Shopping Tips for Your First Dorm

By Sarah Christine Davis on July 14, 2015

Shopping for your first dorm is a once in a lifetime experience. You’re picking the décor for the place that will likely be your first long-term home away from home. It’s an exciting experience! However, it can also be stressful. Going to college is like having a fresh start, and deciding how to decorate the place of your fresh start can prove to be a lot of pressure. Aside from that, the monetary expense of purchasing so many new items is probably a source of stress. Luckily, I’ve laid out a few tips for you that will help you on this journey! Take a look below.

Find Out What Is and Isn’t Included in Your Dorm
Most residence hall rooms come furnished, but it’s good to know exactly what you’re getting. You may have to share a dresser with your roommate, and you may not be supplied with all of the storage space that you need. A quick call to your university’s housing department can tell you what will be included so that you can save your money and frustration. It can also help you think about what you may need to supply yourself.

Image via http://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-ClearView-Storage-Drawer-Organizer/dp/B001KN12PI

One thing that was incredibly helpful to me when I lived in a dorm was a plastic storage cart where I could store extra school supplies, cleaning materials, and other little things that didn’t quite have a place. These can be found rather inexpensively at stores such as Target and Amazon.

Keep in mind that you won’t have much space, and you shouldn’t bring anything that takes up a lot of space. While a cedar chest to put at the end of your bed may be great for storage, it is more likely to be an obstacle that gets in your way than a helpful storage unit. CNN’s Schools of Thought blog explains that “one key to surviving dorm life is making the most of the least space” and that “plastic bins can help here.” This is important to remember while dorm shopping.

Another component worth mentioning here is finding out whether your dorm’s beds use twin or twin extra-long sheets. This is important to note because that little bit can make a big difference – you don’t want to deal up with a bottom sheet being pulled off of your mattress all year.

Decorate the Walls
This small tip will go a long way to make your room feel more cozy and welcoming. Decorating your walls with pictures with your friends and family from back home will help you remember where you came from and keep you grounded. They can also help you feel less homesick, a common feeling for students who are leaving home for the first time.

You can also decorate your walls with posters and other mementos that represent things that you like. You could even create a collage of photos and inspirational words cut out from your favorite magazines that represent your favorite things. This will help you make your room feel more home-y and enjoyable since you’ll be surrounded by things that you love.

Image via http://www.remodelingcentral.com/articles/2013/11/28/christmas-paradise

For the nights when you want to relax and study without the fluorescent lighting of the library or (in an unfortunate case) your room, string lights are a great and classic addition that you may want to consider. These lights are available in a variety of colors and designs. Because some may prove to be expensive, splitting the cost with your roommate is a great option.

Of course, you shouldn’t put any holes in your walls (Command strips will be your new best friend). Additionally, you should always consult with your roommate before hanging anything up, which brings me to my next point…

Talk to Your Roommate
It is imperative that you ask your roommate before making any decisions about decorating your dorm since it will be a shared living space.

It’s also important to talk to your roommate so that you don’t end up with two of the same item. Additionally, you can coordinate to bring certain decorative items that you can both use, such as a microwave (check first to see if your residence hall allows this), area rug, or floor lamp.

Image via http://www.brit.co/dorm-room-decor/?utm_campaign=pinbutton_hover

One thing that you can do to make your room feel more fun is coordinate with your roommate to have matching comforters or a matching color scheme. In addition to making your new home feel more organized and orderly, this can be a good way to bond with your roommate and figure out a few things that you may (or may not) have in common.

Raise Your Bed
This simple tip goes a long way and allows you to store a lot more than you might think. An easy and inexpensive way to instantly create more storage space, bed risers are a true dorm essential. They can be purchased at places such as The Container Store and Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

Have Fun!

Image via author

When I moved into my residence hall for my freshman year, I was beyond excited to decorate my room and embark on a new journey at my new home away from home – I’m sure you are, too! Enjoy the process, and welcome to college.

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