Decorating a dorm room is a first step to living on your own

Make a positive statement about yourself through your dorm room decorating

With a new semester coming up, thoughts of both students and parents are turning to ideas for decorating a dorm room. If you are a freshman, this is definitely the start of a new and exciting time. Let's see if by working together to create a great space in your new room, we can make it a smooth and fun transition.

Here is a list of what to expect when you first start decorating a dorm room:

• The first thing to look at when decorating a dorm room are the rules and limits of the school. Most schools have rules ranging from what colors you can paint the walls to how many electrical appliances can be installed in the room. Be sure to check these first before you invest any money in materials and items for your room.
• The second thing to think about when decorating a dorm room is the fact that you will have a roommate and sometimes two or more roommates. You will not be aware of what they are bringing or how much room you will actually have.
• Often the college will provide you with contact information for your roommates. If you get this information, communicate with your roommates and get a list of items they plan to bring with them.
• If possible, bring only the essential items you will need at the beginning of the semester. Once everyone is settled in and you are more aware of space limitations, then decorating a dorm room and organizing the space can be planned together with your roommates.
• You will be happier if you respect each person's right to decorate their private area. If you all agree on a color scheme, great, but otherwise don't bad mouth their decorating taste. You all need a space where you feel comfortable expressing yourself and your personal style.
• On the other hand, don't feel pressured to coordinate exactly or let their design ideas prevent you from expressing yourself. Everyone deserves the right to come to their private space to rest and renew their spirit.

Don't Bring 2 of Everything!

Dorm rooms are small. Consult with your roommate and decide who will bring what. You don't need or have room for 2 refrigerators, 2 microwaves or 2 TV's and DVD players. You can either split the cost of new appliances and then have the hassle of deciding who gets what at the end of the year, or better yet, decide who will provide each item.

The bed is the most important item in decorating a dorm room

The bed is an item you will be using every day on a regular basis. If you can't get a good night's sleep, you won't be alert and do well in class. You don't have to spend a fortune on a bed, but do make sure the mattress is something you will be comfortable sleeping on.

Loft beds are available for creating more space when decorating a dorm room. With these elevated beds small dressers, bookshelves, lounging chairs etc. can be placed under them, allowing you to make use of what would be wasted space. When using a loft bed, the space underneath it can be left open, or a drapery rod can be used to hang a curtain to hide the space underneath. A room divider can also be used to hide this space and provide a place of privacy.

Most college towns have several thrift stores. These shops have very inexpensive furniture and are a great place to fill out a room. Much of this furniture is sturdy and of good quality, so don't hesitate to shop around and check out the selection.

One of the first things to pick out is a comforter. The bed often doubles as a couch, eating corner or study area and is the largest piece of furniture in most dorm rooms, so be sure to choose a comforter that reflects your style and won't immediately show the dirt. Reversible comforters, print on one side and solid color on the other, are a good choice because they offer twice as many design options.

Storage ideas for use when decorating a dorm room

With two and sometimes three people sharing a room, storage is a critical component when decorating a dorm room. Below is a list of storage ideas:

• Small storage ottomans can provide seating and storage areas
• A hanging shoe pocket or cosmetic organizer can be hung on the back of a door
• Locker organizers, a hanging organizer with pouches to organize school supplies, etc., which is intended to hang on the inside of a locker, can also be hung on the side of a dorm fridge with a magnetic hook
• A picnic basket can be used to store snacks, paper plates and cups, napkins, etc.
• Use decorative hat boxes in varying sizes for distinctive storage. Shaker boxes also make great storage. You will find both of these types of storage for a great price on eBay
• A large wicker box or trunk can be used as a base for a coffee table and topped with plywood. This can then be topped with a cloth if desired and creates a large storage space
• Stack plastic crates in your closet, under your bed, or next to your desk
• Check out office supply and home improvement stores for the latest equipment in home organizing. If you haven't looked at organization supplies for a while, you may be pleasantly surprised.
• Another idea is CD wallpaper. It is a vinyl sheet that hangs on the wall and has clear vinyl pockets all over it to store your CD's
• Baskets are easy to find and can be used to store many items. Most of these can be spray painted

A message center is a must

Communication centers are important since you sometimes only pass your roommates in the halls. Below is a list of ways to create a message center when decorating a dorm room:

• Dry erase boards on the back of the door are handy for communicating with friends and roommates and making notes to yourself
• Obtain a dry erase calendar at an office supply store and use it to keep track of your busy schedules
• French memo boards can hold a whole bunch of notes, program schedules, or pictures. Buy one at the local home improvement store, eBay, or make one out of foamboard, fabric, and ribbon to suit your decor
• If allowed by school rules, blackboard paint can be used on the wall to create a message center

A few last thoughts for decorating your dorm room

If you are using posters, invest in a poster frames and use temporary hooks to avoid damaging the walls. A loose poster attached to the wall with masking or scotch tape is a decorating disaster waiting to happen. Both the wall and the poster will be damaged because of this slopping handling.

Area rugs can add a note of character to a room. They also can help warm up the room and also soundproof it. This is also a good way to define individual space.

For good lighting, be sure to replace the existing light bulbs with the correct wattage needed for study. Get rid of fluorescent lights when possible. The lighting is harsh and hard on the eyes. Tinted light bulbs are good for areas which are used for relaxing after long study periods.

If you find yourself buying water because the college has an outdated plumbing system and you don't trust the water, invest in a Brita Pitcher. You will very soon recoup the cost of this item.

Hope these tips are helpful and make your transition to college living the fun, exciting, expanding experience it is meant to be

If you still haven't received all the financial aid you'd like, check out my other site, Finding Financial Aid to find sources of financial aid you may not know of or thought about.

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