By Jonathon Klunk
When we were younger, decorating our rooms was not a problem. We chose a theme: like The Ninja Turtles or My Little Pony, and we went with it. Ninja Turtle comforters with matching drapes, a Barbie here, a toy box over there — it was simple and easy. Whether you’ve moved passed that stage in life or not, here are a few tips to help you get your new dorm room feeling homey.
Most dorm rooms come equipped with a bed, a chest of some sort, a workspace and, if you’re lucky, a mirror. In order to make your dorm room more of an educational palace than a dyslexic prison, a good place to start is with any of these: a comforter or duvet with at least one decorative pillow to coordinate, drapes; a picture or piece of art for the wall, and a potted plant and other desk accessories for the work space. These items will help to bring color, warmth, privacy, and a little bit of the outdoors into your personal space.
Knowing what items you need to furnish your dorm room is only half the problem — the other half lies in bargain hunting and coordinating. Step one is choosing a focal piece with which everything else will coordinate.
The focal piece can be any of the items listed earlier. The predominant colors in the piece you select are the colors to use throughout the room. A quick lesson with color: if at all in doubt, stick with coordinating colors (those opposite each other on the color wheel) and add up to two conjunctive colors: white, tan, or black. Another trick is to go to Porter and choose paint swatches of colors that are pleasing to your eye. Even though you are not painting, they will give you a sense of direction. And when you are finished, you can use them to make a mosaic picture frame.
Accessorizing is usually everyone’s favorite part of decorating, since most of the big decisions have been made. Your budget is probably near exhaustion, depending upon the number of basic necessities that you had to purchase, so it’s up to your imagination to create some for a personal touch. The following ideas are some art projects that can be fun and relaxing after a long day of class. You can do any number of them at your convenience and maybe even get your roommate to help.
The first is a canvas rug which will bring color to your bare floor and add an extra texture to help soften the edges. Even if you have a carpeted room this will add a little color and style. Go to a local fabric store (like Baer Market Street) and purchase some heavy duty canvas which is relatively inexpensive at less than $20 per yard. Then go to www.hgtv.com and search for “painted floor cloth.” This will give you a step-by-step guide for your masterpiece.
For extra storage space consider stacking painted cinder blocks and plywood to create a bookshelf. Painting the plywood and the cinder blocks the same neutral color is a wise idea because too many colors will become distracting.
Try shopping at Target, Value City, or on Overstock.com for inexpensive, ready-made tab top drapes. One thing to remember when purchasing drapes is to always read the label to make sure that the package contains two panels and not one. And since you are most likely not allowed to adorn your new drapes with decorative hardware and finials, which usually require heavy machinery to install, allow me to suggest an expandable drapery rod which can also be purchased at Target for only seven bucks. If you cant find the drapes you want at any of those locations, you could always go fabric shopping and make your own. Go to www.ehow.com and search for “how to make your own tab top curtains.” One suggestion — where it says hem, use an iron-on tape or don’t hem at all. After all, the drapes are just to add color. You won’t be keeping them the rest of your life.
If you like famous artwork, yet have no money to support that addiction, try faking a masterpiece.
Go to the library and print off an 8 .5” X 11”of your favorite Van Gogh, Botticelli, or Kandinsky and simply make a frame using cardboard. The frame can be covered in fabric or painted. If letter size just isn’t enough to suppress your appetite for art, try taking the picture to a printer’s like Blue Electric on Main Street and have them blow it up onto posterboard or even canvas. Blue Electric also offers a 10 percent discount when you show a student ID. Be aware of any copyright laws when choosing your artwork from the Internet. And, if you can’t find what you want, you can always purchase a poster, like from www.posters.com.
When you put your imagination to use, there are thousands of possibilities that will come together to make your dorm room a one-of-a-kind showplace. Work with your roommate to create a place in which you both will love to relax, study, and entertain. Martha Stewart — eat your heart out.
