As Featured in the Daily Oklahoman
There was a time when decorating your college dorm room didn’t go much beyond a bedspread, a wall poster and, if you were lucky, a framed photo of your boyfriend.
Now, even though the dorm rooms themselves haven’t changed much, options for designing one that is both functional and fun make it not only possible, but a must.
Of course, colleges and universities have restrictions. And this may be your first real shot at decorating. Think of it as your first challenge with creativity.
The good news is, you’re not alone. Some really cool options are out there in bedding, wall decor, storage and more.
“Young people see a lot. There are magazines and TV shows with cool decor, and I think kids are into that. They want their rooms to be reflective of themselves,” said Bebe MacKellar, an interior decorator with Fanny Bolen Interiors in Oklahoma City.
Ruth Ellis, an Edmond interior designer, set up a mock dorm room in her home to illustrate the possibilities. The first thing she added was a circular theme of bright colors. Fuschia, lime green — all colors are available in draperies, bedding, wall art, stackable storage containers, you name it. Pick your scheme and go full tilt.
With so many inexpensive options, here’s your chance to be whimsical and sensible at the same time.
“Think about how you can make a huge splash of style without breaking the bank,” said Ellis, who just created “Girlie Girl Room,” an offshoot of her design firm, Fabulous Faces.
At the same time, pick items that can be easily moved.
Some of the top shoppers and designers offer these tips to get you started:
– Bedding is everything in a dorm room — and it can make the difference between a good night’s sleep and an achy sort of day. So buy an egg crate or featherbed padding and some decent pillows. And remember, most dorm room twin beds are extra long, so standard sheets won’t fit. Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Linens ‘N’ Things all carry extra long sheets at a reasonable cost.
If you tend to study and entertain on your bed, Ellis suggests buying a duvet cover that is machine washable. Throw pillows are another way to add color and turn your bed into a sofa.
– If your dorm allows it, consider setting up a loft, where stilts lift your bed to allow a desk and other belongings to go underneath. This is a great way to use your vertical space and create a wonderful sleep-study-storage-mini-kitchen area using very little floor space.
– Dorm rooms are always short on storage space, but you’re ahead if you think vertical. Plastic milk crates come in all colors, are great for books, papers, linens, and stack as high as you can reach. Better yet, pack your containers for what you will store in them before you move. Sheets, towels clothes stay in place until needed — just shove them under your bed.
– “Shop Cop” Jennifer Litwin recommends finding dual-purpose furniture and fixtures. Who hasn’t used a trunk for a coffee table at least once in their life? Urban Outfitters ( www.urbn.com) sells their Tufted Storage Chair in great colors like purple and lime. For $250 you can lift off the seat for storage, while keeping the room uncluttered.
– If you want to tune in, but not wake your roommate, consider the iBeanbag chair from Land’s End. This chair has two side speakers and a subwoofer and connects to MP3 players, laptops, personal DVD players or gaming systems so you can watch movies, play video games or listen to music while studying.
– Even lamps do more than turn on these days. Litwin recommends the Boogie Architect iLamp ( www.ilampstore.com). For only $89, this lamp holds and charges an iPod and stores pens, pencils and paper clips.
– Desk space is a premium in dorm rooms, so Ellis suggests using a floor lamp — halogen lamps give the most light. Or attach a clip-on light to your headboard for reading. Remember, most dorm rooms have just one overhead light, so consider a few lighting options.
An individual reading lamp, such as those that attach to books, is great for late-night studying while your roomie snoozes. Litwin, author of “Furniture Hot Spots” and “Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!” said she just bought her son a snake lamp. “You can wrap it around your head,” she said. “You don’t have to clamp it onto anything.”
– For the style-conscious, draperies can add depth to a room and steal the eye away from drab walls. Ellis suggests hanging colorful drapes over the headboard to create the illusion of a window. Coordinate the drapes with your bedding, hang matching fringe on an ordinary lamp and you’ve got style and drama.
If your dorm doesn’t allow curtain rods, consider using tension rods, which sell for about $7 at Linens ‘N’ Things.
– For color without the penalty of hanging things on the wall, consider “Wallies,” a series of self-adhesive cutouts, such as a retro-cool tie-dye pattern, that provides temporary wall art. They’re easily removable and don’t leave a mark ( www.wallies.com).
– Every student needs a bulletin board to keep track of schedules and friends. Some students use laundry lines to string pictures or ticket stubs on the wall or across the room. Litwin recommends a print stretch-canvas board, such as one found at West Elm ( www.westelm.com). A set of four costs $59 and comes in chocolate brown and tan. The colors pop, and each takes only 12 inches of wall space.
– Invest in hanging wall shoe pockets for your closet door — and don’t limit their use to shoes. Store whatever will fit, from soda cans to pencils to socks. Litwin suggests finding a door hanger with pockets to hold your keys, sunglasses and cell phone, so you always know where they are.
– Don’t forget over-the-door hooks for robes and towels and a drying rack — Bed, Bath & Beyond offers one that folds down to 3 1/2 inches, yet has nine rows. Cost: $10. Other must-haves: A shower caddy and flip-flops.
– Create a space for everything — even your coffee mug deserves a spot on the bookshelf.
– When possible, coordinate with your roommate on such items as microwave ovens and coffee pots. No point in filling your space with the same things.
Finally, think of your dorm room as your first great decor experiment. Just like a first kiss, we have many that follow — but we never forget the first.
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