A dorm room is, unsurprisingly, pretty bare, at least when you first move in. But a nice Polaroid frame is one of those things that can make your corner of the cinderblock fortress feel like a home. Small, square, easily stacked, Polaroid photos are a great way to liven up a white wall without having to break out any power tools

For us over at Art To Frames, it's a busy time of year, as college students flock to our website seeking advice on dorm decor, including our popular polaroid-style photo frames.

Why a Polaroid Frame is the Most Important Item in Your Dorm Room

It's not just us being sentimental, either. Researchers at the University of Southampton recently confirmed that things like nostalgia - which a framed photo wall of your squad can be a great catalyst for - are actually good for psychological wellbeing

How to Style a Polaroid Frame in Your Dorm

1. Cluster, Don't Float

One nice frame can be nice, but a whole wall's worth of them looks even better. Stacked together rather than spaced out, they create a warm, welcoming grid that leaves room for future additions.

A Ready-Made Option

Our 24-opening collage frame with 3x3 openings is a great option for making a collage-style display without having to get dozens of individual frames

2. Leave Some Openings

In addition to the general "you never hang enough pictures because you're too busy" reason, leaving some empty frames hanging is also useful for when the next move comes. Leaving a few spaces means you'll be less likely to panic-slam every photo you own on the wall upon arrival or when cleaning your room, and more likely to save the really special ones for later

3. Mount It Over the Desk, Not the Bed

Hanging the framed photo wall in the middle of the room above the desk creates a cozier atmosphere than if it were all the way at the head of the bed, facing the foot of the bed

4. Mount String Lights or a Cork Strip Alongside the Frame

Weave fairy lights through the frame, or mount a thin strip of cork alongside it, to create texture and visual interest without taking away from the photos. The cork can also be used to hang additional photos or decorations in later years. This pinterest board has some great ideas on how to make a collage wall

5. Make Sure the Frames are Lightweight

Most colleges we know of don't allow permanent mounting, which means you'll want something easily put up and taken down without damaging the drywall in any way.

Make Your Corner of the Dorm Room Feel Like Home

A polaroid frame in your dorm room won't fix overcrowding or roommate issues, but it will make the whole place feel a little more personal every time you add a new photo. By the end of the year, a whole wall will become your favorite part of the room, filled with the things that remind you why you were excited to go off on your own in the first place

Want to start creating your own collage display? Check out our collage frames with custom framing options , our dorm decor guide, or contact us. We will gladly help you plan a photo wall before heading back to school!