needs to feel homely.

    Reply
  28. Terri Steffes says

    August 26, 2017 at 12:21 pm

    We need a new mattress in our guest room. This would be ideal! Its a king sized bed in there, I would probably start sleeping in there instead of my own room!

    Reply
  29. Natalie says

    August 26, 2017 at 1:25 pm

    Decorating is always exciting! I love that you offer budget-friendly advice. This mattress sounds great.

    Reply
  30. Michelle Gwynn Jones says

    August 26, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    Looking back on my time at college – I would say make sure to send your child with a second set of sheets. The girl across the hall from me my first year was up 3 times, that I can remember, washing her sheets because she spilled something on her bed. Granted if I only had one set of sheets I’d be more careful … but that’s just me.

    Reply
  31. Amber Nelson says

    August 26, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    How fun! I definitely would be decorating with some fun lights like those!

    Reply
  32. Terri Beavers says

    August 26, 2017 at 5:19 pm

    Tyler and Alyssa will be heading off to college in a few years and I’m going to have to keep your tips printed out for when that time comes. Having a good mattress so they get a good nights sleep is super important so they’ll do well in their classes.

    Reply
  33. Jennifer L says

    August 26, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    I remember my parents and I sitting down and making a list of all the things we needed and creating a budget for ourselves. This ensured I had all the essentials I needed to make my dorm homey and functional.

    Reply
  34. Linda Szymoniak says

    August 26, 2017 at 7:04 pm

    What great ideas! I know I’d definitely be hitting IKEA if I had a dorm room to decorate. Not yet. These ideas would be great for a teen’s bedroom at home, too.

    Reply
  35. Wendy Polisi says

    August 26, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    Having a comfy dorm is important to be productive. These tips are great!

    Reply
  36. Kita Bryant says

    August 26, 2017 at 9:33 pm

    Wow, you really know your stuff. I can’t believe how good it look with spending next to nothing.

    Reply
  37. Sheena Tatum says

    August 26, 2017 at 9:33 pm

    Awesome work! This makes me want to go back to college just to decorate my dorm!

    Reply
  38. adriana says

    August 26, 2017 at 10:06 pm

    These are seriously such great tips! I have to share them with my sister, she’s starting college in the next few weeks! Her room came out great!

    Reply
  39. Mary Songer says

    August 26, 2017 at 11:56 pm

    Great ideas for a wonderful dorm room. Especially getting a good mattress. I hope your daughter has a fantastic time in college.

    Reply
  40. Carolyn says

    August 27, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    Wow, I didn’t know you had to provide your own mattress. What a great idea to get a memory foam one that is packages so easy to transport.

    Reply
  41. Diana Elizabeth says

    August 27, 2017 at 12:28 pm

    Very smart ideas! Getting a good mattress is so important. College is just amazing time in life I hope your daughter have a wonderful experience.

    Reply
  42. AnnMarie John says

    August 27, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    That’s pretty awesome! My eldest is currently in college and I make sure she has everything she needs. A pretty dorm room will definitely motivate her and make her more excited for the semester! These are great tips!

    Reply
  43. Erin F says

    August 27, 2017 at 1:14 pm

    I could TOTALLY use a new mattress! It’s been YEARS since we last bought one! Will definitely be checking these out!!

    Reply
  44. Sylvia says

    August 27, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    A good mattress is so important. After my son was born, I slept on a futon for like three years and when my husband and I redid our room and bought a new mattress, it was like night and day, We sleep like babies now!

    Reply
  45. Yona Williams says

    August 27, 2017 at 8:21 pm

    I’ve been seeing a lot of parents and college-bound students shopping in the stores, and it’s fun to hear some of their conversations. I agree, you can find a lot of cool dorm room swag at thrift shops.

    Reply
  46. Heather says

    August 27, 2017 at 8:50 pm

    I’m sure finding a good mattress for a dorm room is no easy challenge. I remember being so excited to go off to college then realizing it is so very different than living at home. Now I’m dreading the day I send my own daughter off to school.

    Reply
  47. Cindy Ingalls says

    August 28, 2017 at 12:09 am

    You can never underestimate the importance of a good mattress. I lived in a dorm where we were provided mattresses but we all bought egg crates to make them more comfortable. Wish we had had the option of bringing our own mattress.

    Reply
  48. Kwiw says

    August 28, 2017 at 12:09 am

    I remember my dorm room decorating days. Pinterest wasnt around when I was going but if it was I probably would of gotten some idea fom there.

    Reply
  49. Rach Ferrucci says

    August 28, 2017 at 10:57 am

    I remember how awful the mattress was when my kids went to college. I actually need a new one for my bedroom. We have been putting it off for a while now!

    Reply
  50. Ashley says

    August 28, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    I am so in love with that cat poster! And these are all great tips. You’re a great mom!

    Reply
  51. Arlene says

    August 28, 2017 at 7:58 pm

    I love that book “girl boss” such a great read. My son will be headed to college next year so all these tips are helpful!

    Reply
  52. Barrie says

    August 28, 2017 at 9:33 pm

    Great ideas. Just moved our daughter in for her second year of college.

    Reply
  53. Toughcookiemommy says

    August 29, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    These are some great tips. A friend of mine just dropped off her older son at college so I will share these ideas with her for his dorm room.

    Reply
  54. Misty Nelson says

    August 29, 2017 at 11:16 pm

    Love all your decor ideas! I still remember moving into my first dorm room. What an exciting time! It’s so nice to have that little bit of freedom and your own space, small as it may be

    Reply
  55. Sarah L says

    August 31, 2017 at 12:43 am

    The dollar store is another great place to find things for a dorm room. They have candles and things like that.

    Reply
  56. Eileen Kelly says

    August 31, 2017 at 3:39 am

    As a Mom of 4, 3 of which have done college already! You are spot on with fantastic ideas for setting up the kids at school. The memory foam is the key to a good night sleep too

    Reply
  57. Josie R says

    August 31, 2017 at 10:57 am

    These are great ideas. When I moved into the dorms back in the day, I hated the mattress. It was very uncomfortable. I always like to buy organizing stuff at the dollar tree.

    Reply
  58. Mary Songer says

    September 1, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    Great post on how to save money and still have a nice dorm room. I wish you’d do a post on great decorating ideas for bedrooms!

    Reply
  59. Mommy Rockin' In Style says

    September 2, 2017 at 11:17 am

    I agree that going to thrift stores could save you a lot of money. So many great deals to find.

    Reply
  60. Angela Saver says

    September 5, 2017 at 11:15 pm

    These are great tips to keep things affordable! My daughter would love the thrift store idea too bc she loves getting a good deal!

    Reply
  61. Gee Villaruz says

    September 15, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    I am a very frugal mom. While I want a room look nice and comfy I would also look for ways on how to save.Soon I will be having a college student and this might help.

    Reply
  62. Rosie says

    October 1, 2017 at 2:03 pm

    You did such a nice job decorating, it should be a comfort when she misses her mom. This mattress sounds wonderful!

    Reply
  63. mycraftingworld says

    March 4, 2018 at 6:22 am

    My son got one of these. He really liked it. It was so much easier to purchase than a high pressure person at a mattress store.

    Reply

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