Don’t you love that commercial where the man is skipping through the office supply store and the music in the background is playing, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…†as it’s Back To School Time! All the parents are joyfully saying, “YEAH!!!†as the kids moan and groan. For those of you that are sending your loved bundle off to college I wanted to dedicate a blog post on decorating for the college dorm room or apartment.
For the first-time parents of soon-to-start college students here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
- Space is a luxury students won’t have!
- Bring some items that are reminders of “homeâ€.
- Be organized!
If your college student is going to live in their first apartment here are some decorating ideas:
Pick a theme!
Since in many cases rooms will be shared it is best to communicate a taste preference with the roommates before the move in date. An overall neutral theme that anything can go with would be the safest choice and then individually personalize the spaces with accessories. Retail stores, such as Target, allow a wonderful option to go online and create a “list†of items that can be shared with roommates for feedback.
Find your Furniture
The most expensive investment when starting in a new apartment is furniture. Ask friends and relatives to see if they have anything that they would like to donate to you – remember you can always spruce up a couch with pillows! And remember spray paint is our friend.  Look online for sources such as Craig’s List and Ebay Local or visit your local Goodwill Store for things. Ikea also has a whole line of furniture geared for multi-use, small space decorating that is affordable, check that out here. For all of your bathroom and kitchen needs you may also want to check out Bed, Bath & Beyond who has added a tab to their website just for the College Student! In fact, Bed, Bath & Beyond has kindly suggested a college dorm packing list, click here to view the list.
Do It Yourself!
Preparing a student for college can be overwhelming and very expensive that first year. Students have a vision of what they want their new home to look like and parents have the vision of dollar signs! Having sent my last of 4 children to college I can tell you there are many cost saving ideas out there. Websites such as Better Homes and Garden, eHow, and diynetwork.com have great DIY (Do-It-Yourself) videos and instructions for many cost saving decorating ideas. There are also great magazines at your local bookshop, or you can jump over to Pinterest.com where you will be overwhelmed with ideas!
Also don’t forget to pack your cherubs with a cleaning supply bucket, equipped with sponges, cleaners, wipes, etc. Through the years, I have found that the cleaning supplies were the most cost effective item we bought for school and lasted for years because they were only used by me on move in and move out day!
For more information on how Redesign Right can help you make your college bound child make their dorm feel like home contact us at 610.955.8202 or debbie@redesignright.com.