Awesome Boys Dorm Room
I know a thing or two about boys. I have three of them. Making their space “beautiful” is not on their radar. Making it comfortable with SIMPLE elements is. I understand this.
I approached my son asking him if he wanted me to make his dorm room look awesome. I assured him I would keep things SIMPLE and approve everything through him and his roomate.
The next text I got said they were in. They wanted their room to be the hangout room that girls liked to be in.
Of course you do.
BEDDING
Since the boys requested a futon, I told them we would need to loft the beds. Lofting beds is not for everyone but it provides a living space and and an “upstairs” but let’s be honest here - the boys were not going to make their beds- EVER.
SO… I got simple bedding at my favorite bedding place: Target. All the boys needed is a nice fitted sheet, a pillowcase and a good blanket or comforter (washable), THAT’S IT. Some kids might like a flat sheet but other than that, spend your money elsewhere.
Cost Breakdown for the Bedding: Sheets, 2 sets - $9.50 or $19.00 Ribbed Plush Bed Blanket - $16
LIVING SPACE
I wanted a futon that looked like a couch and this faux leather black one did not disappoint. I would HIGHLY recommend it. It was very sturdy and had reclining backrests with a fold-down beverage holder. And of course, it folded out into a bed too.
I added a throw (which we already had) and these denim pillows for a little color.
Above the couch are BANKSY PRINTS. Banksy is a British graffiti artist who stencils these beautiful works of art in public places all around the world. Although he is a famous, he remains anonymous because graffiti is, as most of you know, illegal. Banksy makes the perfect art for a boys dorm room. Simple but with a statement.
And while we are on art, I found these amazing mug shots of famous people. It’s kinda cool trying to guess each celebrity so it’s a conversation piece as well.
The rug anchors the living space. It was bought on in store at a sale which is now unavailable so I provided a link for an alternative.
The living area is SIMPLE but comfortable - perfect for boys and inviting for the girls.
Cost Breakdown for the Living Space
Denim Pillow Covers - $14.99 Plaid Throw (left) - $19.98 Herringbone Throw (right) - $21.99 Musician Mugshots - $14.95 Memory Foam Faux Leather Futon - $199 Banksy Prints - $22.95 Contemporary Grey Area rug (6x9) - $77
GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB
A gaming and entertainment hub is a necessity. Since this is a dorm room, it has to be SIMPLE but also easy to transport.
I started off with a pair of 2-cube organizer shelves. I covered a white fridge (which we had) with black wood-grain contact paper (it actually looked like real wood - I was happily surprised!). I laid a board (available at your home improvement store) across the pair of cube organizers. I finished the look by adding a couple of fabric cube drawers.
Very simple.
Full disclosure: My son wanted to make his 2-cube organizers instead of buy them. He said he wanted real wood. The cost was about twice as much but he was insistent (we are a family of makers!). If you want the instructions, add a comment at the end of this post and I will get them to you!
By the way, the Black and Decker fridge is rated very well on Amazon. Our white one, which is an older model, has lasted years.
We already had a nice 32-inch television but of course the boys added a PS4 on the left and a Nintendo Switch on the right.
The whole thing turned out SIMPLE and useful - and it looks awesome as well!
Cost Breakdown for the Gaming and Entertainment Hub: 32” Television Option with Alexa - $169 Black and Decker Compact Fridge - $200 Yancorp Matte Black Wood Grain Vinyl - $5.98 2-Cube Organizer from Walmart (2) - $35 each Fabric Cube Storage Bin (2) - $6.94 each 6-foot board - approx. $30
LED LIGHTING
Whether the boys have a game or movie night, nothing ruins the atmosphere more than the dorm room lighting so LED lights were a must.
I got them enough to go around the whole room (approx. 50 feet). It came with a remote control that could do all sorts of crazy lighting patterns. BAM!! Awesomeness.
The cool thing about this dorm makeover is that ALL of it can be used in a future apartment.
Keep it simple and it will be awesome.
Happy Creating, Amy