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Applying the 60-30-10 Rule to Dorm Décor

Posted on March 22, 2012
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When you’ve been designing for as many years as I have, you learn certain “tricks of the trade.” One of the first tricks you’ll learn is the 60-30-10 rule of color. I’ll get into the specifics shortly, but first I want to talk a little bit more about the importance of sticking to a rule (such as this one) for such a small space.

When you’re designing a small space, such as a dorm room, your number one goal is to make the room appear larger than it is. There are two ways you can do this: With color and with space. There isn’t much you need to know about space, except that you should keep as much of it empty as possible (while still creating a functional dorm). But, color is a little more complicated. The 60-30-10 rule will get you halfway, and your color choices will complete the picture.

When you’re designing according to this rule, you need to choose three colors (I’ll offer tips on that next week). One color takes up 60 percent of the room, so that’s your wall color. If you can’t paint the walls, your 60 percent could be a large area rug or the bedding (since you’re probably only decorating half of the room anyway). The 30 percent is usually the curtains, and the 10 percent color represents the accent pieces (like throw pillows and vases and such). You can go with patterns (and you probably should for the throw pillows), but you want to make sure of two things. Don’t fill your room with a lot of patterns; instead mix patterns in with solids. Also, make sure the dominant color is what you’ve chosen as one of your three. So, if you chose blue, yellow and beige for your 60-30-10, respectively, your throw pillows should be predominantly beige, but they can have hints of other colors.

Just follow these simple rules and your space will become a simple, yet elegant hideaway instead of a drab and dreary dungeon. Trust me, it makes a big difference. And, you want to be sitting in a nice space when you have to do boring things — like pull an all-nighter studying for a forensic psychology exam. Fun times!

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How to Shop for Dorm Décor

Posted on February 19, 2012
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Retailers have happily jumped on the decorating-the-dorm bandwagon, pushing whole lines of coordinated products that they advertise as essential to life in a college dorm. Lost in the retailing blitz is the real decorating goal for a dorm room: It should make a student feel at home, but not have too many things. You never want “stuff” to take over your room. As you’re sitting there studying infinitely interesting topics, like the history of forensic science, your mind and space should be clutter-free and comfortable. When you surround yourself with things that make you feel comfortable, you’re more likely to enjoy dorm life.

Banish Clutter: When it comes to dorm rooms, the first thing to consider is storage. When you have a place for everything, it’s easier to keep everything in its place. Easy access to storage is important too. Clutter is likely to accumulate if you have to stoop, drag out boxes from under the bed and open containers every time you want to put something away. Shelving and modular units are a better option.

Basket Cases: If you don’t organize the stuff you do have, you might become a basket case yourself. Instead, use baskets to hold laundry, small appliances and kitchen utensils. You’ll want to keep practical items handy, and baskets store them in style.

Quality Bedding: Dorm beds are notoriously hard. A quality mattress pad is worth the investment. Purchasing two sets of extra-large twin sheets takes the pressure off on laundry day. As the bed will likely be the largest surface in the room, it’s important to choose a comforter that you absolutely love, but try to get one that you can toss into the washing machine, too.

Let There Be Light: Windows are natural focal points, making them the perfect place to make design statements. Sheer curtains flanked by textured, patterned or colorful panels give a small dorm room grand style. Coordinate the window treatment with the bedding to give the room a pulled-together look.

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5 tips for Designing for Small Spaces

Posted on January 28, 2012
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When you design for a small space, the most important thing you can remember is that it is not the same as designing for a large space. This might seem like an obvious statement (okay, it kind of is), but so many people follow the same rules as if they were designing an oversized room. Not only is everything scaled down, but some adjustments have to be made. Here are few tips to get you going:

  1. Since you won’t have a lot of space, it will be up to you to create additional space within the room. This is why you want to choose items that are movable and can be folded and put away when not in use. You can also look for furniture that is able to offer you additional storage space, like an ottoman that opens up so that you can hide your magazines inside.
  2. You want to use bold colors in order to make the room look bigger. While you should definitely add some artwork to your walls, don’t overdo it as this will make the room look smaller. Also, opt for things that are light as they will make the room feel more comfortable.
  3. Get rid of anything you never use. This includes furniture. If you don’t use certain types of furniture, then get rid of them to make room for those things that you do use.
  4. Think about ways you can use things differently. Whenever you’re redecorating you can usually adjust some old furniture and decor to fit better within your small rooms. This isn’t only a great way to reuse things within your home, but it’s also good for your budget too.
  5. Sometimes you may feel like you simply need to have more room in your home. You can create this effect by dividing one room up into several different areas. For instance, you can place the back of your sofa to the table so as to create both an eating and a living area.

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How to Choose Colors for a Small Room

Posted on January 19, 2012
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Most dorms won’t technically allow you to paint the walls, but there are a few exceptions. One major exception is if you’re willing to paint them back to white when it’s time to leave. You’ll have to check with school policy or your resident assistant before undertaking this project. If it’s strictly against the rules to paint your walls, you can get in a lot of hot water by just being seen coming in with the paint cans.

This post is for those of you who have approval to paint your space. Maybe you have a cool RA or maybe you just live in a dorm-like space off campus.

The color you choose for such a small space is immensely important. The absolute worst thing you can do is paint the room a dark color. When I say “a dark color” I don’t just mean black, grey and dark brown. Deep royal blues, purples and greens are also off limits. With such a small space, your room will end up feeling more like a cave than a dorm, if you paint it too dark. As you sit there studying and dreaming of the immense software engineer salary you’ll one day enjoy, you want your space to bright and optimistic as you are.

On the other hand, there are some colors that will open your space up and make it nice and cheery. Yellows will make your room appear sunny and larger, and this is especially so if your room has a lot of natural light.  The sunlight will reflect off of the yellow, and it will create the illusion of a room that is much larger than it actually is.

If you’re just not a yellow kind of person, my next choice would be a light sky blue or a light rose color. Although, any color that’s light enough will be fine. The type of paint also makes a difference in the appearance of your room. Choose a semi-gloss as opposed to an eggshell paint, so the light subtly reflects off of your walls. A full gloss would be too shiny for most people.

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Got a Small Space? Cozy Up the Place

Posted on January 15, 2012
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Dorm rooms vary throughout the country, but one thing remains the same: they’re small. Well, for the most part. Some students are lucky and have small bedrooms that open up to a common area shared between them and about three other rooms. This can really give you the feeling of sharing an apartment instead of being at summer camp. But, either way, you’re left to decorate your own room. There are definitely some tips and tricks you can employ to make your room seem larger than it really is (for example, decorate with bright colors, allow some natural light to shine through and keep your wall décor to a minimum). But since this is a room you’re going to be spending a lot of time in, you want to give it a cozy feel. Some people find this a little challenging to do without breaking the rules of designing for a small space (they think of rich colors and dark shades as being cozy).

So, here are a few tips for cozying up the place (without making it seem small):

  1. Use an opaque window treatment to soften up the room. It’ll still give you plenty of natural light and it’ll add a bit of a feminine, homey touch to the room.
  2. Consider bedding in plaid or paisley, but get one that uses bright or pastel colors. Plaid and paisley are typically used in cozy cottages, so they can help bring that vibe to your room. The bright or pastel color might be somewhat unexpected, but it’ll help keep your room from becoming too dark.
  3. Get a plush area rug to cover much of the floor. Just be sure to get a light color. Regardless of whether you have a rug in the room or not, adding on that is plush and light in color will definitely soften up the room and make it more cozy.

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How to Make a Small Dorm Room Appear Bigger

Posted on January 9, 2012
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Sitting in a small, cramped room can be downright depressing. But, think about it this way: small is a relative term. Sure, you might want to fill it up with furniture and stuff, but if you keep your belongings to an absolute minimum, you might be able to create the feeling that you’re sitting in a larger room than you are. That’s one trick to fooling yourself into thinking your dorm isn’t the smallest room you’ve ever inhabited. Here are a few more:

  1. Don’t fill the walls with stuff. I would definitely encourage you to hang a few pictures, but don’t go crazy with the collages. The more stuff you have on the walls, the smaller your room will feel. Also, try not to hang things that will stick out too far from the wall. A well-placed wall tattoo might be the only wall décor you need (aside from #2).
  2. Do hang a good-sized mirror. Not only will a mirror help ensure you’re looking fab at all times, but it’ll also help create the illusion of a larger space.
  3. Brighten things up a bit. Since you can’t paint, you only have two options. Add lighting via lamps and get curtains that allow natural light to shine into the room. This will make things seem bigger, but more importantly, much less dreary.
  4. Decorate with light or bright colors. Whatever you do, avoid using black, brown or grey for your main colors. They’re ok as small accents, but in large quantities, they’ll just make your space feel small. Instead, choose pastels or bright colors, such as hot pink or bright yellow.
  5. Measure your room and plan to fill the space accordingly. Don’t just go out and buy furniture willy-nilly. You could end up with a piece that dwarfs everything in your room – including you. It might be cute in the store, but measure your space to make sure it’ll still be cute in your room.

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Accent Lighting Tips

Posted on December 25, 2011
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When you’re designing a tiny room, such as a dorm, there are only a few things that can make a difference. You can add an area rug; you can design fancy bedding; you can change the drapes; or you can add accent lighting. Today, we’re going to talk more about accent lighting. In a dorm room, you might need different lights to set different moods. Let’s take a look at a few different options:

Desk lighting: If you’re planning to do late night cram sessions at your desk, you should really invest in a good desk lamp. If you don’t, you run the risk of keeping your roommate awake with a light blaring in her face. You might be bestest friends, but that doesn’t mean a few sleepless nights won’t tear a gaping hole through your friendship. All you have to do is get a lamp that you can direct away from her bed. A traditional desk lamp will do the trick.

Bright lighting: When you spend most of your time in one small room, it’s a good idea to have a brighter option than what the standard overhead lamp gives you. Consider getting a floor standing halogen lamp to help brighten some of the gloomier days. Floor standing halogens are really bright, but their light bounces off the ceiling instead of in your eyes, so they are a good option for adding light without having it be overbearing.

Mood lighting: There may be times when you aren’t studying, but your roommate is sleeping and you want to stay awake for a little longer. Mood lighting could work in this situation, much like a nightlight would. And there are those other times when your roommate is spending the night elsewhere and you have your honey coming over to spend the night. Certainly, a halogen lamp wouldn’t do in this instance. Consider getting a dimmer light or candles to illuminate these situations.

All this lighting may seem like overkill, but when you spend so much time in one room, you begin to realize that the room itself needs to change to fit different situations. Get some good accent lighting to be prepared for anything. Choosing the right lamp is somewhat of common sense. You don’t need to learn how to become a fashion designer to choose the right piece for your space. Just be sure to get the right size, lighting intensity, and a color to coordinate with the rest of the room.

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Bedding Makes a Big Difference in a Small Room

Posted on December 18, 2011
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When you’re decorating a small room, like a dorm, the bedding you choose will make a huge difference – so choose wisely. In larger rooms, you can invest in a statement piece that will draw attention and pull the room together, but in a dorm, you don’t necessarily have that luxury. In a dorm room, the bed is often the only statement piece you can have, and that’s ok, as long as you recognize that fact and work with it.

Colors – Choose a color that you won’t mind looking at everyday for four years. If possible, choose a soothing color, like pale blue or lavender. A nice yellow can really brighten up the room, too. When decorating a small room, I tend to avoid patters that are too busy, but I also avoid solid colors. Patterns that are too busy can be overwhelming in a small space and solid colors can be boring. Try something in-between.

Sheets – This may seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Use sheets that coordinate with your comforter. Anything that clashes creates a visual disconnect in your environment which can have somewhat of a chaotic effect on your emotional state. Opt for solid colored or striped sheets, if your comforter has a pattern, or patterned sheets, if your comforter is solid.

Pillows – Your pillowcases will likely match your sheets; that’s fine. But, since the bed is the focal point of the room, you may want to consider getting some throw pillows to coordinate with the rest of your bedding. Using throw pillows can make the room seem more cozy and stylish at the same time. Experiment with a few different shapes and sizes of throw pillows for a fun look.

Since there aren’t too many things you can change in small room, you should really focus most of your design time on figuring out the bedding. If you’re the kind of person who really likes a change of scenery from time to time, consider getting a reversible comforter or a duvet (so you can change the color frequently). It is especially important to design a small space, so you don’t end up feeling like you’re in prison. Even if you’re learning how to become a parole officer, that’s not a good feeling. Spice up your life with a little design.

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Designing a Room for Two

Posted on December 9, 2011
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Dorms are usually cramped places that don’t come with a lot of options for customization. You can’t paint the walls and there isn’t much you can do about the flooring. Also, you usually have a roommate to deal with, so you end up only decorating half of the room. But, if you’re like me, you can’t stand to sit in a boring dreary room for more than five minutes. You’re going to be spending at least some time here studying and hanging out, so why not make the best of it. Make it an inspirational space for you and your roommate to call home for the year. There are a lot of things you can do, from area rugs to curtains and wall art, but you both need to be on the same page, or the room will look disconnected. Here are some tips for getting your roommate on board with the redesign:

  1. Talk it out. Who knows, you might be preaching to the choir. Nobody likes the look of a plain dorm room, so maybe she already has some ideas for changing it up.
  2. Get on the same page. You might have some avant garde ideas, but you’ll probably have to save them for your first apartment. It’s important that you both understand that you have to find a common ground in order for this to work. Your favorite color may be pink, but that doesn’t mean your roomie will buy in to a monochromatic theme for the entire room. If your ideas start clashing, it’s time to start thinking about a more neutral theme.
  3. If she’s the type who really doesn’t care about the room design at all, just get her ok on a few pieces that will tie the whole room together, like an area rug and curtains. With competing wall art and lamps, the room may still seem a little disconnected, but at least it’ll be better than an obvious line down the middle of the room. A little design cohesion may also help bring a sense of togetherness, which can help with your relationship. Just let her know you’ll pay for those items and you’ll pick out neutral colors. You kind of have to, if you want this to work.

You really don’t have to be an interior designer to create a space that looks pulled together. But, if you and your roomie have conflicting ideas, it might help to think of yourself as one for the moment. If this were your job, you’d have to find a common design for the two differing tastes. Take your emotions out of the equation and look at this as a fun challenge. You’ll be glad you did!

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