Moving into your dorm is such an exciting time. Whether it’s your first dorm, or you’ve done this before, there’s no doubt that you’re ready to make that space yours. Dorm rooms are known for their plain white walls, boring modular furniture, and limited lighting. Each year before you move in, you’ve got to decide on bedding and decor that will allow your personality (and your roommate’s) to shine through! Regardless of what your dorm looks like, you can make it into a cozy space for studying, sleeping, and hanging out with friends. And what better way to get yourself situated and make yourself feel at home than with a dorm warming party? 

If you’re interested in throwing one of these for your dorm room this year, look no further, because we’ve got all the ideas you need to throw the perfect party.

How to Plan A Dorm Warming Party

Start with the basics and you’ll be well on your way to a fun dorm warming party

So you want to throw a dorm warming party? We think that’s a great idea! What better way to get cozy in your new space (and even meet some new people) than with a dorm warming party. In order to stay organized, we’ve got a couple of easy tips to make sure that nothing gets forgotten or lost in the chaos (and fun) of planning a dorm warming party.

• Make sure a party is okay with your dorm hall. This is one of those occasions that it is definitely better to ask for permission instead of forgiveness! If you’re planning a dorm party, make sure it’s cool with your RA or your Residence Life department. There’s nothing worse than doing all this planning and preparing (not to mention spending) and then having your party get disbursed before the fun begins. Remember, this is a dorm--you do have neighbors, and there are rules!
  

• Draw up a guest list. You and your roommate(s) should work together and decide on who to invite. How many people you have come by will depend on the size of your room--if you’ve got a smaller room big enough for two people to live in, you’ll probably want to keep your number at a minimum. However, if you have a suite style dorm room, you can probably pack in more guests. This is the perfect opportunity to invite neighbors on your floor who you don’t know!
  

• Decide on food and drink. It’s a party, so as the host, you’re expected to provide some snacks and beverages. That is, unless you decide to ask your guests to pitch in and bring snacks or drinks. This is up to you and your roommate--you can keep it super simple and have chips, dips, and punch, or you can get more elaborate and pick up tacos or burgers from your favorite local restaurant. 
  

• Music, music, music! No dorm warming party is complete without a good playlist of music. Just like what food and beverage you decide to have, this is totally up to your preferences. You can keep it chill, or have a mix of pop, hip hop, and oldies. Just as long as there’s something fun and upbeat in the background. You can always take requests too!

Setting Up for Your Dorm Warming Party

Prepping your dorm to maximize the fun of your dorm party

Now that you’ve got your guest list and decided on what kind of munchies and drinks you want to serve, it’s time to prepare your space for a dorm warming party! We’ve made a list of some essential items you want to have available in your dorm room to ensure it's cozy and welcoming--and maximizes party space! 

Seats

When you’re hosting a dorm warming party, you’ve got to make sure you have enough seats for your guests. We get it though, dorms can be on the small side, so you’ll have to come up with some creative seating alternatives. Afterall, you’ve only got one room to be your bedroom, living room, and study area! In addition to your desk chair, why not pick up some extra comfy floor seating? Not only is it comfortable, it can easily seat more than one person. The other great thing about this floor pillow square is that it can go anywhere you need it to, including to other dorm warming parties! This pillow can be cleaned in a second if your guests happen to spill, and can be stored away when you don’t need it. 

If your dorm room is big enough for a couch, that’s a no brainer. Your guests will enjoy taking a load off there, and all you need to make it cozy is to include some throw pillows and maybe a blanket. Another great option if your dorm room is too small for a couch  is to use probably the biggest piece of furniture you do have for seating--your bed! It goes without saying that you’ll of course need to make your bed so it looks spot on, and include any extra pillows you might have as well. Talk about a great spot to chill.

Tables

While every dorm room comes with a desk, there typically isn’t much else provided in terms of flat surfaces for drinks, snacks, and other party essentials (speakers, deck of cards, extra munchies, etc.) Don’t let a small dorm room hold you back when it comes to table space! Foldable tables and tables that roll under beds are some of the best kinds of space savers we know of.

Another easy way to make more “table” space is to utilize any shelving you might have already on your dorm room’s walls. This of course takes a little more planning, because like any student, chances are you’re using those shelves for other purposes, like to hold books, photos, or even plants. In order to free up the space, make sure you remove any of those items before you host the party, that way you won’t have to worry about anything being knocked over or broken. Plus it might just make a great place to put the speaker!

Lights

When you move into your dorm room, chances are there’s probably one overhead light that is either too dim to be of any real use, or an awful shade of fluorescent. Either way, you don’t want to use this for your dorm warming party lighting! We understand that not everyone is interested in (or capable of) rigging their room to go into dorm party mode with the touch of a big red button, but there are easy, subtle ways to enhance your room for the perfect party atmosphere! 

In order to get those cozy vibes going, you’re going to need mood lighting. And what better way to add a little something extra to the party than with string lights? LED String Lights are a must-have for anyone throwing a dorm warming party since they can be strung almost anywhere, and they allow you to turn off that glaring overhead light.

Another great option for dorm lighting is to pick up some cool paper lanterns and lamps available at your local home furnishings store. One easy way to soften the dorm lighting or desk lighting you already have is to DIY a paper lantern yourself! With just a couple of supplies, you can transform your dorm lighting and create the perfect mood for a fun and welcoming dorm warming party.

Storage

When you’re throwing a dorm warming party, you’ve got to make sure you have as much space as possible to fit guests. This means that anything not needed for party business should be stored away, including your valuables! You can also use a storage trunk as extra seating or even as a makeshift table to display dips, chips, and veggie trays for munching! When you’re living in a small dorm, it helps when the items you do have can serve multiple purposes. 

What to Bring to a Dorm Warming Party

Dorm warming gifts are always appreciated!

If you’re lucky enough to snag an invite to a dorm warming party, congrats! Getting to spend some time relaxing with friends is always a good time, and starting the semester in a new dorm is a very good reason to throw a party. As a college student, you probably don’t have a very big budget, and may be wondering if you need to bring something to a dorm warming party. While no one is asking you to go out and break the bank on a fancy purchase, there are some things you can bring so you don’t show up empty handed! 

• Snacks and beverages
• Flowers
• Extra lighting or seats
• Games
  

However if you do want to get your hosts a little something extra, we recommend reaching out to them and confirming they do in fact need it--you don’t want to show up with another set of coffee mugs when they already have too many.

There you have it, how to plan and execute an amazing dorm warming party. Moving into a new dorm room is cause for excitement, why not celebrate with a party?