Are you a "plan ahead" kind of person? Then think through your decorating choices for a dorm room.

Instead of choosing the kooky "Sponge Bob" comforter and a cheap canvas chair, select a couple of investment pieces for your room.

Dark woods and neutral chairs pair well with a photo-montage wall in brown, white, and green. At the desk, a simple leather chair is sturdy enough to transition easily into your first real place after graduation.

 

For your dorm room, pass on the funky milk crate nightstand. Go with something more stylish! Ours is a small round table in a dark wood stain. The style is simple enough to be a great addition to your first apartment.

For your apartment: This handy piece can find a home in nearly any room. Try it next to a reading chair, sofa, or guest bed.

 

Schools rarely provide classy furnishings, so spruce up the standard college desk with a sleek leather dining chair. This chair will provide comfy seating for studying and guests who lounge around your room.

For your apartment: Your leather chair will look great in a living room, entry, or dining room area.

 

For this dorm room, our "coffee table" is a pair of handy storage cubes that hide bedding, extra books, or CDs.

For your apartment: These units could transition into handy nightstands or side tables.

 

Dorm rooms can be boring white, so brighten up your space by decorating the bookshelves with timeless accessories such as colored glass, leather magazine files, and a houseplant.

For your apartment: These items will grace your shelves for many years to come, especially the plant, if you remember to water it!

 

Storage space is at a premium in a dorm room, so store bulky winter boots, sweaters, and hats in convenient metal bins that fit neatly under your bed.

For your apartment: Repurpose these handy storage items by using them in a hall closet for winter gear, in the pantry for kitchen staples, or in your office for files and papers.

 

For a touch of home in your dorm room, create a picture wall with matching frames. Use adhesive tape to stick them to the cinder block walls. In place of a few of the photos, frame a piece of patterned scrapbook paper to add interest to the mix.

For your apartment: Create another montage but change the photos over the years.