How to Make a Room Like the Hogwarts Dormitories

Decide which of the four Hogwarts houses you prefer -- Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. Each house has a specific color scheme and decorating focus.

Paint the walls according to your chosen house's colors. Gryffindor colors are red and gold. Slytherin uses green and silver. Hufflepuff is yellow and black. Ravenclaw uses blue and bronze. Use the first color for the walls and the second color for trim and accents.

Hang a notice board on the wall. Although the house notice boards are actually located in the common rooms, a board can help bring the dormitory feeling to life. Use a simple cork board or bulletin board and print up sample notices in an Old English font on your computer. Search the books for ideas, such as “Skiving Snackbox Testers Needed” or “Quidditch Practice Friday at Noon.”

Use simple wood-frame furniture, such as a bunk bed, dresser and bookcases. Decorate with sheets, blankets and wall hangings in your chosen house's colors.

Create a house banner. Cut poster board into a pennant shape and use acrylic paints for the design. Mount your banner on the wall alongside real or faux wrought-iron wall sconces. For safety, choose sconces that accept battery-powered lights rather than real candles.

Add accessories that fit with your house. If you chose Gryffindor, consider a real or plastic sword, a stuffed toad or some of Harry’s items, such as a small mirror. Slytherin is known for the dark arts, so choose a skull and snake motif. Ravenclaw members are known for their smarts, so consider purchasing old books and scientific equipment from a secondhand shop. Hufflepuff is known for loyalty, so friendship items, such as friendship beads and necklaces, are always appropriate.

Add items that are appropriate throughout Hogwarts. All wizards wear robes and wizard hats, use wands and own owls. Create a simple paper cover to turn a thick book into a spell book. Add a trunk to give the impression of dorm life. Use your imagination, but avoid cluttering the space. It is better to have a few easily identified items than a huge pile of indistinguishable clutter.