5 cheapish ways to decorate your dorm

Dorm rooms are often unappealingly plain — just a spare space with off-white walls, utilitarian bunk beds, and particle-board desks.

But sprucing up a boring dorm room is relatively easy and doesn't have to cost a fortune. If you've been searching for some decor inspiration, here are some fun and affordable ways to turn a basic space into a home away from home.

To snazz up your space, showcase your favorite memories with a customized photo wall. Consider collecting postcards of some of your favorite places or buying several inexpensive prints from vintage, resale or big box stores.

Papering your wall with instant-print photos is also a great way to remember and share the good times with classmates and friends. Use a Polaroid-style camera (such as the Fujifilm Instax Mini) to snap, print and display. Or print out the photos you take on your phone.

Dorm room lighting can be a little dreary.

String lights are a simple and affordable way to create a little ambience. Some even have remote controls, smart lighting or strobe settings— for when the studying is done and it's time to party.

Drape string lights over the window and above your bed or add a little lighting to your closet. (Just be sure not to run afoul of your RA's rules.)

If you're worried that your indoor plant will end up dead, fear not. You can always opt for fake plants. Look for the most lifelike you can find. And dust regularly.

If your dorm room walls are a little too plain, consider removable wallpaper.

Though it's easier than most DIY projects, you may need some simple tools to get the job done.

The cheapest option, of course, beloved by college students for generations, is a collage of magazine-page cutouts.