5 Easy Ways to Upgrade a Dorm Room

College-issued dorm furniture can be pretty bleak. There's likely to be a dresser or wardrobe, a desk and chair, and an extra-long twin bed—not much to work with in the way of storage or style. But a trip to IKEA can solve for both of those issues. With affordable decor and an abundance of organizational products, the retailer is a one-stop-shop. Here are just a few ideas to spark inspiration.

Make a rolling kitchen cart

Culinary escapades will likely be limited to the magic that can be worked in a microwave, but that shouldn't deter students from having the chicest snack situation on the floor. They can turn the NISSAFORS utility cart into a rolling kitchenette, stocked with go-to study treats (and midnight munchies) stored in IKEA 365+ containers. They should also consider skipping the plastic dinnerware and instead buying real plates and bowls—with each under a dollar, a student budget can afford it—to make PB&J and cereal feel just a tad more elevated.

Add extra storage anywhere you can

It's pretty much a guarantee that more space will be needed than supplied dorm furniture can provide to keep any slice of collegiate real estate organized. Never fear: IKEA excels at small-space storage. A few favorites: The PÄRKLA storage case turns disused underbed space into an extra closet; the LACK wall shelf takes any vertical wall from empty to optimized; and the skinny VESKEN cart adds shelving to the narrowest of spaces—in the bathroom, beside the desk, or at the foot of the bed.

Zhuzh that desk

The desk is going to (hopefully) see a lot of hours, so students will want to make it a place that cultivates focus and sparks creativity. They'll keep clutter at bay by adding the ALEX drawer unit to file away extra papers and store gear like cords, batteries, and notebooks. A fun workspace backdrop can be created by adding a SKÅDIS series pegboard wall above the desk to organize odds and ends and make a moodboard, or several FISKBO frames to create an inspirational art-and-photo wall. Then they only have to finish the scene off with a colorful lamp, like the pink-and-green, mushroom-shaped NÖDMAST.

Create a "mud room"

Organization starts at the front door. The RIGGA clothes rack can summon up a faux foyer: The rail offers plenty of room for both roommates to hang outerwear, while the bottom rack holds four pairs of shoes. Each end of the rail functions as a hook, useful for tote bags and extra long coats. Add the SKUBB organizer for compartments to store accessories like sunglasses, hats, and scarves.

Take a more-is-more attitude to bedding

In a dorm room, the bed is more than just a sleeping space: It's a couch, a movie-night lounge, a reading nook, even a dinner table. The best way to adapt an XL twin to fit all of these needs? Pile on the pillows and blankets. Extra throw pillows, like the KÄRLEKSGRÄS cushion, provide ample back support for TV watching, while extra blankets can function as a "tablecloth" (hey, they're easier to wash than a whole duvet) while also ensuring friends are cozy during those late-night gab sessions. As for the actual bedding, they can make a statement with a cheerful print like this orange-and pink-stripe or this white-and-green polka-dot—the dose of color will be a welcome sight after days spent in lecture halls.