Teenagers

Design a Dorm Room Tips from Whoa, Wait. Walmart?

August 10, 2021

This article is written by the founders of Woah, Wait. Walmart? – we hope you enjoy their tips for dorm room decor and style! For more information about this team, please see their bio and social media links below

It’s back-to-school season and with colleges returning to in-person classes, and that means students are returning to dorm living. For many, this will be their first time living away from home, so making the space feel special, without spending a fortune, is at the top of the essentials checklist!

If you or your not-so-little one are heading to college soon, Bethany Halford and Amanda Jerkins, the brains behind Whoa, Wait. Walmart?, have a few tips and tricks for cool, cozy and functional dorm room design.

The duo is always looking for a good deal and when designing a small space you want to be smart with your spending. Walmart is their specialty because it’s relatively inexpensive and accessible to so many! With a little planning and all of these little design features, you’ll almost forget it’s not home.

When designing the space, here are a few of our go-to recommendations:

Pick a color palette and coordinate within it! If your roomie is going with a floral bedding, choose a stripe in a coordinating color.
Create a drop zone. Having a spot for your keys, phone charger and a calendar will help keep the space tidy.
Add in a durable but pretty rug. Dorm rooms are typically small so you end up sitting on the floor a lot – make it cozy!
Wall art is a fun and easy way to add personality to a room. If you are really feeling ambitious, there are tons of lovely peel-and-stick wallpapers out there.
Don’t forget about function. No dorm room is complete without a coffee/drink/snack station. Keep your mini fridge stocked with healthy snacks so you’ll make a good decision when that midnight craving arises.

Now that you have the design and aesthetic honed, here are some of our favorite ways to cozy-it-up with items from Walmart!

Gap Home Border Knots throw pillow for decor

Better Homes & Gardens gingham floor pillow in a neutral room

Cute throw pillows can make a space more hygge instantly-no matter what your style is! Try one (or all three) of these from Gap Home via walmart.com: 1 // 2 // 3.
There isn’t extra seating in a door room, so pull in a few floor cushions for visitors to lounge on. We love this one or this one!
Small spaces function best when they’re super organized, so use every single spot to its fullest potential. These storage bins roll under your bed and are zipper enclosed to keep everything inside clean.
In addition to setting the mood, diffusers with essential oils can also be a pretty piece of decor to add to a dorm room. Time to study? Try diffusing peppermint oil to help you focus.
Hanging art on a wall can really set the tone. We love this three piece set by Drew Barrymore. Try using command hooks for dorm wall art hanging!
The ultimate in form+function for a college student is a lovely coffee pot. This one, Beautiful by Drew Barrymore, is so pretty and will help you start your day right!

Meet Bethany and Amanda, style soulmates and the brains behind Whoa, Wait. Walmart? With backgrounds in fashion and interiors, these besties are passionate about hunting down surprisingly cool items from the aisles of Walmart. Each time the gals pop into a Walmart, they become your personal shoppers on a budget. Amanda shops the Nashville, TN stores. Bethany shops the NW Arkansas stores. Check out their magazine, Whoa, Wait. Magazine, now available at ALL Walmart locations.