Dorm Room Decorating

Going off to college is a very exciting time in a person's life. As we prepare to leave home, friends and family for the first time in our lives - as in MOVING OUT; we pack automatically like we're going on vacation instead of going to live somewhere else. The dorm room decorating to be done is not yet the highest priority.

There are so many things to remember and do that we often don't think of our daily necessities until we no longer have them available to us. One of the reasons we get home-sick so soon in college is because we miss having those simple 'comforts of home' in our dorm rooms. That's why dorm room decorating and small space organization has become more important than ever.

The first thing you will want to do is contact all of your college roommates before you leave for school. Figure out who is going to bring what so you don't duplicate anything that you bring. There isn't going to be space enough for four tv's, for instance, but everyone will want to bring their own personal computer.

Once you are all on campus and have started moving into your room, go shopping together at a 'one stop shopping' store such as Bed, Bath and Beyond because you will save time; it's a haven for college bound students and they'll have everything you need.

One thing you all need are extra long sheets as the mattresses are all extra long. These are sort of hard to find but they are sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond. All sheets and towels can be differentiated by color and yet complimentary to each other in an overall color scheme, should that be part of your dorm room decorating. Color and pattern variation can have a high impact in a small space.

Space saving tactics are forefront on the dorm room decorating agenda. Loft bed frames are extremely helpful if they are available on your campus. These steel frames hold a twin bed mattress about five feet off the floor making room for a student work area underneath and freeing up floorspace that would otherwise be occupied by desk, chair, and all the rest.

Another clever use of a loft bed is to have one bed on top and put a futon beneath that can serve as a gathering place and a second bed by night. You'll have to find a futon that fits within the width of your loft bed frame, but this works well with room for up to four to sit and watch a DVD or TV show.

Organizers such as the rolling three drawer caddy from Bed, Bath and Beyond are great for tight spaces and can help you organize everything from personal items to notebooks, paper, and pens. Choose organizers that are really handy and useful because that's what you need to think about when organizing and decorating your dorm room. Sort, divide and organize. Look for products that are going to help you do that.

Bare dorm rooms are often cold and unwelcoming. As soon as you arrive on campus and join your roommates in your dorm room, decorating ideas start to flow as you consider where to put all your stuff and how to make the small space as homey and friendly as possible. You're all going to spend a lot of time in this room so it should feel like home to everyone.

It will be fun going shopping together and making decisions together as a team with a goal to get organized quickly. Once school starts there will be little time for dorm room decorating.

Dorm room decorating ideas are best when the roommates work together. Your tastes may clash but you can choose a neutral theme. This may be sort of difficult starting out, but once you choose a color or theme you are well on your way to making excellent dorm room decorating decisions.

Wall hangings such as photos or posters give a small room character and your space a voice. Add a nice rug to give the room a center, and your dorm room begins to look like your new home. Add a lot of colorful and comfortable pillows to give your space a homey look and feel, and the cold, sterile room is transformed to the dorm room of your dreams.

Author Credit:
Mary Campbell is an avid collector, photographer, and general hobbyist. Her writing includes topics such as dorm room decorating.

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Dorm Room Decorating Video Tours

The following YouTube videos were selected because they show basic dorm room decorating found on campuses across America. If you haven't toured any college campuses yet, you may not have seen what the dorm rooms really look like. College students have opened a window on their world in the following short videos. All have been previewed and found to be family friendly.