Campus pizzazz: Your dorm decor can combine style and function

BY MARCI LAEHR TENUTA
The Journal Times

Friday, August 10, 2007 2:52 PM CDT

So you’re planning to move your entire life into a 12 foot by 19 foot dorm room, that you have to SHARE with another person. It probably doesn’t seem possible to create a room that is not only functional, but comfortable and stylish as well.

“With a little creativity, it is possible to carve out a space of your own in a tiny dorm room,” said Melissa Birdsong, vice president of trend and design for Lowe’s. “A colorful area rug, live plants, curtains and a stylish table and floor lamps can personalize and brighten a small room immediately, without breaking the bank.”

And most stores are offering the college-bound functional pieces that look good too.

“The key to a complete dorm room is to combine essentials with decorative pieces, creating a functional and comfortable space,” said Sonya Cosentini, the home fashions spokeswoman for TJ Maxx.

The following is a list of ways to combine style and study space, comfort and necessities with products from local stores.

Color palette

“The first place to start is to call your new roommate and come up with a color scheme, so you don’t have a bunch of colors clashing,” Cosentini said.

A good place to start when it comes to deciding on a color palette, is the bed. “I think the bedding is probably the central point of a dorm room,” Cosentini said. “Definitely start there with a comforter and sheet set.”

Bed-in-a-bag sets with extra long sheets specifically made for college beds are a great buy. Bed Bath and Beyond, 2360 S. Green Bay Road, has a wide range of colorful sets priced between $59.99 and $129.99. TJ Maxx, 2308 S. Green Bay Road, has sets that range from $19.99 to $120.

Once you have your bed linens, you can look for coordinating towels, dishes, desk accessories, lamps and storage pieces.

Storage

Storage is key in dorm rooms that require students to use the small space as a bedroom, living room, kitchen and place to study. “Things like closet organizers and desk accessories help you make the most out of the space you’re given,” Cosentini said. “They help create as much room as possible, especially for kids going to school on the other side of the country who might not be able to get home to pick things up.”

Look for flat bins with wheels for under-the-bed storage. Using shoe racks, sweater organizers and storage bins with drawers is a great way to make the most of a tiny closet. Small chest of drawer style storage units on wheels make good bedside and end tables.

To incorporate the storage pieces into the room’s decor, choose baskets or boxes that are not only functional, but look good too. Try wicker, leather or bright colored plastic.

Target, 5300 Durand Ave., has a wide selection of desk organizers in metal, plastic and paper. The pieces range in price from $6.99 to $17.99. At Bed Bath and Beyond, there are numerous practical and pretty storage pieces. They have colorful cloth bins from $5.99 to $9.99, sets of four metal stacking cubes for $14.99, underbed storage bags priced at $9.99 for two, door hanging organizers from $7.99 to $16.99, and 3-drawer storage chests for $39.99. TJ Maxx also sells desk accessories and storage bins. The accessories are priced between $4.99 and $50. Their storage units sell for between $5.99 and $20.

Organization

A bulletin board or white board is essential to keep track of and organize to-do lists, social events and notes, and it can also double as decor. You can buy a standard cork board or white board, or create a personalized board. Buy four pieces of natural cork and attach them to a piece of plywood with foam mounting squares. Paint the cork and plywood in colors that match your linens, towels and other room accessories. Lowe’s sells plywood for $5.88 per sheet. Bed Bath and Beyond has packages of 4 cork tiles for $7.99.

Dishin’ it out

Since most dorm rooms don’t come equip with kitchen cabinets, your kitchenware will probably have to be stored on open shelving. You’ll need plates, bowls, coffee mugs and silverware. Don’t forget about a big bowl for popcorn. Colorful plastic pieces will look good and probably be the most practical and inexpensive. Target has a decent selection of acrylic glasses, plastic bowls and plates for $1.79 each. They also sell brightly colored sets of 4 bowls, 4 plates, 4 cups and serving bowls for $1.99 each.

Lighten up

Fun lamps in all shapes and sizes are one of the best ways to add flair to your dorm room while also being completely functional. Pulling an all-night study session when your roommate is trying to sleep might be difficult if you don’t have more than the standard overhead light in your room. Buy a desk light in a funky color, a lamp with beaded shade, fun string lights in unique shapes, or a colorful reading light to clip above your bed.

Target has a wide variety of lamps and mix and match shades. They range in price from $9.99 to $30.99.

Have a seat

Seating for friends is practically nonexistent in most dorm rooms, but it doesn’t have to be. Padded folding chairs that can be stored under the bed when you’re not using them are a great idea. Bed Bath and Beyond has padded folding chairs in vivid colors for $24.99. Target has a pretty good selection of comfortable folding chairs in a variety of shapes and sizes. They range in price from $29.99 to $49.99.

Accent-uate

To make your room as comfortable and homey as possible, choose accent pieces like rugs, decorative pillows and throws in the same colors with different patterns. Mix florals, plaids and stripes, or geometric shapes with solids.

Since your bed might also double as a sofa during the day, throw pillows and backrest pillows not only make it more cozy for friends, but are a great way to add style to your dorm.

Bed Bath and Beyond has faux suede backrests for $19.99. They also sell large area rugs for $29.99 to $49.99. TJ Maxx has a huge assortment of throw pillows, including decorative pillows-in-a-pack sets of two, which range in price from $29.99 to $60.

Wall art

Posters and photos are traditional dorm room wall coverings, but you can also make your room walls special buy using wall decals. From cartoon characters to stripes and polka dots to letters and numbers, the decals help personalize the space without damaging the wall paint.

Lowe’s sells Wall-Pops sets for $9.96. These stick-on wall decals come in a variety of colors and shapes, and are repositionable, reusable and removable. Target also sells wall decal sets called Art-A-Peel for $14.99.

Liven it up

Nothing brings life into a small space better than live plants. Buy a few small or medium sized decorative pots and fill them with greenery. Make sure to start out with smaller plants so they won’t require re-potting in a few months. Stein Garden Center, 6626 Washington Ave., has an almost unlimited stock of ceramic pots in every style imaginable, with prices starting at $1.99. They also have a variety of small house plants in 3-inch and 4-inch pots, selling for $1.49 to $3.47.

Don’t overdo it

Dorm rooms can become personal havens of living space with the right amount of style, but don’t go overboard. “I don’t think you need a ton of decor,” said Sonya Cosentini, home fashions spokeswoman for TJ Maxx. “You don’t need to bring vases, or a ton of different decorative items. Be really calculated about decorative items you bring. A fabulous piece of wall art doesn’t take up space on your desk or on the floor. Focus on a key piece or two that will add to your room, but not too much.”

Also, be sure to check the college guidelines before you plan to paint walls, add a loft bed or hang curtains.

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