There always seems to be that one person with the dorm room where everyone just wants to hang out. Maybe they have the best snacks. Maybe their guest chairs are extra comfortable. Whatever the reasoning, having the best dorm room on your floor isn't that hard, but it does take a little creativity to make it happen. Here are some things to do that can make your room the go-to spot.
1. Make the space comfy and welcoming
If you want people to spend time in your dorm, you’re going to need places for them to sit. Keep the floor space as open as you can. Bunking or lofting your beds frees up lots of space, but if you can't do that, just make the space you have as comfortable as possible. Start by getting a rug to cover that cold tile floor. Then add big pillows to your bed, including some that can double as cushions on the floor. Squishy beanbag chairs and even storage containers can double as a place to sit too. Top it all off with some fuzzy blankets. Arrange things around an area where your laptop or television can play the latest Netflix show.
Related: 5 Tips for Decorating Your Dorm to Help You Settle in at College
2. Keep your door open
Keeping your dorm room door open—while you’re there, of course—is a surprisingly easy way to make friends. People can poke their heads in to say hi, your neighbors might overhear the awesome music you’re playing and ask who it is, or you can call out to people you know if you see them. All this being said, don't forget that sometimes you have to invite people over. Ask the kids down the hall to come over and meet your new fish or share the cookies from the care package you just got.
3. Bring the party
Make your dorm room fun! Your first step for fun: food. People go where the food is. So stock up on your favorite candy, cookies, pretzels, tortilla chips, salsa, cheese dip, and popcorn. Your next step: activities to do. You could try having a standing Thursday movie night and make sure everyone on your floor knows about it. You could hang plain paper on your walls and supply markers so people can do DIY wallpaper when they come over (which you can easily take down before parents visit or at the end of the school year). Make sure to have a Bluetooth speaker to play music for good ambiance, and keep a whiteboard or two on your door for messages when you're gone or studying.
4. Sharing is caring
If you brought fun hobbies or pastimes from home, share them with your dormmates! If you have video games, make sure to have extra controllers so a few people get in on the game when they're over. You could try keeping a a basket of fidget toys that everyone loves like Play-Doh, Silly Putty, hacky sacks, stress balls, trivia cards, and even tabletop air hockey make for instant fun. People underestimate just how much these tools help stressed college students.
5. Do something unexpected
Your room doesn't have to look like a magazine, but people like rooms that are fun and unique. String up some twinkling lights or have bulbs of a unique color. Make a photo collage above your bed, or turn the space under your lofted bed into a movie cave. Use washi tape to make designs on your door or wall. Hang cork boards, magnetic boards, and mirrors to brighten the walls. If tapestries are allowed, hang them on the wall or from the ceiling to create dramatic color and patterns without much effort. There's so much you can do to showcase your personality through your room.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Decorating Dorm Room Walls
Having the coolest dorm room is about a lot more than decorating. You can have the most incredible space, but if you don't invite people in and provide a comfortable enough to sprawl on the floor and chat, no one will want to stay. This is your home—so show it off, make people welcome, and pretty soon your dorm will be the place everyone wants to be.
Explore more advice on making your campus experience the best it can be under the tags below, like "dorm rooms" and "dorm life."
