College tuition is expense enough without all the smaller expenses adding up, such as everything that goes into making your dorm feel like home away from home. Especially with so little space to work with, it is important to maximize the space you do have while also finding a way to reflect your own personal style.

For my freshman year of college, I am even more pressed for space than usual. I will be living in a double room, but I will have two roommates instead of one due to such a large incoming class. With this lack of space, I really had to pick and choose what things I thought were most important. I tried to come up with the perfect balance of design yet functionality, all within the confines of a budget. The theme my roommates and I decided on was mostly neutrals (grays, whites, browns) with a pop of soft pink. Here are the items I found, all for UNDER $200:

Bedding

Comforter // $38

I decided to go fairly simple as far as bedding and get a completely white one. There is some pleating on this one, so it’s got some nice texture to it. I found it at Target, and it included the comforter and one standard sham. For only $38, I didn’t think twice about this purchase.

Sheets // $19

These are just a pretty standard light grey. This set from Bed, Bath, and Beyond came with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and also a pillow case. Not terribly exciting, I know, but definitely necessary.

Mattress Topper // $40

I did invest in one of these, and from talking to people already in college, it’s definitely something you’re going to want as well. As much as decorations are cute, comfort is key and this item is going to be most important in that regard. There are a lot of super high end ones for well over $100, but I found this one at Target for an incredibly reasonable price, and I think it will suit my needs perfectly.

Pillows // $49 (for 3)

• 24” Fluffy Grey // Target: on sale for $18
• 18” Summer Flowers // Society 6: on sale for $28
• 16” Marble Pillow Cover // Amazon: $3

If you take away anything from this post, I hope it’s that grey fluffy pillow. Seriously, it is the softest thing I have ever laid hands on. It’s super big and plush and because it’s grey, it is extremely versatile with different colors and themes. I found the flower pillow on Society 6, and they were having a sale on throw pillows so I got it at a slightly discounted price. As for the marble pillow, I actually just bought the cover. I went out thrift shopping and found a pillow insert the same size as the cover for $2.50, so I recommend trying to find pillow inserts at a local Goodwill or thrift store and then you just have to buy the cover. Trust me, it will save you a ton! I almost bought a marble pillow for $17 at Society 6 but my thrifted version only cost me $5.50, so it’s definitely something to look into if you are willing to put in a little extra effort.

Desk Essentials

Lamp // $15

This lamp from Target is great because not only does it serve the purpose of shedding light on your desk, but it also has two ports to plug things in. There is one normal outlet and one USB port to charge your phone. This is a perfect solution to the lack of outlets in dorms.

Trash Can // $6

Again, nothing too exciting here, but you don’t want to overlook this item in your dorm. I was able to find this one for fairly cheap at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Decorations

ahhhh, the fun part….

Fairy Light Photo Clips // $8

I think something like this is really important to bringing a personal touch to your room. I am personally going to use these to hang up Polaroid pictures I’ve collected throughout the years, but you can honestly use these for any photos, quotes, or reminders you might want to hang up. Plus there are lights on the string, so it’s an all in one solution! These are from T.J. Maxx, but there are similar ones on Amazon.

Organization

Makeup Organizer // $5

I plan on using this to store my makeup essentials so they are easy to see and nicely organized. This was an item I was lucky to find at Goodwill for $2, but there are some on Amazon just like it if you’re interested.

Miscellaneous Items Organizer // $2

Once again, Goodwill came in clutch for this item, which I will use to organize nail polish and other miscellaneous items that need a place to go. Check out Amazon or your local Goodwill for one just like it.

Clothes Drawer Organizer // $5

This is honestly going to keep my drawers from looking like complete chaos. While it won’t be useful for bigger clothing items, it is the perfect size for smaller items likes bras, socks, and underwear. I found mine at a local home goods store for a great price, but you can find the exact same thing on Amazon.

Hanging Closet Organizer // $1

I decided to opt for something like this over a shoe rack because it can serve multiple functions. If I don’t end up filling all the slots with shoes, I could easily put sweaters or other clothes in there and it just hangs nicely in the closet. Once again, I recommend trying to find something like this at a thrift store, which is what I did, but if you can’t then Amazon’s got your back, as always.

 

You may have noticed that many of these items I was able to find for significantly discounted prices at thrift stores, which is why I was able to keep the final total so low. I can’t stress enough how important it is to at least try looking at a Goodwill or similar place first because you honestly never know what you might find. I was fully prepared to pay more for these items, but because I tried out Goodwill first, I was able to secure the items I needed all the while staying within a budget. That’s what I call a win-win!

If you are curious about how all these items came together inside my actual dorm, take a look at my dorm tour post.