Move into a bedroom and make it your own
Moving into a bedroom may be a person’s first attempt at independence. For some, freedom alone is enough to justify the move, while for others necessity demands it. Either way, any bedroom should feel as cozy and homey as possible. No one likes to live in cramped, dirty, and disorganized spaces (although some tolerate it, it’s true). Here are some ways to make the most of a dorm room move that can make college life easier and more fun in the long run.
Get help and advice
Colleges that run campus-organized dormitories typically send out orientation packets that explain the essential steps a student should take when moving. Some universities even offer compensation for moving from a distant city to attend their institution. If the university is in a different country, instructions on how to obtain the correct visas and residency permits, as well as the laws on whether or not you can work in the respective country, should be included in your handbook. When in doubt, always ask. Don’t show up and find yourself facing unexpected expenses or legal obligations.
In addition to the university’s orientation package, often a student association or union will offer its own help to new students. They tend to be well-structured, professional non-profit organizations established outside the university framework, although they do operate within it and have experience in helping students. Clubs that are registered with these organizations may also hold moving events during the first few days of the semester as a way to make new contacts and encourage students to join their activities. If you haven’t received a brochure or packet from your student union in the mail, be sure to look them up online and see what kind of moving help is available. This is also a great way to make new friends and get involved in college life early on.
When you arrive
Hopefully you have already received instructions from the university as to which dormitory you have been assigned (or awarded) and how you should gain entry to your room. Different dormitories at the same university may have totally different operating systems. Some are literally room-only suites with a shared bathroom and kitchen, while others are like apartments but have personal locks on each room. Some require you to eat at a designated cafeteria at certain times, while others allow you the freedom to prepare your own meals by offering kitchen appliances. Knowing these things in advance will help you pack. Do not bring pots and pans if you are eating at a cafeteria. On the other hand, bring your utensils and rags if you have an in-suite kitchen so you don’t waste time (and money) trying to get settled in early in the year when so many other things are blowing up like a tornado.
You may find that the bedroom has not been cleaned. Check for dust, oily appliances, mold, and any infestation before bringing your things inside. You want to be as little in the way as possible while prepping the place, and you certainly don’t want to contaminate your personal property with roaches or bedroom ants. Be sure to report any inappropriate findings to the department in charge of dormitory maintenance. They may be willing to do much of the work for you.
Ask if you can paint! This will not only give the place a clean and soft look, but it can also brighten your day knowing that your home is your favorite color! Keep your decorating color scheme in mind when choosing paint (see the “Decorating” section below).
Arrange the furniture and create new spaces.
Now comes the fun part. This is where space management comes into play. Start by moving the largest items first. Find out in advance what furniture is already provided. If you already have a bed and a desk, see if you can adjust the room layout so they’re as far to the sides as possible. If possible, use the bottom half of your closet for your powder room. Most clothes that are hung don’t go that far down anyway. This way you will have a larger open area in the center of the room which will make the place feel more ‘spacious’. If you share a room and want to create privacy around your bed, consider placing a bookcase or dresser around it. If not, hang curtains to separate that space. Move the smaller things next. This is where you may find that your bedroom is much smaller than you imagined! Fear not, there are plenty of ways to not only save space, but also ‘create’ space. Use as much wall space as you can. Install shelves on door frames, desks, tables, the bed, etc. Use large plastic boxes with lids as fake drawers under your bed. If you have a table, using stylish folding chairs can save space for when you need more space. Folding chairs can be stored in a closet or even hung next to the table by mounting special hooks on the wall. For the small stuff, buy drawer organizers or use empty shoe boxes to organize. The backs of the doors can also be used by mounting coat hooks or attaching a shoe hanger.
decorating
This is where creativity and style come in. Decide what color scheme you would like to go with and start with that. It’s not to say that you can’t use other colors in the future, but you want to have a theme for your bedroom to give it a well-thought-out, organized feel. Nor should it be very restrictive in this regard. For example, your color scheme could be “fall colors,” in which case you could use mauve, brown, dark orange, burgundy, and a bit of yellow. You can use different pastels to go brighter or deep luscious colors combined with animal prints to be more daring. For ideas, search decorating websites, check out an IKEA catalog, or better yet, visit a furniture showroom near you.
Once you have a color scheme, you can start choosing your throws, curtains, and rugs. Baskets are always neutral and can be used as trash bins or laundry baskets, even as pull-out organizers on your newly installed high shelves. Make sure you don’t use the same shade for everything. Keep a lighter color, even white if necessary, in your color scheme. Making things too dark can get depressing, while making things too bright can make it hard to relax. Lamps can often be found secondhand, and your biggest investment will be finding lampshades. You can also decorate your own lampshades. Many lamps will help control lighting for different moods. Get some cheap picture frames from a discount or dollar store and develop photos of your friends, family and loved ones. You can go a step further and create a calendar of your personal shots using Excel or some other calendar creator. Generally, printers and photo booths offer these types of services. Good memories will help ease the strange feeling of being in a new place. Be sure to also find a photo of a landscape that creates a wave of relaxation (for example, palm trees on an empty beach) or sparks your imagination (perhaps a close-up of a bumblebee pollinating a flower).
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