HOW TO MAKE YOUR DORM ROOM A HOME

TORONTO, July 31, 2013 -- Come September, thousands of students will open the door to their new homes in a university residence. Invariably, students are going to find the same thing behind that door: a blank space, begging for personal touches and individual style.

But before you go on a decorating spree to fill that space, consider what you want your space to look like: do you want it to look like your room now to remind you of home, or would you like something totally different for your life at university? How can you make that dream room come to life? Recent Ryerson University Interior Design graduates Naomi Tallin and Melanie Sanderson offer the following tips and tricks to help make your new place a home.

Choose your colours: Select a colour palette with a main focal colour and two accent colours. Use anything bright in moderation; let it be the pop of colour in your space. Remember, you won’t be able to paint your room so your colour will come from your furniture, accessories and artwork.

Assess what you already have: You’re probably on a budget so consider taking things from home that will work into your design. This may mean your desk chair or going into the basement to find a vintage desk lamp. Try to limit the things that you are bringing, residence rooms are often small and the space will fill up quickly.

Take the green approach: Re-using things instead of buying new is a great way to minimize your impact on the environment. It’s also a helpful way to reduce your budget. Scouring garage sales and thrift shops can turn up gems that add character to a dorm room. Whether you are buying new or re-using something you already have, pick items you will love and will hopefully be able to use in your apartment after first year.

Lighting: The standard lighting found in a dorm room is most often dim overhead lighting. When you’re going to be up late studying and writing papers, it’s important to have good task lighting. A desk lamp is a must, and you might want to consider one for your bedside table as well, if you like to work on your bed. Lamps are easily found at thrift shops, and can easily be painted to match your décor with a coat of spray paint.

Storage: This is probably the one thing that will make or break your new space. To make your space useable you need to have places to store all the essentials. Think about the space above and below you. You’ll want a set of shelves for books and those extra plates and cutlery. Use the space under the bed to store less used items like winter coats and rubber boots. Using boxes or baskets can hide clutter and keep smaller objects organized.

Desk Organization: You’re probably going to spend a fair amount of time at your desk whether you like it or not, so creating an organizing system that works for you is key. Pens and pencils can be stored on top of the desk in painted glass jars (an easy DIY) or in a utensil tray inside a desk drawer. Store paper clips and elastic bands in pretty ceramic bowls. Try to keep as much of the desk surface clear as possible so you have a large working area when it comes time to cram for that exam.

Linens: Invest in a nice set of sheets; they can be comforting after a long day of classes. Higher thread count sheets can be bought at discount stores like HomeSense for a fraction of the cost.  Since your space is small and you’ll probably end up eating on your bed, buy a duvet with a separate cover so that it’s easily washed. A throw at the end of the bed in an accent colour can provide warmth on cooler nights.

Frames: Up the ante on your pictures and posters by framing them. This will do two things; stop the pictures from curling and falling off the wall while making the room sophisticated and put together. This will also force you to pick only your favorite pictures, which will minimize the amount of visual clutter. Inexpensive frames with mattes can be bought at IKEA in a wide range of sizes.

Climate Control: To be comfortable and feel like you’re at home you need to be at the right temperature. If you’re finding that you’re often hot or the windows don’t open enough, invest in a small personal fan to circulate the air through your space.

Something Sentimental: Bringing something from home will keep you from feeling home sick. This could be a quilt made by a family member or a photograph of the family pet. Whatever it is, integrate it into your space using your colour scheme or use it as a starting point for the room and work from there.

Plants: Since pets aren’t allowed in dorm rooms, this is the only other living thing you can have in your room. Plants are extremely inexpensive, and can do wonders for a space. They help to clean the stale air in the room while creating a pleasant atmosphere. Make sure to remove them from the plastic pots that they come in and re-pot them in bright coloured ceramic pots instead. Plants like cacti and succulents are hearty and take minimal watering to keep alive.

Rugs: The cold vinyl tile floor won’t look very appealing when you’re trying to get out of bed to make your 9 a.m. class. To avoid cold toes consider a neutral coloured rug. Flat weave rugs - as opposed to tufted rugs - are less expensive and much easier to clean. You could also consider stitching together a few fluffy bathmats together to cover a larger area.

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To arrange an interview with Naomi or Melanie please contact Johanna VanderMaas.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Johanna VanderMaas
Public Affairs
Ryerson University
Office: 416-979-5000 x.4630
johanna.vandermaas@ryerson.ca
@RyersonU

If you require this in another format, please contact Ryerson University Public Affairs at 416-979-5000 x 7134.