Location:  Carroll University, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Assignment:  Decorate Dorm Room
Requirements:  Make it comfortable, fun, coordinated while staying on budget.

Your first assignment always starts before classes meet. Whether you are a freshman or returning upperclassman (or woman) you face the same challenge—how to decorate your dorm room.  It needs to serve as a bedroom, office, family room and mini kitchen all in a 12’ x 14’ 5” space!  Divide that by a roommate with the same needs (whom you may or may not know) and the challenge magnifies.

This assignment requires you to create a refuge you are comfortable in, reflects your personality and allows you to sleep and study. The good news is you don’t have to break the bank on furnishing your room if you know how shop. Goodwill has bargains in every department.  In a few hours of shopping time at several Goodwill stores, I found bedding, furniture and accessories to furnish three totally different dorm rooms.

Carroll University, the oldest college in Wisconsin, allowed us to “move” into a double room this month to demonstrate how easy it is to create a variety of looks.  A+ to the staff and students who provided the space and helped us move our stuff in and out and loft the beds!

Mother Earth

Maggie is a Senior Art Therapy major.  Although she has shared dorm space with two friends in the past, she’s getting a private bedroom this year.  Each year she does something different. This season she is going for more earthy colors with shades of brown, green and orange.

I snatched up a brand new duvet cover and sham set in brown with blue, green and orange flowers.  A duvet cover (a comforter without the batting) is a great idea.  It allows you to change your bedding regularly. Once you invest in a comforter, you simply change the cover to suit your style. It’s also easier to launder. Since this one is reversible, she has two looks in one.

Most colleges allow you to loft your bed and most students do it to create more space.  Since every dorm is different, be sure to measure the space under the bed before you purchase any furniture.  Having a futon may sound like a great idea, but if it doesn’t fit, it’s a waste of money.

I found a great sling chair at Goodwill made from plastic tubing.  Since the fabric was off-white I used a round table cloth to coordinate it with the bedding.  Instant slip-cover without sewing!  You have to be creative.  I knew there wouldn’t be a need for a table cloth, but the colors were perfect. I could have made pillows out of it or draped it on the window. The rug, also brand new, anchors the space and keeps the tootsies warm in the morning. 

Maggie likes lots of pillows and fun lighting to make her room cozy. Floor pillows and a square ottoman provide seating when friends hang out.

The fluorescent lighting in dorm rooms can be harsh and unflattering.  Goodwill is a wonderful source for lamps and shades.  This little white lamp provides task lighting and the string of mini lights with lantern shades creates mood lighting.

“Storage is always a big problem in dorm rooms. There just isn’t enough,”  said Maggie.  Using a variety of boxes and baskets to organize and store your personal items keeps the room neat and manageable. The “table” next to the chair is actually a wicker wine rack.  It’s sturdy enough for the lamp and pictures and the compartments can hold towels, glasses or magazines.

The rooms at Carroll University do not have doors on the closets. Keeping a small closet neat and organized can be a challenge. I used curtain panel to hide what is inside.

This room layout places the desk at the end of the bed to keep your work area separate from the “living space”.  The blue chair didn’t match, so a towel solved that problem.  Being surrounded by things you love is important.  You can find a huge variety of picture frames and accessories at Goodwill. Keep your mind open when you are shopping. The wicker picnic basket isn’t just for picnics—it can hold toiletries or office supplies. 
 

Venetian Nights

“My roommate is my best friend from high school and we are each doing our own color scheme,” said Rachel, a freshman majoring in Liberal Arts.  “I like bright colors like pink, purple, orange and yellow.” 

I found a wonderful comforter in deep royal colors such as fuchsia, purple and gold.  Because it is reversible, it serves double duty. You can change your look to suit your whims (at no cost)!  Add a few or lots of pillows and we have created a warm and cozy haven. I made the throw at the end of the bed from a length of fabric I found at Goodwill.  I simply cut it to the size I needed and with right sides together, sewed all four sides, turned right side out, added batting and voila—a custom designed coverlet. Perfect for cold winter nights.  Rachel said movie and band posters are economic ways to decorate the walls.

When turned to face the bed, the shelf becomes a headboard.  The wood basket on top and small decorative wire baskets offer easy access to towels, make-up, books...you name it.  The petal plates add a splash of color and can serve up snacks. With limited space, the key is to be surrounded by things that have more than one purpose.

Since the whole point is to get an education, you can’t overlook the desk!  The chair didn’t fit our color scheme so I simply draped it with coordinating fabric I found. We have a wicker theme going at this end of the room. The waste basket (a must) and cute basket on top hides pens and pencils.  I love the tote bag.  It’s a stylish alternative to a back pack. The bulletin board can hold pictures, notes and reminders.

Home Away From Home

Not surprisingly, the women spent more time planning and shopping for their dorm rooms than the men.  Blue and black were the predominant colors the guys chose.  Bill likes movie posters and Matt, a skate boarder, will most likely decorate with old boards. Having additional seating and easy access to all their electronics are high priorities to both young men who are engineering students.

For the men, I found plenty of black and blue.  A black sheet serves as the closet door and a striped duvet cover works for the bed.  Every room needs a punch of color so lime green accessories helps brighten up the small space.

A black faux leather chair is great for relaxing or watching TV.  When friends drop in for game time, the bean bag chair, fuzzy rug and pillows provide ample comfort for lounging.

Guys need storage as much as the girls do.  Plastic drawers can hold anything.  I never have trouble finding a variety of accessories to hold CD’s and DVD’s at Goodwill.  The black lamp and clock are in step with the masculine color scheme.  A rolling stand has many uses.  It holds towels and toiletries here, but could work for movies or school supplies as well.

The blue desk chair works with our color scheme.  A few masculine accessories for storage, a dart board for down time and a clip on lamp (that can go where ever more lighting is needed) and we have a clean work environment.

Before you make purchases, be sure to check with your housing advisor on the following items:

• Measure space under loft.  Make sure any seating you buy will fit your space.
• Find out what kind of tape can you use to hang posters or pictures on the wall.  Be sure to use only allowable tape.
• Ask what kind of lighting or light bulbs are acceptable.
• Find out if you are allowed to hang draperies or curtains.  Since dorms do not allow you to drill holes, tension rods are easy to install and removable, but check first.
• Don’t bring any appliances without approval.