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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.

By on June 24, 2013 in Housing
Image by kcolwell, Flickr

Image by kcolwell, Flickr

Living with a total stranger might seem intimidating at first, but you can beat the initial awkwardness by making an effort to get to know your roommate. 

  • Grab a coffee or snack together. If you end up sitting stiffly across from each other in your empty dorm room, walking and talking might be a more comfortable and casual setting for that first conversation.
  • Don’t ignore your roommate! Say hello and goodbye when you enter and leave the room. Ask how their day went, invite them to grab a bite to eat, or introduce them to your friends.
  • If you already have a friend on campus, invite both of your roommates to hang out with the two of you.

Don’t expect to be instant best friends.

  • Focus on living compatibility. If you have a roommate who respects your sleeping schedule, cleanliness standards, and noise level tolerance, you’ve scored big time.
  • It’s nice to make an effort to include your roommate in social activities, but it’s also okay to have different friend groups as long as you can be open, polite, and comfortable while living with each other.
  • Remember, you’ve gone from not even knowing this person existed to living in a room with them. Allow your relationship to grow over time!

Set some boundaries and respect each other’s schedules, property, privacy, and personal space.

  • Respect your roommate’s sleeping schedule. Try not to be noisy or disruptive when they are trying to sleep.
  • Try not to be a slob! Keep your side of the room clean.
  • Don’t wear their clothes or eat their food without permission. Not okay.
  • Simply telling your roommate when you plan to invite friends over is not enough. Ask them if it is okay ahead of time, and don’t pressure them to say yes.

Communicate. Living with someone in close quarters is hard work, and you deserve to feel comfortable in your own living space. It is super important to be able to talk to your roommate about any problems you might be having.

  • Don’t assume your roommate can read your mind! He or she might be completely unaware that he or she does something that bugs you. On that note, ask your roommate if you do anything that bothers them. You might be doing something annoying, too!
  • The idea of confrontation might seem awkward and uncomfortable, but staying silent won’t solve any problems. Your stress and resentment might grow, and the tension will erode your relationship over time.
  • Confrontation doesn’t have to be ugly – you don’t have to be overly critical or argumentative. Try to be calm, patient, honest, and prepared to compromise. Explain what’s bothering you, suggest a solution, and talk about it. Afterward, tell your roommate that you’re going to run out for a coffee, and offer to bring one back for them. It’ll give you both some space.

Be nice. Everyone gets stressed out and homesick at some point during the school year. You are the one person that your roommate will probably see every day – it’ll be nice if you can count on each other for support.

Good luck!