As a student with chronic migraines and light sensitivity that lived in an on-campus dorm during undergrad, one of the biggest things I remember about my first nights in the dorms was how many hidden sources of light there were in the space. I wanted to configure my dorm room to be a “safe haven” for managing migraines and dealing with eye fatigue, which meant learning how to make a dorm room completely dark and taking steps to make my dorm room pitch black during the day (or as close to pitch black as possible). Here are my tips for how to make a dorm room completely dark that can also be applied to apartments and small bedrooms.
Cover small lights with opaque tape
Some of the items in my dorm/bedroom had small lights that would either be on all the time or would blink at random times. These were painful to look at when dealing with a migraine, so I took several pieces of opaque paper tape from a craft project and placed it over the small lights to block them out. Duct tape would have also been an option, but I was worried about it being challenging to remove.
This strategy works best for covering dot lights, and I’ve used it for the following items:
- Headphone stand
- Remote controlled outlet
- Lights on wifi modem (paper tape can be removed/replaced to check lights)
- Light switch
- USB hub
I do not recommend using this strategy for the smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector, as this may be viewed as tampering with the device.
Related links
- How I Set Up My College Desk With Low Vision
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Desktop Computer For College
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Laptop For College
- Dealing With Dorm Fire Alarms: College O&M
Hang up blackout curtains
Blackout curtains are made of a heavier material than other types of curtains and can block out additional light, especially when used with blinds. When I lived in a dorm, I used two sets of curtains on one rod so that they extended past the edge of the window, providing additional blackout options for avoiding lightning (also known as nature’s strobe lights). I purchased my curtains from Target, where they are sold year-round under their store brands.
I used the same set of blackout curtains for the four years I lived on campus, but I didn’t realize that I would have to fire-treat the curtains every year— this led to me getting a student housing violation! Housing and Residence Life can provide more information about fire treating curtains on campus.
Related links
Attach privacy film to windows
While privacy film does not block out a ton of light on its own, it can be used with curtains and/or blinds to reduce the amount of light within a space, and is especially useful for minimizing the effects of bright sunlight. Depending on the housing rules for colleges/universities, students may need to request permission or a housing accommodation to hang up privacy film on dorm windows.
Related links
Turn off power strips when not in use
When dealing with chronic migraines in college or light sensitivity, even the smallest amount of light or noise from electronics can be frustrating or uncomfortable. Turning off power strips when not in use is one strategy to help with making a dorm room completely dark, or placing power strips behind furniture can also help with minimizing light.
Set up lights so that they can be turned on and off easily
Having to get up and turn off the lights can feel like an impossible task when someone is super fatigued, so it’s helpful to have options to make adjusting lights or turning lights on/off easier. Some strategies I have used over the years for dorm room lighting include:
- Using surface lighting like table lamps instead of the overhead lights.
- Arranging dorm furniture so that the bed is next to the light switch.
- Adding a light switch extender to make it easier to turn lights on and off.
- Plug lights into a remote-controlled outlet, which does not require internet— I would keep the outlet remote in a sheet pocket. If using multiple outlets, add a tactile label to remotes to help with identifying which light is which.
- Using smart lightbulbs or voice controls to turn lights on and off, or to add custom colors/routines.
- Add a motion sensor nightlight for walking at night without having to turn on overhead lights.
To learn more about choosing lightbulbs and lighting, I highly recommend reading my post about lighting and low vision linked below.
Related links
Place rugs on the floor to absorb glare
One of my friends isn’t sensitive to environmental lighting like natural sunlight or the lights in their dorm, but mentioned feeling disoriented by glare from the lights reflecting on their floor, as well as disliking how footsteps sound on the floor’s surface. One strategy to help with absorbing glare from lights is to use rugs or carpet to remove the reflecting effect— just make sure to use rug tape or no-slip pads underneath!
Related links
Keep items on hand that can be used to block out light
Sometimes, it’s challenging to make a room pitch black even with environmental accommodations, especially if someone lives with roommates. Some examples of items that can be purchased for a dorm room to block out light can include:
- Eye mask or weighted eye mask— I prefer an “eye pillow” because I personally find the elastic strap for masks uncomfortable.
- Privacy tent for bed, which can be zipped up to block out light. These may also be marketed as bed tents or sensory bed tents.
- Privacy films for computer screens, which can help with reducing visible backlight from screens.
What about blocking sounds in a dorm room?
In addition to blocking out light, I’ve also received questions about blocking out or minimizing sounds in a dorm room. I would wear earplugs if my dorm became uncomfortably loud, but other strategies I have used include:
- Enabling white noise on Amazon Alexa devices
- Turning on meditation tracks or calming sounds
- For iOS devices, Background Sounds can be configured in accessibility settings to play looping environmental sounds (such as waves crashing)
- Placing items against the wall to muffle sounds or absorb noise
I prefer to use audio tracks over playing videos so that I don’t have to look at a bright display.
Related links
- Adapting Band Uniforms For Sensory Processing Issues
- iPhone Accessibility Settings For Occipital Stroke
- Enabling Temporary Accessibility Settings For iPad
- How To Organize and Identify Cords For Low Vision
More resources for how to make a dorm room completely dark and sensory-friendly dorm rooms
- For students with sensory issues, I strongly recommend looking at fabric compositions when choosing dorm bedding, as this can play a huge role in comfort. I mention this in my post Bedding Hacks For Chiari Malformation
- Wondering how to modify a dorm room for disability accessibility? I share some simple ideas in Dorm Room Disability Hacks For Chronically Ill Students
- Interested in reading more about my experience with chronic migraine in college? Check out Managing Chronic Migraines in College
- To reduce the impact of bright lights, I wear non-polarized tinted prescription glasses at all times, unless I am sleeping or washing my face. Learn more at How Tinted Glasses Help My Light Sensitivity
Published September 27, 2017. Updated February 2025