Southern Charm on a Budget

Whether you're moving into your first dorm, apartment, or mixing things up around the house, were showing you how to decorate for less! We'll help create the perfect, feminine room with a touch of southern charm while staying on a budget!

Bedding

For those of you moving into a dorm, most underclassmen rooms already come equipped with a coffin twin bed. To avoid buying expensive bedding you'll only use for a year, I recommend purchasing an inexpensive, neutral comforter or duvet cover. There are a number of fun ways to dress up a solid comforter: 1. Add a touch of Southern Charm with a monogram 2. Add a printed throw 3. Add an arrangement of printed pillows- By using a neutral comforter, you are given more freedom to mix prints into the theme of your room!

(1) Look at these inexpensive Target bedding options (2) Love these monogrammed pillows! (3) We are obsessed with these Caitlin Wilson pillows

Seating

When it comes to dorm seating, here's a word of advice: Skip the futon. Futons only get more uncomfortable as time passes, and most only last a year. Go ahead and invest in a small, comfy couch. I recommend a solid, neutral color so you can use the couch all four (or five) years! Add more printed pillows to liven up the look. 

Get the look for cheap here!

Curtains

There are three things Modern Magnolias look forward to most in college: rush, gamedays, and studying naps. To this day, I still believe one of the best investments I've ever made were the navy curtains for my room Freshman year. After adding a little too much Firefly to your sweet tea the night before, dark-colored curtains are a lifesaver. Tie back the curtains using a brightly-colored bow to brighten up the room!

Pictures/Wall Art

I love the look of a gallery-style wall right now. Above your desk, add all types of pictures, canvases, and framed quotes/bible verses. You are bound to have a couple longgg nights in college, so it helps to look up at these for that extra motivation to get through an assignment! For an inexpensive look, transform dollar store frames into works of art with a little paint. Before your group of friends parts at the end of the Summer, get together and paint canvases for each other with your favorite quotes. If anything, it's great practice for big/little week!

Flowers

Adding a small vase of flowers can brighten up any room! In order to make these fun vases, all you need is tape, gold spray paint, and vases from the dollar store! I like to buy an arrangement of flowers from the craft store. You can add real flowers, but I seem to have a hard enough time making sure my iPhone lasts through the weekend, so keeping something else alive is out of the question. But for all of you ambitious Modern Magnolias, go for it!

Fabric

I love the idea of purchasing your own fabric. You can use this to make extra pillows, a cushion for your desk chair, and to tie back your curtains during the daytime. Using the same fabrics throughout the room make it look more cohesive! Search around for a few fabric choices here!

Use your favorite fabric to cover wooden boxes and add a glass top for the perfect table!

 

Animal decor

Most toy stores have an assortment of these fun, plastic animals (I found mine in the dollar bin at Wal Mart!) With a little spray paint, transform the plastic toys into chic decor!

(1) Use them as fun desk accessories (2) Cut in half and attach to driftwood to use as a key holder (or necklace holder!) (3) Cut in half, attach magnets, and liven up that fridge!

Enjoy decorating!
-Chloe