If you or someone you know is going to be living in a dorm room this year.  The first thing on your mind might be how to make it feel more like home. There are lots of ways to do this, from adding framed prints and school-themed wall décor to changing out the furniture. But how do you plan a college dorm party? A quick internet search will reveal that not everyone shares the same definition of what constitutes a college party. For some, it’s a social event where a few friends gather together to create an artsy display. For others, it’s a party where everyone brings their sleeping bags and spends the night. If you’re trying to plan a college dorm party that falls somewhere between the two here are some tips for getting started.

Planning A Collage Dorm Party

 First things first: call your local dorm hall office and find out if they allow people to stay overnight in common areas like lounges or dining rooms. If so, you can host your party there. If not, you’ll have to find a different place for the evening—this might be fine if you’re only planning on inviting a few guests and are okay with sharing food, drinks, and time with other students.

 No matter where you’re hosting your party, consider renting out the dining hall or lounge space for the evening. A quicker way to make sure people will show up is to buy some gift certificates or discounted tickets to an event at that location. But again, depending on how many people you’re inviting, this might be something you want to limit to only the first years.

 Greeting Cards and Posters

 If you’re planning on making a college dorm party more social, one way to get people involved early is by including them in the planning. You can do this by having each person bring a special picture or drawing. They’ve made to the party or by having them write a note of welcome. You can also use the card to inform them of the party’s theme. If you’re hoping to have a fun night at the dorm, you can use the cards to help get people excited about attending your party.

Posters are another great way to get people involved in your party planning. You can include these in your invitations, or create them ahead of time and have them printed out online or at printing shops throughout campus. You can also include them in your Room App for a quick (and easy) reminder about your party and deposit one or two posters in the common spaces of your dorm.

Arts and Crafts Supplies

College dorm parties are usually made up of lots of people who don’t know each other, so it might help to offer them all a chance to create something together. You can do this by creating an arts and crafts night.  Where you provide the materials, or by having each guest bring something they’ve made that night. You might even try to have a scavenger hunt that involves assembling items out of other people’s creations. 

Newspapers and Magazines

Using newspapers at your party is a great way to make sure every guest feels welcomed.  And also gives you an opportunity to decorate using a wide variety of papers. Use them for table runners, wrapping paper, or even possible seating material for the night. You can also turn your dorm party into a contest by making it about the most creative use of the newspaper. 

Magazines are another great resource for your party. Use torn-out pieces to create art on your walls or tables or to create decor around the room. You can also use them as a base for other activities or even as seating on shorter tables if you have any. You can also use magazines to inform your guests about the various elements of your party theme.

Party Planning Advice 

If you’re planning a college dorm party, be sure to schedule it for a weekend or a night.  When your dorm’s dining hall won’t be serving dinners. This way, you and your guests won’t have to worry about grabbing something before the party. If you’re using the dining hall for the evening. Make sure to bring some of your own food in case they run out of room service items. This is especially important if you’re planning on having a potluck or ordering food from off-campus. 

Another thing to keep in mind when planning a dorm party is to allow time for everyone to get there and have fun. You don’t want to have some people show up late or not at all.  So set aside at least an hour or two before the start of your evening. You might even want to consider having some kind of pre-party social event, either outside your doors or in another common area on campus.  That you can invite anyone who doesn’t have a dorm room.

Planning a College Dorm Party

If you’re planning to have a college dorm party, there are lots of ways to make it fun. One is by using a lot of arts and crafts supplies. You can use this time to make sure everyone has something to do that night, rather than just sit around and wait for the party to begin. And if you’re having a lot of guests. You can have them all make their own items or have everyone bring their own favorite item they’d like to decorate.

The other thing you can do is make your college dorm party more low-key. You don’t want it to be too crazy, with everyone running around the entire night. But you also don’t want everyone to sit in their rooms and wait. Instead, consider having someone announce the arrival of new guests or announcing the name of the person. Who will be hosting in a few minutes with a little speech? It’s a great way to let people know they’re welcome and that they have time to enjoy themselves before the party truly begins.