November 13, 2024
Advice for decorating and organizing your space from three first-year roommates
In a recent edition of Campus Living, we asked for students to share their insights and advice for making their residence hall rooms feel like home. First-year students and roommates TeAnna, Anna and Jennie sent us the story of how they turned their economy triple room into a cozy space to call their own!
When the school year began, these three roommates had a more subdued approach to decorating their space. They had clear boundaries for each person’s wall décor and were careful that wall spaces around the door and mirror reflected their shared interests to ensure everyone felt comfortable. As the weeks progressed, they began to merge their décor to create a space that incorporates each of their unique interests in a cozy and cohesive way.
“Jennie's desk is next to mine, and at first, her wall collage and my wall collage were separated by a strip of white wall space, but we've since bridged our collages with posters gifted from a mutual friend,” said TeAnna.
Each of them displayed wall decorations that hold a personal connection to them. They connected with each other by sharing the stories behind their pictures, posters and mementos. “Jennie told me about her high school friends from her photos and Anna introduced me to her cat through pictures on her wall,” TeAnna shared. “Anna and I have a shared appreciation for Ghibli films, so the wall space around our door and mirror are all Ghibli-themed. We combined the Ghibli posters and postcards we both brought to color that space and make it more ‘us!’"
These roommates worked together to make their space their own. They opted for a “maximalist” approach that helps their space feel cozy and unique to them. “Since we like how our room looks and feels, we are more likely to be in it and therefore be around each other, which is also beneficial for our dynamic as roommates,” said TeAnna. Here is some shared advice they have for other students looking to make their rooms feel like home.
- Warm lighting - Bring warm color temperature lamps and lights that can help light the room (especially at night) so that it is more mellow and warm. It is also courteous to use a warmer light than a very bright one when doing late-night studying after other roommates have gone to sleep.
- Make the floor sit-able and follow shared rules - We got a 5’x7’ rug and added a shoe caddy to the back of our door. We follow a no-shoes agreement, which has helped keep our room cleaner. It has made the space cozier and a nicer spot to play Jenga with friends.
- Personalize - Sometimes it's hard to just have icebreaker conversations with roommates, so putting up wall decor or setting little figurines and trinkets around personal spaces is a creative way of communicating who you are and what you like, and the fun conversations born through complimenting each other's decor are priceless!
- Just be tidy - Keep your own space and shared spaces clean and optimize every crevice of space with smart organization. Separate items in bags or drawers based on categories: pants, shoes, socks, stationery, craft supplies, snacks, miscellaneous.