Help Add Personality and Flair to Your Teen’s Dorm Room

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By Elaine Gaston

RISMEDIA, July 29, 2008-A stark gray college dorm-often no bigger than a walk-in closet-can be daunting when it comes to decorating it to suit your style and personality.

But if you can look past the bland color palette and limited space and entertain the possibilities, a dorm room can be transformed into a place that’s warm, welcoming, functional and fun.

Soon college-bound students will begin shopping and planning for their dorm rooms as campuses prepare to welcome the newest batch of high school graduates. Go in knowing that most dorm rooms are equipped only with the bare essentials, such as a bed, desk, dresser, closet and overhead light. So you’ll need accessories to bring it to life. To inspire you, we’ve gathered a multitude of ideas, gleaned from a couple of sources, including Bed, Bath and Beyond, Lowe’s and Kathy Wilson, editor of the budget decorator.com and home decorating expert for lifetimetv.com, who offers budget-friendly tips that won’t break the bank.

Make a plan – Before you set out to collect items, make a list of what you need to buy and what you can bring from home, say the experts at Bed, Bath and Beyond, which offers a checklist broken down by category at www.bedbathand beyond.com. Check with your roommate about what items can be shared so there are no unnecessary duplicates.

Pick a theme – Wilson suggested starting with a theme, such as butterflies or football, which will help keep you on track budget-wise and make it easier to pull the space together.

Color is your friend – Dorm rooms are famous for lacking luster. Add pops of color to brighten the space. Think color when choosing bedding, window treatments and accessories, such as area rugs and lamps.

Create more space – Push the bed against the wall, plop pillows against the wall and you have an instant couch, plus you’ve created more floor space, Wilson suggested.

Go for cozy and comfy – If you must splurge, then splurge on the biggest item in the room: the bed. The experts at Bed, Bath and Beyond suggest striving for a four-star hotel bed with a mattress protector, quilted mattress pad and a feather bed, which make a great foundation for your new sheets and comforter.

Think creatively — Can’t afford storage bins? Turn cardboard boxes into end tables, covering them with batting, a blanket or fabric, Wilson said.

Frame it – Pick up some inexpensive picture frames from a dollar store and a spray paint can that complements your theme, and spray the frames to match your decor. Plop in photos of your family and friends to give the space a homey feel.

Chic pencil holders – Vases make ideal pencil holders. Simply fill them with pebbles and they become sturdy bookends and fancy pencil and pen holders, Wilson suggested.

Don’t forget – Certain items, such as hangers, extension cords and surge protectors, are easy to forget.

Get organized – Storage bins and baskets will keep you organized. Choose flat bins that will easily slide under your bed, stackables for the closet and clear drawers that make finding things easier, the experts at Lowe’s recommend.

Lighten up – Overhead fluorescent lighting can tire the eyes, so make sure to add accent and task lighting. A lamp also can add ambience to the space. Consider a multi-function lighting accessory that incorporates a clock or a compartment for storing CDs.

Add whimsy with a strand of holiday lights that can be changed out according to the holiday.

Drown out noise – Consider bringing along a small fan, which, for some, can be soothing when trying to sleep or help drown out the noise when studying.

Copyright © 2008, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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