Decorating your dorm room is undoubtedly one of the most exciting parts about Freshman year for many students, but when move-in day comes and those four white walls are suddenly a lot less cute in person, here is an idea of how to decorate them.
First, you will need to acquire some sort of cork board or push-pin board. You can go with the traditional cork material, or find an upholstered board with a fun color or pattern if you want something a little more unique. Next, you’ll need push pins or thumbtacks. Here is another chance to jazz up the design by selecting tacks that come in a fun shape or color. I used a bulletin with board gray and white stripped fabric and paired it with gold heat-shaped push pins from the brand Sugar Paper.
A board covered in striped fabric
with a rustic frame, Pottery Barn Teen
A classic cork board with a white frame, Pinterest 
A world map adds even more dimension to the design
Next, it’s time to select your photos. You can populate the board with images of your friends from home, polaroid photos, or aesthetic photos found on Pinterest or another photo site. I chose to go the Pinterest route and selected a bevy of colorful photos ranging from colorful quotes, to 1950’s art illustrations. I also wanted the board to be a reminder of how bright and wide the world is, so I included a number of eye-catching photos designed like vintage travel posters.
The number of photos you want to gather will likely be determined by the size of your board and how large you want to print the photos. For my board, I printed almost 30 photos, yet ended up only using around half of those. Of course, you can always print more than you need and change out the first photos with the extras after a time.
When determining the layout, I would recommend placing the board down on a flat surface and putting the photos out on top without attaching them with tacks, as this will allow you to shuffle the photos around until you have an arrangement you like and will minimize the number of push-pin holes. I might suggest keeping in mind how beautiful contrast can be. Our eyes are naturally drawn to contrast, so putting two photos with completely different colors or designs can create wonderful visual interest. Additionally, if you board has a pattern or colorful fabric, you may want to leave a bit of space between the photos to allow the pattern to show through.
Placement within the dorm is also key. I wanted to be able to see mine right when I woke up in the morning, so I hung to board at about eye-level on a portion of the wall that was right next to my bed. Try to put it in a place where it gets lots of natural light. You could also place it just above your desk, or on your closet door so that you could admire it while getting ready.
Good luck, and have fun designing your board!
