Dorm Room Details Make The Difference
Going away to college is an exciting time. But nerves start to get on edge when your college student starts wondering how to fit everything into a small, shared dorm room. Getting a head start is a must if you want to create a functional and organized college room. Because when school begins, your young person needs to hit the ground running and if a dorm room is set up well to begin with, then college will get off to a better start.
Don’t shop first
As fun and as tempting as it is to snap up all that cool dorm room stuff, resist. Instead, do some planning first. Call or visit the college and get a picture of the room and find out what furnishings come with the room or if you can bring your own furniture. Don’t forget to make a diagram of the room, taking measurements and noting the location of windows, doors and closets. Then, if possible, contact the roommate and negotiate decorating colors. A dorm room looks really great – and is more enjoyable — if it’s coordinated. Next, make a list of everything your student will need so you can work your plan as you shop. Once you’ve bought the necessities, you’ll find out if there’s money left for some fun incidentals. But, if you buy the fun stuff first, you might overshoot your budget.
Think vertical
Dorm rooms are notoriously low on horizontal space. That’s what makes the vertical real estate such a valuable commodity in dorm room space planning. Elevation is the name of the dorm room game. Add bed risers to bed feet so space under the bed can be utilized. Add some casters to shallow storage containers and you have instant under- bed storage that can be easily accessed. If you can bring your own furniture, consider a loft bed. Loft beds are a version of a bunk bed, only the space below can be used for seating or a desk. Loft beds give a bit of privacy, too, and create an area of personal space in a shared room. This becomes extra important if the roommate is an annoying one.
Double duty
If space is at a serious premium, consider going without a bed altogether and opt for a fold out sleeper chair. Onewayfurniture.com has one for about $279 (http://tinyurl.com/2lstse) that would allow students to have a bed and a place to sit. Or, if there’s room for a chair in addition to the bed, this handy fold-out can be used for a sibling sleepover when big brother or big sister has been gone from home too long.
Comfort, organization and privacy
College means lots of hours of studying and that means the need for comfort is greater. Purchase a desk chair that’s comfortable and can be adjusted easily. For those all-night read-a-thons opt for European square pillows for propping up comfortably in bed at night. The large squares are much more supportive of the head and upper back than standard pillows. Choose quality towels and a down comforter for some soft comfort. And when it comes to accessories, think organization. A tall thin bookshelf will take you further than that ultra-cool lava lamp. You can’t buy too many organizers for your desk, closet and personal items. Another important need is privacy. Make sure there is some kind of window covering. A curtain draped over the bed can also give some privacy in a shared room. With some planning, a dorm room can become a living space that will send your college student off in style and will make their college experience even better.
OPTIONAL SIDEBAR
More College Dorm Room Design Ideas & Resources
Build your own loft bed.
North Texas State University has diagrams of its dorm rooms and even shows plans on how to build your own loft bed at http://tinyurl.com/2pvlfs.
More loft beds can be found at timbernest.com and at stubborn-norwegian.com/loft-beds.html.
Ideas from Ikea.
The Swedish retailer is the place for inexpensive, yet cool dorm room stuff. Visit the store or shop online for ultra hip accessories and furnishings from desks to futons. Futon armchairs are only about $100 in stores. More dorm ideas.
About.com has a wonderful page devoted just to dorm rooms. Just about everything dorm-related is available at http://tinyurl.com/2k9oy2.
Dorm list.
HGTV has put together a fantastic list of just about every item your college student could need. Log on to http://tinyurl.com/3xr22o to download the list.
Kathryn Weber is a home and decorating columnist who publishes the Real Home E-Zine. She welcomes your comments and questions. For more information, go to www.kathryn-weber.com or email questions to Kathryn@kathryn-weber.com or write to her at P.O. Box 531, Cuero, Texas 77954. For a personal reply, please include your email address or a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Kathryn Weber is a home and decorating columnist who publishes the Real Home E-Zine. She welcomes your comments and questions. For more information, go to http://www.kathryn-weber.com or email questions to Kathryn@kathryn-weber.com or write to her at P.O. Box 531, Cuero, Texas 77954. For a personal reply, please include your email address or a self-addressed stamped envelope.
