For many students, attending university means leaving home for the first time and living in new digs surrounded by strangers. It can be a bit of a daunting prospect, but the more you make your dorm room a comfortable and familiar place with social potential, the happier and more settled you’ll feel.
Some rooms are shared with another student, and others are single occupancy. No matter what you get, try to treat your space as though you were living in a sailboat. You’ll have limited storage areas and you need to make the most of them. Try to avoid overcrowding your room with unnecessary items, or you’ll need a GPS to find your bed. There’s probably an app for that.
As you’re leaving for university, take a few things with you that remind you of home, like photographs or mementos. Once you’ve moved in you can assess what space you have and then you can get to decorating.
When it comes to designing your dorm room, it really is easy to do it on a shoestring budget. There is absolutely no reason to buy brand new stuff when there are usually garage sales and secondhand shops close by, and of course there is always eBay.
Practical items such as a white board or corkboard can prove to be very useful for notes or to pin up notices. You also probably don’t want to skimp on bedding. Getting a good night’s sleep can mean the difference between an A and a B grade. After that, it’s all about your style! Bean bag chairs are comfortable, affordable and can be moved with ease. They’re great for visitors just stopping by.
If you’re wanting some tunes you can thank Apple for their pioneering efforts to reduce speaker systems to the size of an evening bag, and with all the streaming shows and movies on the web these days, you may want to consider if you even need a television. A computer or an iPad should do the trick nicely.
Posters will nicely brighten up dull or drab walls, and a funky lamp or two wouldn’t go amiss either. It’s all about making the most of your space at minimum cost. Cushions can also make a huge difference and turn your bed into a comfy couch for the daytime.
If you find your room a welcoming space, chances are that others will as well. Try to keep your area as neat and tidy as possible so when other students drop in, there is somewhere for them to sit and relax. Consider looking for shelves that you can easily install so it is easier to keep things off the floor. Make sure you check the rules of what you are allowed to do in your particular dorm room; however, before you start bringing out the electric drill.
Don’t rush into purchases when you first get to university. You can save yourself a lot of money if you scout out the area first and see what’s on offer. Be smart, and you can be the hippest student on the block but still afford to eat.
Related Videos
