23 Ways to Upgrade Your Dorm Room for $25 or Less

Back to school season means many things, but one of our favorites is shopping. For new supplies, wardrobe — you name it. It’s a chance to reinvent your personal style. The most exciting, though, is prepping to go to college: That bedroom you’ve lived in since you were three is about to be replaced by something completely new. Something you get to decorate. While we’re sure you’ve already got your Pinterest boards and packing lists organized, we wanted to chime in with a few stellar finds to help you out.

1. Metal Photo Clip String Set ($14): We know you’re super excited about your new adventure, but that doesn’t mean leaving old pals behind. Make sure you have a stylish way to display snaps of your fam + friends.

2. Reversible Chevron Comforter ($17): Chevron is here to stay, and we’re pretty happy about it. The colored-in look of this comforter will match your doodles from those 8am lectures.

3. Quincy Scallop Storage Bins ($20): With the size of most dorm rooms, extra storage is essential. But no one ever said that meant it couldn’t be chic, too.

4. Ofelia Blanket in White ($20): It’s pretty much impossible to know ahead of time whether your room will run hot or cold, so it’s best to be prepared with a multitude of fluffy throw blankets. Maybe you can even get away with bringing this one to class when you read Hamlet.

5. Läborg Rug in Lilac ($20): Battle blah dorm room furnishings with a bright area rug. It will instantly make your room more inviting, and it gives you extra seating space.

6. Rust Japanese Wave Print Curtain ($18): Put that tension rod to good use and install some curtains in your new pad. It’ll feel a lot less dorm-y and a lot more home-y.

7. The Emily + Meritt Meow Tray ($19): Store your bits and baubles stylishly with this catchall tray. Voilà! Your jewelry is not a part of your decor!

8. Flameless Wax Pillar Candles ($15): Learn from our mistakes and don’t even try to sneak in real candles. The fees aren’t worth it. Lucky for you, you can snag a few of these flameless puppies for all the ambience and none of the fire hazard.

9. Travel Laundry Bag ($9): Transport your dirty threads in style with a cosmopolitan laundry bag. Hopefully, you don’t have to transport them too far, like out of the building.

10. Epic Mat ($24): We’re hoping this mat will be a self-fulfilling prophecy (I mean, really, you’re in college — how could it not be epic?). On the practical side, it will also keep you from tracking muddy bootprints into your room come winter. So there’s that.

11. The Emily + Meritt Hanging Stars ($15): This is the grown-up approved update on those glow-in-the-dark stars you had on your ceiling as a kid. And they’re gorgeous.

12. Over the Door Shoe Storage ($24): Take full advantage of your (sadly) limited closet space by hanging your shoes over the door. When it’s open, you’ll never see them, and it’ll be way easier to find that elusive match.

13. Dip Dye Pencil Cup + Letter Holder ($8): Dip dye is everywhere, including on your desk. Keep your supplies organized with this chic set, and what you need will always be stylishly in reach.

14. Washi Paper Tape ($5): You know we love us some washi tape. In fact, we have the perfect DIY for this situation: You may not be able to paint your dorm room, but you can whip up some washi tape wallpaper!

15. Ängsskära Duvet Cover + Pillowcases ($15): This linen set is a steal. And its urban-modern feel will earn you some serious style cred.

16. Tejn Faux Sheepskin in White ($10): This item doubles as a rug and a throw. Though once you feel how soft it is, you may want to start wearing it as a cape

17. Triple Drawer Organizer ($20): We love the sleek look of lucite, especially accented by the pop of lilac. This organizer will be useful anywhere you choose to employ it.

18. Micro 30-Bulb String Lights ($15): We heart string lights so much we even wrapped Brit in them one holiday season. Jump on our bandwagon, and string ’em up all over your dorm room.

19. Watercolor Letters Decal ($8/letter): Make sure visitors make no mistake about whose room they’re entering with these gorgeous watercolor decals.

20. Essential Throw ($24): One of the sad facts of college life is that at some point, something you own will go missing. Make sure it’s not your throw blanket by slapping your monogram on it.

21. Blue Odina Kilim Flat-Weave Rug ($20): No offense to the others, but this is our fave rug on this list. Would it be too much to do a whole room in kilim?

22. Hexagon White Paper Lantern ($8): Stick an actual lightbulb in this lantern (or some string lights… ) for a gorgeous faux chandelier.

23. Large Marquee Arrow in Teal ($13): By now, it’s pretty clear we’re big fans of lights in our decor. We DIY-ed our own Brit + Co marquee light, so if you’re feeling crafty, you can even create your own and save your $13 for something else on this list!

Bonus Tips: You don’t want your dorm makeover hampered by Res Life rules about not putting holes in the walls, etc. With command hooks ($4) and a tension rod ($6) you can hang anything, and no one will be the wiser come May. Contact paper ($6) is a quick way to add color and protect your stuff from who-knows-how-old drawers and bookcases. And most importantly: The bed. You’re going to be spending a lot of time there, and while you may not know who used it before you, you can guarantee your sleeping surface is clean and comfy with a foam pad ($15). Go ahead and consider yourself set for dorm life.

Grads, how did you deck out your dorm room? Freshies, what are you most looking forward to? Join the convo in the comments!

It's officially crunch time to get your Christmas gifts in order. Whether you're looking to top off the haul you've already bought or haven't even begun to think about your gifting plan (same here), these $5 gifts are a wonderful place to start! From beauty goodies to sweet chocolate treats, we found the 16 best $5 (or under) gifts to give this year.

Scroll on for our top $5 gifts for 2024.

Ban.do

Here For The Plot Twist Bookmark

The bookworm in your life is gonna love this cheerful $5 bookmark.

Amazon

Sweet Love Heart Stud Earrings

These adorable $4 earrings add a nice pop of shimmer to any outfit, especially around the holidays!

Urban Outfitters

The Crème Shop x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Under-Eye Patch Set

These cute lil' $5 under eye patches leave skin feeling bright and smooth, thanks to vitamin C and niacinamide.

Ulta

Wet n Wild Color Icon 5-Pan Shadow Palette

This $5 eyeshadow palette makes the perfect universal makeup gift since it's packed with flattering neutral tones.

Amazon

10-Pack Cute Colored Pens

Whether they use them for school, work, or just plain doodling, these high-quality $5 colored pens make writing fun.

Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters Nail Polish

Urban Outfitters has several amazing nail polish shades going for just $5, including this magical purple shimmer.

Target

Threshold Aloe + Bergamot 5-Ounce Candle

You truly cannot go wrong with a candle! This $5 one carries uplifting notes of soothing aloe and punchy bergamot to get them through the day.

Amazon

e.l.f. Lip Lacquer

This $3 lippie leaves a high-shine finish with just enough buildable coverage so your giftee can customize their look to a tee.

Old Navy

Old Navy Cozy Socks

These super plush $4 socks boast grippy soles to eliminate any chances of slipping.

Amazon

Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Tree

This $5 chocolate bar can double as a Christmas tree ornament – that is, if it's not fully eaten by the time all the presents have been opened.

Target

Wondershop Santa Face Mug

Get them in the spirit by gifting this charming $5 Santa mug with some hot chocolate mix! No one can resist hot chocolate.

Amazon

Scünci Snowflake Scrunchie Star Gift Box

They can pick from 5 different stylish scrunchies with this $5 gift box. Or, break up the box and gift one to different members of your fam!

Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees Renewing Natural Hydrogel Eye Mask

All it takes is 10 minutes for this $4 eye mask to kick in. The pair of patches helps cool and calm to make skin look (and feel!) more awake.

Amazon

Rectangle Frame Sunglasses

Up their accessories game with these eye-catching $4 frames.

Amazon

e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick

This $5 makeup stick can cover the cheeks, lips, and eyes. We love a multitasker.

Amazon

Super Soft Plush Slipper Socks

Treat them to a super soft and warm pair of socks they won't want to take off all winter long. The best part is they're only $4.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

The White Lotus season 3 is finally on its way, and it is, without a doubt, one of my most-anticipated 2025 TV shows. And we finally have an official release date! The new 8-episode season is coming even sooner than I could have hoped for, and there are plenty of sexy surprises in store.

In addition to the highly-anticipated return of Natasha Rothwell's Belinda, we're also going to meet characters played by Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Aimee Lou Wood. Talk about a stacked cast! I can't wait to watch the new episodesnext year but the first teaser will definitely hold us over.

Here's the first teaser trailer for the next season of the show — and The White Lotus season 3 release date!

'The White Lotus' season 3 trailer teases both pain and pleasure.

The White Lotus season 3 is coming February 16, 2025. This season we're headed to Thailand (after season 1 took us to Hawaii and season 2 took us to Italy), but amidst the stress-management meditation and incredible food, our cast is dealing with plenty of secrets, testing their limits throughout their week-long vacation.

"Everyone runs from pain towards pleasure," says the teaser trailer voiceover. "But they get there only to find more pain." The montage of late-night parties and unsettling shots like Parker Posey staring down the camera (and someone grilling a live crab until it catches on fire??) have me convinced The White Lotus season 3 is going to serve us an insane helping of both pain and pleasure.

We also get shots of Patrick Schwarzenegger lounging by the pool, Jason Isaacs taking a paranoid stroll through the jungle, and a coupled-up Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins celebrating the fact their vacation didn't kill them.

And creator Mike White says 'The White Lotus' season 3 is going to be bigger than ever.

We know that The White Lotus season 3 is going to be the biggest season yet, thanks to interviews with the creator and crew. “It’s going to be a supersized White Lotus,” creator Mike White said in an interview with EW. “It’s going to be longer, bigger, crazier. I don’t know what people will think, but I am super excited, so at least for my own barometer, that’s a good thing…I’m super excited about the content of the season.”

And he's not the only one. Natasha Rothwell told PEOPLE that "White Lotus is going to give you a run for your money.”

"It's an excellent season and people are going to be very pleased," she continues. There's always something special about a third season thanks to the combination of familiarity and brand-new adventures, and the seductive intrigue The White Lotus season 3 is already proving my point.

Season 3 is always my favorite season of a show — especially considering Gilmore Girls Season 3 Is Simply The Best, And No TV Show Has Matched It Since. Check out our weekend email send for more TV news.

Blake Lively is as multifaceted as they come. She's an actress who has starred in titles like Gossip Girl, A Simple Favor, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (plus It Ends With Us). She's the founder of Betty Buzz, which has a variety of non-alcoholic mixers that taste just as good on their own as they do with liquor. And, she's also a mom. Lively has been outspoken about protecting her children from the paparazzi, making rare public appearances with them for events like her husband Ryan Reynolds' Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremonyandcozy date nights.

When Lively and Reynolds seemingly announced the birth of their fourth child last year, we melted. Here's everything you need to know about Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's kids.

Is Taylor Swift friends with Blake Lively's kids?

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Yes, Taylor Swift loves Blake Lively's kids! The family has shown up to the Eras Tour multiple times, and most recently supported the popstar at her concert in New Orleans, Louisiana. Blake and Ryan were joined by oldest daughter James (who looked amazing in a Reputation-inspired 'fit), and I can't believe how much James and Blake look alike! She's truly her mini-me! At the Philadelphia show of the Eras Tour, which Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively attended, Taylor said hello from the stage.

One funny detail about Ryan Reynolds' kids that I love is when he mentioned the girls finally realized Taylor Swift was a popstar. "I think what's most exciting for them is that for the longest time they just thought Taylor's just like an aunt, like a friend of Mommy and Daddy that's very, very close, almost family," he tellsThe Jess Cagle Show. "And then they went to a concert one day and were like, 'Ohhhhh, this isn't a hobby.'"

For Super Bowl Sunday in 2024, Blake Lively joined Taylor Swift to support beau (and KC Chiefs tight end) Travis Kelce. "Last week I left my kids for the first time ever," she says on Instagram. "I took pictures upside down and had no clue. I treated a friendship bracelet like a Flat Stanley for my husband like I didn’t realize it wasn’t ‘07. I borrowed more jewelry than the skeleton in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. And I went clubbing. Now I know what my episode of TheTwilight Zone would look like."

How do Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively prioritize their kids?

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At the end of September, Ryan Reynolds revealed how different parenting seems to be now than when he was a kid. "Parents today are so different. We're so soft," he said at HubSpot’s INBOUND tech conference (via People). "I don't yell. I grew up with like — it was nuts, it was an improvised militia.”

“Now it's like, I can go look at all my resources for parenting and remind myself how to be perfectly compassionate,” he continued. "Something I love about [conflict resolution], and I know this is not very fancy, but what I love about it is that you can meet somebody where they are, and you don't have to be right or wrong...You can disagree and still connect."

Blake Lively recently joined an episode of her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' costar Amber Tamblyn's Further Adoand revealed the one unbreakable rule she made with Ryan Reynolds.

“When Ryan and I got together, we made a rule not to work at the same time,” she says. “So that we could always prioritize our personal life...That takes working really hard when we're not. Just like financial planning and sustaining that; it takes balance.”

I love that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are serious about their family life, and that they have identified what works for them and are sticking with it.

What is the name of Blake Lively's 4th baby?

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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' fourth baby is named Olin, which he revealed during the July 22 premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine!

Before Ryan chose to reveal the name, he appeared on the Today show and made a cheeky joke about it after the hosts urged him to spill the beans. He said, "We always wait for Taylor to tell us what the child's name will be. We'll say this: we're still waiting."

What are Blake Lively kids ages?

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Blake Lively's kids are all under 10. James is 9 (turning 10 on December 16), Inez is 7 (turning 8 on September 30), Betty is 4 (turning 5 on October 4), and Olin turned 1 in February.

What gender is Ryan and Blake's fourth child?

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

On July 26, Ryan Reynolds confirmed that he and Blake Lively's fourth baby, born in February 2023, is a boy in an Instagram video supporting mental health charity Walking 4 Hope. Speaking with founder John Bell, who struggled with suicidal ideation after the 2020 loss of his son Jake, Reynolds says, “I want to share with you that I, too, have a son...Boy, John, if I love him one-tenth as much as you love Jake, I’ll feel like I’ve done a pretty d—mn good job.”

Considering how adorable James, Inez, and Betty are, I can only imagine how cute Blake Lively's son is!

How many children do Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have?

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Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have four kids. They welcomed their third daughter in 2019, making this new addition to the family their fourth child.

Did Blake Lively have a 4th baby?

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Blake Lively posted a pic on Super Bowl Sunday in 2023 showing what appears to be a post-baby body with the caption "Been busy."

Lively confirmed her fourth pregnancy in September 2022 when she arrived at her Forbes event in NYC cradling a baby bump and by posting her own personal photos on Instagramhoping that "the 11 guys waiting outside [her] home for a 🦄 sighting will leave [her] alone."

How old was Blake Lively when she had her first child?

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Blake Lively was 27 when she gave birth to her first daughter, James, in December of 2014.

Why did Blake Lively name her daughter James?

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The couple decided to name their daughter James after Reynolds' late father. While the name connects both James and Reynolds to his father, it also gives Lively the chance to bond with her daughter over having historically male names. "I liked having a boy's name," Lively said on Good Morning Americain 2015. "I thought I'd pass it on."

Their third daughter Betty's name is a tribute to Lively's late father. We didn't know the name of the couple's third baby until Taylor Swift used all three names in her 2020 album folklore. Swift also used James' voice at the beginning of her 2017 track "Gorgeous"! Does that mean we'll hear one of Ryan Reynolds' children in Reputation (Taylor's Version)? I hope so!

What has Ryan Reynolds said about raising their kids?

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In a conversation with Hugh Jackman ahead of Deadpool & Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds opened up about how his family has helped his anxiety. "I think it makes it better because your focus is less on yourself and more on your kids," he says (via People). "I love that I've had anxiety because when I see my kids experiencing some of that, which is probably genetic, I know how to address it in a way that is compassionate, that actually allows them to feel seen. I know that I can't just fix it. And I can communicate all that stuff to them and with them. I'm always grateful for it."

Per People, Ryan Reynolds has also made it clear he and Blake are wholly invested in the kids' daily lives. The doting husband and father enjoys the moments of "walking them to school and walking them back" as it deepens their bond. More than anything, Ryan and Blake's main goal is to make sure they teach their kids how to be introspective with Ryan saying "the thing we sort of hang our hat on the most is self-awareness with our kids."

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

However, that doesn't mean Blake and Ryan don't absolutely love being parents. "We're very excited [and] we wouldn't do this four times if we didn't love it," he says in an interview with CNBC's Power Lunch. "Everybody's doing great. Everybody's actually doing fantastic. I think if we hadn't figured it out by now, I think we'd be in deep, deep trouble."

"It's a zoo over here," he jokes. "This is my office here, this is where I'll probably — to be honest, I'll probably spend the rest of my life in here."

We love how much energy Ryan and Blake are pouring into their kids. It's always beautiful when parents are able to be present with their kids and teach them how to be present with themselves. Ryan Reynolds has also mentioned how having daughters "has been such a ride." Since he comes from a family of all boys, having daughters is something that was beyond his wildest dreams! “I love being a girl dad,” Ryan tells Access in 2020. “I have three daughters, which I never in a million years would imagine.”

He mentioned his newest child in June of 2023, when he announced his new series Bedtime Stories. "The idea for a show made to help everyone fall asleep was born the same day as my fourth child," he says on Instagram.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The Deadpool actor also offered some parenting advice on Amanda Hirsch’s hit podcastNot Skinny But Not Fat. "Embrace the chaos,” he tells Hirsch. "[Blake] always says, ‘They're all under our roof right now. The whole family's under our roof right now. We have them all.’ And that is a fleeting thing. Not an infinite resource, you know?”

While Reynolds understands firsthand how overwhelming parenting can feel, he also doesn't wish away this time with four young kids: “Just say, ‘Think about what you would give in 40 years or 30 years to come back and enjoy this one moment.’"

Besides this, Ryan knows their kids' childhoods don't mirror his or Blake's. However, he's not trying to place a huge emphasis on that because he wants them to have "as normal a life as possible" (via Page Six).

"I try not to impose upon them the difference in their childhood to my childhood or my wife’s childhood," he said (via The Hollywood Reporter). "We both grew up very working class, and I remember when they were very young, I used to say or think, like, ‘Oh God, I would never have had a gift like this when I was a kid,’ or, ‘I never would’ve had this luxury of getting takeout,’ or whatever."

In his eyes, he doesn't feel like it's the kids' responsibility or "bag of rocks to carry" because they're full of "gratitude" and "have a strong sense of empathy." That's how he knows he and Blake are "doing an OK job" as parents.

How has motherhood affected Blake Lively?

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Blake Lively opened up about how Ryan Reynolds and she monitor screen safety for their kids, which is definitely something top-of-mind in 2024. “This is not an ad. I get nothing out of this. I just love @tappityapp,” she said of the STEM-focused educational app. “It’s engaging, informative, fun and they care about safety."

She also jokes that she's learning new things right along with her kids! But, no matter how educational or fun an app is, Blake Lively also emphasizes the importance of engaging with her kids' devices: "I’m always triple checking any kids app constantly for safety because that’s my responsibility not an app’s, but I do LOVE this one.”

Despite its fun and funny moments, the actress has admitted being a mom is hard, but she did it with her signature dry sense of humor. “BettyBooze at your service," she wrote in an Instagram Story announcing the new brand. "These are recipes I’ve been making for loved ones for years. But I have 4 kids now. And I’m tired. So here they are. In a can."

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for American Cinematheque

However, Blake Lively absolutely loves motherhood, and says in a 2022 interview with Forbes that having children has made her feel more comfortable in her own skin. "Once I had children, that just became even more profound because my time was even more precious, but also I think having children for me made me feel so much more in my skin," she says. "I never felt more myself or at ease in my own body or more confident — not to say that there aren't a bevy of insecurities coming at me a million times a day, but I just feel incredibly settled."

Speaking with People in 2021, Lively also explains how important it is that her children see her accomplish things outside the home. "I want to be as present of a mother as humanly possible and I want them to feel my presence, but I also think the best way to be the best mother is to show them that you can have a life and have a passion and have an identity outside of just being a mother," Lively says.

While she acknowledges that motherhood is all-encompassing, and it looks different for everyone, she knows that having your own identity is very important. "Teaching them that they can maintain themselves and that everything is possible [is crucial]," she adds.

When did Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have their daughters?

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Blake Lively's children were all born in the last 10 years. Blake Lively's daughters are James, Inez, Betty, and her fourth child is named Olin! Their fourth baby's name was announced during the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine. Blake gave birth to James in 2014, while Inez was born in 2016. Lively gave birth to Betty in 2019 and Olin in February of 2023.

Do Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's kids have nannies?

Jamie McCarthy / Staff

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' children don't have a nanny. "I feel like I could sometimes have a bit of a short fuse, but there's just been this weirdly endless supply of patience," Ryan told GQ in 2015. "I have no problem waking up five times in the middle of the night and changing diapers, and as exhausted as you get, I have this stupid grin on my face all the time."

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This story has been updated.