It is once again that time of year to start transforming those bare dorm walls, empty desks and cold tile floors into your new home away from home.
According to “The Today Show,” the average dorm room is an underwhelming 120 square feet per two students, so creating a functional and inviting space can be difficult. Decorating and organizing the space in which you will live for the remainder of the school year can be a daunting task, so here are some helpful suggestions to liven up your dorm room or house for this upcoming year.
Before hanging the posters and lights and pulling out the porch chairs, figuring out how to fit your belongings into this minuscule, new space is a necessity and a challenge.
Organization is a crucial part of the dorm decorating process. To minimize clutter, invest in lots of storage. Plenty of bins and drawers are a must to make the room functional and spacious. Bed risers can also be used to increase space and can offer more storage if properly utilized.
Another storage catastrophe can be the limited closet space, so shoe racks, hanging shelves and compact laundry baskets are a must. Whiteboards, corkboards and calendars are also great ways to organize the room and reduce chaos.
Once the space is properly organized, the decorating can begin.
Since nails tend to be a no-no, investing in decorations that can be applied with poster putty is a necessity to liven up the space. Posters, pictures frames, wall decals and Christmas lights are frequently spotted in the dorms for their ease of removal in May.
Some other helpful additions to any dorm might be a television, speakers or video games for more entertainment options.
Plants are also an inexpensive, healthy option to spruce up your room. If space allows, extra chairs and pillows can supply more space and comfort for friends.
UD students fight the claustrophobic “dorm room blues” with their dorm essentials. Freshman pre-dentistry major Jessica Ott and her roommate put a lot of thought into their decorations with lights and picture frames at the top of the list. They wanted “homey” accessories to give a familiar feel.
Kerri Marks, a freshman communication major, thought organization and shelves were essential for fitting her things in the notoriously small Founders Hall rooms.
For the men out there looking for decorating tips, freshman Andrew Ault, a discovering engineering major, prioritized snacks over dorm room decorations.
Frequently spotted around the student neighborhood are lantern-covered porches, plenty of UD gear, window painting and baby pools.
With so many dorm decorating options available, there are numerous ways to make your new space here at Dayton all your own.
For some more great tips and tricks for decorating your dorm room on a college budget, ArtStreet is offering a workshop Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 7-9 p.m. To create some fun and trendy Pinterest-inspired decorations to liven up your college room or house, sign up for this free event for UD students. For more information and to register, visit http://www.udayton.edu/artstreet/workshops.
