Dorm Decor Tips from Students |
Advice from Students on Dorm Room DecoratingBrowse these tips from students attending The Art Institute of Portland , a school that offers bachelor's and associate's degrees in Interior Design. Students study both commercial and residential design, working on everything from computer-aided drafting to space planning and perspective to professional portfolio and career development. The students profiled below are housed in campus apartments rather than dorms, but much of their advice applies to any type of student housing. Q. What advice do you have for new freshmen who are planning and shopping for dorm/apartment items? JILL: "Shop online first!" CARA: "Try Home Depot and make as much as you can -- it is cheap and you know it is clean. Go to Goodwill and just recover the old furniture." MELANIE: "Wait until you move into your room before you buy decorations, tables or couches. Just bring your bed, fridge, or microwave, then shop around." MOLLY: "Definitely hit Target, TJ Maxx, and Ross. They have cool accessories, linens, pictures, and mirrors at great deals." MARA: "Don't buy the first things you see -- shop around. And don't clutter your room up with 'stuff' you'll probably end up getting rid of later."
STEPHANIE: "Don't buy into the "cheesy dorm look" that they sell everywhere. Make your room personal." Q. What were your biggest challenges in creating an attractive living space? How did you solve these problems? MOLLY: "The biggest challenge was making everything fit. We just worked with what we had and then bought a few more things to spruce it up." KATIE: "I reworked the pre-existing furniture in a new layout. First I fit in the largest pieces, then divided spaces with screens and other pieces of furniture."
Make It Yours
JASON: "My biggest challenge was making a small room appear larger. I accomplished this look by painting the walls in a receding (cool) color, and adding tall, large pieces of furniture to make the room appear larger than it was." MANDI: "The challenge was not being able to paint. My solution was to use decorative wall treatments, pictures, lighting."
STEPHANIE: "Money is the challenge, so I used what I already had and bought inexpensive additional furniture. I spent a little more on some little things to make the place more personal." Q. What are the 5 best things you have that maximize comfort in your room? KATIE: "Large, comfy couch with matching chair and ottoman, tons of candles, plants and indoor trees" MARA: "My sleighbed, pillows, rugs, plant, and framed art." STEPHANIE: "Futon couch, bed, blankets, curtains, and lighting." Q. What did you spend the least amount of money on that has been the most effective? MOLLY: "I faux painted the room and used a sheer leopard print table cloth for a swag on top of my window." MELANIE: "I have a small attachable clip light for reading or to just light the room."
CARA: "My cement block/wood board shelves were a cheap ($10) way to make storage space."
Q. Describe your room's decor including the color scheme, theme, focal point, and any favorite items. JILL: "My color scheme is lavendar, deep purple, blue, light green, yellow. The theme is insects, dragonflies and butterflies in modern style. My focal point is a 4-poster black iron bed with flowers draped across the top. My favorite items include a black iron tower/shelf, black iron candle holders in varied heights, and a frame with glass that has dried Brazilian flowers in it." CARA: "My color scheme is mint green, light grey, dark purple, & blue. My favorite items are my raised bed with storage underneath."
MANDI: "Color scheme: green, blue, purple, and red".
Q. What have you spent the most amount of money on that has been the least effective?
CARA: "A TV, since I never have time to watch it, and it just detracts from homework.
|
| ~ Glenna J. Morton |
