Navigation

Tag Archives | decor

By on July 14, 2017 in Academic Life, Housing

Are you feeling unproductive and unmotivated when in your dorm room? Even for people who have never heard of feng shui, the idea that a person’s state of mind is reflected in their living space (or vice versa) seems pretty intuitive. So, studying in a clean and organized room will surely make you feel more competent. Wherever you live, you can improve your life and increase your happiness by rearranging the objects in your home and creating a warm, welcoming living space.

In Chinese, “feng” means wind and “shui” means water. These two elements are symbols for creating chi flow. Chi is the vital energy that inhabits and flows through all living things. Even though everyone and everything possesses chi, it’s possible for chi to become blocked or misdirected. This can cause distress, bad luck, and inner turmoil. Following the principles of feng shui allows you to harness good chi and avoid bad energy (sha). If your college dorm room and your life could use a burst of positive energy, follow these tips in order to make your everyday life more productive and happy:

The important aspects of feng shui

  • First and foremost, get rid of clutter in your living space. Keeping your room clean and organized promotes productivity, happiness, and improves chi flow. Get rid of anything you don’t need in your dorm, such as old books and clothes. When packing for college, only bring the essentials. Eliminating old, unused objects from your room will free your mind and open you up to new ideas and experiences.
  • In feng shui, there are nine areas of the room or house that are associated with growth in specific parts of your life. Focus on these areas with the right colors and decor to boost everything from creativity to romance.
  • Be careful with furniture placement. While a small dorm room can make it a little difficult to rearrange, try your best to make sure that your bed is facing the direction of the doorway, but is not directly in line with it. That way, energy from the outside world is let in, but will not come in so strong as to disrupt your chi flow.

Sleeping

Placing just the foot of the bed in the right direction isn’t enough, though. To have best rest energy and flow you will have to work a little harder. Keep your computer away from your bed, and if that’s not possible, at least turn it off and cover it when it’s time for sleeping. Place your bed so that it is not directly under or next to a window. If your bed must be in this position, keep a heavy curtain over the window at night or install blockout blinds. Books facing in the direction of your head while sleeping, mirrors near the bed and plants in the close vicinity to the bed are energy stealers, so try to keep them in other positions.

Desk

Your desk is your shrine. You need to focus your energy and intellect in order to prepare for exams, so it is an important aspect of your room and good placement according to feng shui can help you focus better. If possible, put it in a northeast corner, also known as the area of knowledge. Keep your desk organized to stay focused and relaxed as you study. When sitting at your desk, face the door, and if that’s not possible, put a mirror in front of you so you can see the door.

Decorations

While arranging your furniture for the best flow of chi is important, decoration can also help make most of the positive energy. Mirrors, flowers, and plants are all good for your energy. You can paint your room various colors that promote different aspirations, however if you aren’t allowed to do that, you can instead decorate it with posters. Pictures of nature or nature elements are soothing.

Conclusion

A good chi flow can increase your energy level and improve your overall life. However, keep in mind that feng shui is a very deep and complex philosophy and by reading this you’ve barely scraped the surface. Nonetheless, a simplified version of it can surely help for a simple dorm room.

This article was contributed by guest author Helen Bradford.

By on February 16, 2016 in Housing
Image by Roman Kraft, unsplash.com/

Image by Roman Kraft, unsplash.com

Starting college is a big and often scary event. Moving away from home and beginning a life in a new place with new people can be overwhelming. To make your transition easier, turn your dorm into a welcoming sanctuary! Your dorm room will be your home for the next year, and the style of it can make all the difference in how quickly you settle into your new life. Here are some tips to help:

Coordinate With Your Roomie

Getting along with your new roommate is a pretty important part of making the best of dorm life, so get to know them beforehand. One way to break the ice is to talk about what you want for your shared space. Even if you’re moving in with your best friend, coordinating the details before move-in day is important. Some topics to discuss include:

  • Figure out who is bringing what before move-in day. Dorm-living means limited space, so if you both bring a mini fridge, you’ll find yourself running out of room pretty quickly.
  • Aside from not having double items, you’ll want to be sure you have everything you need. Don’t assume your roomie is bringing something and find out at the last minute that both of you thought the other one was bringing cookware.
  • It’s also important to ask if they have asthma or any allergies to certain products. The last thing you want is to start cleaning on move-in day and have your roomie get an asthma attack.

Plan a Color Scheme

Having a room that flows together creates a more harmonious environment. Even if you and your roomie like different colors, you can still create a color scheme that works together. Here are some ideas:

  • Purple and gold make for the perfect, regal room. You can mix and match pillows and other accents to pull together a great look. Pink and orange or pink and green always go together well, too. Plus, with such a variety of shades available — in any color — there’s bound to be something you and your roomie can agree on.
  • Black, white and yellow go together well and make a kind of ‘blank slate,’ so almost anything will match it. You and your roommate can decorate to your heart’s content without worrying about clashing.
  • Keep in mind that your bedding may get dirty more quickly than usual. If you’re using your bed as a kitchen table, study and hangout area, chances are it’s getting more wear than before. While you want your bedding to coordinate with the rest of the room, be sure to get colors and fabrics that can stand up to the task of multi-purpose use.
  • Monochromatic schemes can be a great way to add some color to a room. Pick various shades of one color (think a range of blues) and mix and match with pillows, bedding and accents.

Decorate for Style and Utility

It’s pretty common for dorms to have rules against putting holes in the walls, but luckily there’s plenty of ways around that:

  • There are tons of products that are made to stick and then be removed. You can use Velcro stickies, 3M command hooks or poster putty to hang things on the wall.
  • Since floor space can be pretty limited, think vertically. Utilize the walls and ceilings to get the most from your room. Hanging organizers are a perfect way to take advantage of vertical space. Creative storage solutions will make a big difference in how much free space is available in your dorm.
  • Discuss decor with your roomie to find out what they like and dislike, as well as what common interests you may have. For a bonding experience, you can even make some DIY decor together, creating something that has a little bit of both of you in it.

Dorm life doesn’t have to feel cramped and generic. You and your roommate can make a space that showcases both of your personalities. With a little work and creativity, your dorm will be the perfect place to start your new adventure.

This article was contributed by guest author Megan Wild.