Blog Archives

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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What Not to Do When Designing a Dorm Room

Posted on February 12, 2012
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I know how it is, you just got your dorm assignment and you’re excited to get started buying things to fill up your new space. Trust me; I get it. But, you’ve got to pull in the reigns a little bit. Before you go out and buy more stuff than your room can hold, check out this list of the top things you shouldn’t do when designing your dorm room.

  1. Buy dark colors. Even if you’re a goth chic, you should avoid the temptation to use dark colors. It’ll just make your room look smaller than it already is and make you feel depressed all the time.
  2. Look for heavy curtains. The last thing you want to do when decorating a small space is block out natural light. Instead, opt for sheers.
  3. Pick up conflicting patterns. If the space is small, it’s really best to keep the design as simple as possible. You can go for simple patterns (not too busy), but don’t choose more than one or two for the entire room.
  4. Plan to bring everything you own. Again, I know it’s tempting, but you have to keep reminding yourself that there isn’t enough space for everything. You need to be strict with yourself and plan to take on the things you’ll need most.
  5. Overdo it with furniture. Your dorm will already have most of the furniture you need. You might want to bring a small bean bag chair or desk (if there isn’t one already) and a mini fridge, but that’s about it.
  6. Bring too many appliances. If you’re a coffee fiend, you’ll need a coffee maker. You don’t, however, need a rice maker, blender and bread maker. Keep it simple because you won’t have space to store this stuff. If you like to make vegetable smoothies in the morning, consider bringing an immersion blender. They take up less space.

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5 Ways to Brighten Up a Small Space

Posted on February 4, 2012
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Whether you’re decorating a dorm room or a small bedroom, if you use bright colors and natural light, you can really make the place seem larger and more pleasant to sit in. Instead of sitting around feeling bad about having a small spot to work with, think about it this way: Small spaces can be a challenge, but they are much more economical. They cost less to light and heat, and they cost less to decorate. In this case, less really is more. You don’t have to be an accountant to realize that this is a good thing for your wallet.

So, let’s brighten up those small spaces! A gloomy, dreary area is drab and uninviting; make it cozy and welcoming by trying one or more of these techniques.

Walled Up
The walls are a good place to start. Remember that dark colors convey a feeling of being closed in; light colors convey a sense of being airy and open. Paint over those dark wall colors or that wooden paneling. And you aren’t limited to beige or white. Any soft, pastel shade will work well.

Right Rays
Use sunlight to brighten dimly lit areas. If your space lacks natural light, have a skylight or window installed. If there is a window, give it a good cleaning and instead of heavy curtains or drapes, use sheers. Switch out a solid door for one featuring glass panels (which can be frosted to provide privacy).

Bright Light
If there’s no natural light, the next best thing is artificial lighting. Replace low-watt bulbs with brighter ones, or a one-bulb fixture with a multi-bulb chandelier or ceiling fan. Bring in a desktop/floor lamp or some candles for a soft glow.

Take Away
You might not think furniture is a culprit, but it can be. Overcrowding can make spaces feel dark and unwelcoming. Remove excess furniture, opening up negative space, and use only pieces that are necessary and to scale.

 

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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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