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For most students the dorm room represents their first taste of independence, a
place outside of their family’s house which will be theirs to decorate and
maintain. For some this can be a thrilling experience, while other will be
daunted by the flush of new found responsibilities that they are suddenly
burdened with. However there is no need to despair. Kids have been going off to
college for a long time, and over the years a wealth of useful tips have
accumulated to help you create a home away from home that will be organized,
comfortable and fun.
The first thing you need to do is find out what the room is going to look like.
If you haven’t seen the building you’ll be staying in, try to find information
about the dimensions of the space from the University's website, or by calling
their information desk. Many dorms come with some basic furniture already
present such as a bed, desk, and dresser. Make sure you know what you’re working
with before making any purchases.
Once you know what the room is like, you have to find out whose going to be
living there. Most freshmen move into dorms with one or two roommates. You
should try to get in touch with them before you get to the school, to find out
what everyone is bringing. You might be able to share features such as a mini
fridge, or a microwave, eliminating the need for both of you to have to go out
and buy them.
The room itself is generally going to be smaller than you like. This means you
have to be efficient, choosing to bring only the possessions which are
essential. Organizational items such as plastic bins and dividers can help you
to make more efficient use of space in closets and dresser drawers. You can
also purchase blocks that can be used to raise the bed up, giving you extra
space to store items underneath.
One thing to remember is that a dorm room is temporary. Most people don’t stay
in the same building for more than a year or two and eventually, when college is
over, it will be time to move out. That’s why you may want to avoid purchasing
permanent items for this space.
In this spirit, posters are very popular in dorm rooms. Inexpensive enough that
they can be simply thrown away when its time to move, posters can be purchased
depicting just about any image, from great works of art and design, to locations
around the world, to pictures of fantasy themes, or natural wonders, or heroes
from history. This allows you to create any kind of atmosphere that you want
without spending a lot of money.
Finally, trying to decorate a space based on speculation is rather difficult.
While you need to go out and purchase functional necessities such as desk lamps,
hampers, and kitchen accessories ahead of time, you should wait until you’re
actually in the space to start making decorative plans. This will not only allow
you to get an idea of the style of the room, but will also allow you to talk
over any decisions you make with your room mates. The act of setting up the dorm
can itself be a bonding experience that can be used to bring you closer
together.
This article was written by Joey Pebble on behalf of PebbleZ the manufacturers
of a wide variety of natural stone
beverage coasters crafted from marble, slate, limestone, onyx, and highly
absorbent sandstone.
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