OK it’s that time of year when we scramble to get our kids ready for school. Equipped with School lists for books, supplies and essentials it can be overwhelming. I try to plan early and do my research online. Many retailers are now capitalizing on the demand for dorm decor so there are many low cost options to making your kid’s cave as cool as can be. Apartment Therapy did a Warm and Woodsy room that I thought looked great which inspired me to do in a style I call ‘Regency Mod’ ….
Most colleges have a printable list of dorm room essentials, including a floor plan. Some good things to know are:
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Bed size – most are in an odd Twin XL. This makes them hard to find in stores. Target usually has them in stock and the above comforter(from target) is in the Twin XL size. A great site for Twin XL bedding is blanket warehouse.com.
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Outlet locations/quantities – Also under this could be cable and internet hook-up as most colleges have them already set up. This will tell you where your TV, refrigerator and other essentials will need to connect. It will also tell you how many extension cords and surge protectors you may need(Ikea is a great resource) Most dorm spaces have gotten rid of the landline phones in favor of your kid’s cell phone so be sure to check .
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Area for rug- It’s always nice to know how much rug you can get and that depends on your room size. You may want one in between your beds or by the door to help warm up your space a bit.
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Furniture- knowing if your room comes with a chair or shelf will make a big difference in storage.
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Walls – can they nail, paint or tape art and message boards up? My daughter had cement block walls that she wallpapered with posters and photos, all put up with tape because nailing was impossible and drilling out of the question.
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Books & Supplies – What kind of books and supplies will they need and how much space will that take up? I was an art major in school and needed a lot more space because of all of the paint, paper and media I had.
It’s so important that students are able to express themselves through their space. For new students it tells people who they are and what they’re about. They are more aware of design than we were so long ago. My daughter’s school even had a dorm design contest with prizes. A well designed, organized room will help them stay focussed and organized for school. It also helps to encourage them to be part of the process as much as possible but make sure you retain veto power!
