A college dorm is where you'll work, play and (theoretically) study
College life is a big change for high school graduates. For many, it's their first time away from home, and thus the first time they've been responsible for decorating their own room. With great power comes great responsibility, and college students may be overwhelmed by the choices they face in furnishing a space that they'll live, study and entertain in for the first year of their new lives. Yet there are many creative ways that students can express themselves in their new space without a lot of work and without a lot of time.
Paint It in Wild Colors
Most dorms start out in plain white, but there's no reason that they have to stay that way. Chip in with your roommate on a couple of cans of paint and some brushes and have at those dreary walls. Consider painting the room one lively color -- burgundy, perhaps, or teal -- or else painting each wall a different color, for variety. Or maybe you'd like to paint your room one base color and overlay it with all sorts of designs, such as stars, stripes, rainbows, zig-zags or polka-dots. Just make sure to clear it with your roommate and your residential adviser first -- and to paint it back at the end of the year.
Keep It Clean and Spatially Efficient
College dorms usually aren't very big. Therefore, when you're decorating your room, think in terms of conserve space and keep the area clean. That could mean raising your bed to make storage space under it, putting hooks on your wall or building a tall bookcase to keep your textbooks. Also, be selective about what you bring to college. You don't need to transport your every possession to a place you'll live for less than a year. Bring what you feel is essentially and prevent your room from appearing clogged.
Choose A Theme
Your room represents you, and done up right, can be used to make a statement about who you are as a person. You'll probably be doing a lot of entertaining in your dorm, and having a consistent theme in your room allows people to more quickly understand who you are. Are you a hippie? Consider making over your room in earth tones and investing in a hemp rug. Are you a glamour girl? Go with fine fabrics, slick colors and a sleek layout. A scientist? Decorative flasks, cool metals and a NASA poster will show people your inner geek. Above all: Be yourself.
Avoid The Scantily Clad Women
Here's a tip, guys: Women are not more likely to be attracted to you if you have posters of near-naked women in your room. At best, they're think you've got a little growing up to do; at worst, they'll think you see women as objects.
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