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From Kindergarten to
College
Home Front:
Decorating Your Dorm
With The Washington Post Home Staff
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001; 3 p.m. EST
This week, the Post Home staff hosts a special "Back to School" discussion on how to decorate your dorm room. College bound but no sense of style? Ask the Post Home staff anything from maximizing your space by decorating your small dorm.
Ask the Washington Post Home staff -- about these and anything and everything related to home and garden.
Home & Garden: This week on Home Front, the Home section staff takes your questions on fixing up your home and decorating. On The Garden Plot on Aug. 16, Post Garden Editor Adrian Higgins will talk about making the most of your garden during the summer months.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Alexandria, Va.:
Not a question, but a suggestion. I just graduated from JMU in May. When I was in the dorm my first two years, my roomates and I put our beds up on cinderblocks, like most people. Except, we covered ours with contact and shelf lining paper to make it look a little less industrial, and you don't scrape yourself up when you stub your toe!
P.S.- We did it in solid colors for all of our guy friends too, once they realized it was a good idea.
Post Home Staff: Hi All...The Home Team, here, ready and willing to answer all your "Back to school questions." Alexandria sent in a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Arlington, Va.:
I'm a single mother and I don't have a car or a husband or son to provide muscles for moving lots of stuff down to my daughter's new dorm room at Virginia Tech. What's a mom to do?
Post Home Staff: Attention all pals!
Arlington, you have to get on the phone and call your girlfriends, especially those with vans or even hatchbacks and see if your daughter's buddies include a few guys with big shoulders and strong backs who will work for pizza and a party at your house afterwards!
This is an important event and you need to be there with your daughter, so don't be embarressed to ask. And, if you are a member of a church, they are often willing to help with things like that!
Arlington, Va.:
Should I be buying my child a TV to take?
Post Home Staff: Good question, Arlington. In our day, nobody had a tv in their room but of course this is a whole new day. Have your child check with his or her room-mate to see if A) they're bringing one and b) if they want one and c) if so, do they want to split the cost.
Also check to make sure dorm rules allow tv for freshmen. Lets hear from parents with experience.
Washington, D.C.:
What is the most essential thing I need to buy my son for his dorm room?
Post Home Staff: Here are a few ideas starting with 2 sets of sheets with extra long fitted bottoms, along with a laundry bag, an industrial sized bottle of detergent.
Obviously, your son will need a computer and a great reading lamp. Cash is always good.
Arlington, Va.:
What store would be the best for hitting as many necessary items as possible? The Container Store? Ikea? Target? Help!
Post Home Staff: Hi Arlington, all of the above but we would bet on Target for everything from backpacks to shampoo to towels, phones to call home and even calculators. Funky clothes, too and good prices. Good luck.
Bowie, Md.:
Do you know of a place you can get cool computer tables? I'm living off campus and dont' have a big budget.
Post Home Staff: Dear Bowie,
We have seen some great ones at Ikea - simple, colorful and utilitarian. Dulles Office furniture (one in Crystal City and another out near the airport buys used office furniture from failed dot.coms so they may have something terrific including desk chairs to go with that table. good luck.
RE: Televisions:
TV in dorm rooms are always a good idea. The best kind are the TV-VCR in one deals - they take up minimum space and provide maximum entertainment. I must disagree with the Home staff though - it's easier if ONE roommate brings the TV - it makes it MUCH easier to move out at the end of the year...especially if the roommates are no more.
Post Home Staff: Dear Re: thanks for your input, and it is true the VCR combo would be ideal.
Bethesda, Md.:
What are some your "Must Have" items to make a dorm room more homey and comfortable?
Post Home Staff: Dear Bethesda:
Here's a list of things off the top of our heads...Don't forget the walls and windows. You need a more fun alternative to those plasticized roller shades. We are big fans of inexpensive tab top curtains you can throw on a poll. Linens n' Things, Home Expo, Kmart and Ikea all have large selections. And what about a nice area rug for color but make sure it's non-skid so you don't end up in the infirmary the first week.
And, now is the time to frame some of your favorite posters, some of your own art work and don't forget a few family pictures. If you don't have siblings, bring pix of your pets. Have a happy!
Crystal City, Va.:
I love Storehouse furniture and it is more durable and more attractive than IKEA (which is crap).
Post Home Staff: Thanks for the suggestion. We meant to include Storehouse.As for Ikea, you are certainly entitled to your opinion.
RE: splitting costs with roommate:
Please do not advise this! If there are dorm room items that need to be purchased, roommates should break the list up and each buy a few items, not go halvsies - too many problems down the road when one roommate wants to move out, how do you split the TV, etc.
Post Home Staff: Uncle. Even though it was long ago, we had great rapport with our room-mates. Jura spent four years with the same room-mate, Yea Krista. The two coordinated the theme for their room each summer. Her favorite was the jungle room.
Annie lucked out and had a single but says she went to school in the last ice age when no one had Tvs in their rooms. Patsy went too far back to remember anything but a shared yellow shag rug.
Post-College:
I'm with ya on the Storehouse. I had IKEA in college it all BROKE in a matter of weeks. Target is a great store for buying dorm furniture.. and it has those cool lightbulbs!
Post Home Staff: Dear Post-College. Yes, we love the lightbulbs which are decorated with everything from Smiley Faces to Flowers. Jura already bought some for her teenage goddaughter. Thanks for letting us hear from you.
Re: Help in moving into dorm:
At my school, there were tons of people to help. All of the RA's got their friends and others to help the new freshmen move in (show them their room as well as helping cart all their stuff) I am sure mine is not the only school to do it.
Post Home Staff: That's wonderful at the end of the road but our reader needs helps at the beginning. Feel free to volunteer!
Rockville, Md. going to Binghamton, N.Y.:
Hello there, I have a comment and a question for you. First off, I disagree with advising someone to split the cost of a TV with a roomate, if something doesnt work out, that could cause troubles. My question is: what sort of wall decorating would you recommend? I'm trying to find things, and so far only movie posters are coming to mind. Thanks a lot!
Post Home Staff: no no no! If you don't want movie posters, go to any museum website and get repros of old masters, impressionist or contemporary art or posters celebrating great exhibits. What about hanging a festive kite on the wall. What about vintage photographs you can pick up from yard sales..ask every relative you have for framed pictures they're not using...you can empty them and don't forget a large attractive mirror.
Virginia:
Ok, this is not a "household item," but when I went down to college the first time, I found out there was no dressing area in the bathroom, and I didn't have a robe. Also, bring a bucket or caddy to get your shampoo and stuff to and from the shower.
Post Home Staff: Great idea, particularly in co-ed dorms. Check out the robe dept. at Linens n' Things. And if all else fails, get a king-size bath sheet. Don't forget a drying rack for hand-laundry!
Alexandria, Va.:
How many college students can afford Storehouse? I can barely afford Storehouse, and I have a job.
Post Home Staff: Dear Alexandria:
Have you tried their outlet store at Bailey's Turnpike. Also think about the Crate & Barrel outlet in Old Town. What about one of the Goodwill stores or the Salvation Army's place on Little River Turnpike?
A Former Residence Hall Director :
- a throw cover or something. Since students use beds as couches and for studying, a nice throw helps.
- multiple sets of sheets. College students, especially men, don't wash sheets.
- Toiletries holders, like cool buckets and stuff.
- a fan, if there is no a/c.
- a rug
- extension cords
Post Home Staff: Dear former director! What a great list. Thanks!
There are also a number of items that many schools prohibit as fire hazards, so before you buy, be sure to check out their policies on items such as halogen lamps, hot plates, microwave ovens and candles.
Ashland, Va.:
PARENTS: don't forget to get your kid shower shoes!
Post Home Staff: Again, we're indebted to all you voices of experience.
Washington, D.C.:
Flip-flops! You absolutely should shower with flip-flops on. You never know what's on the floor of the showers.
Post Home Staff: ditto!
Virginia:
One suggestion: find out what stores are available in the area, and buy your stuff there instead of at home. For example, if you buy your desk or whatever in your college town, that at least saves you the hastle of having to pack it together with all your clothes! Also, you can try ordering things from catalogs or the internet and having them shipped to your college address (you still have to take them home, but somehow moving out is always easier than moving in, and you might be able to leave some of your stuff in on-campus storage).
Post Home Staff: Dear Virginia,
Great idea. Buying on site makes good sense and so does shipping just so long as there's someone around to sign for it when it arrives and that it is returnable if it arrives damaged. Before you buy, be sure to check with the school about its acceptance policy.
Laurel, Md.:
Gosh, I can't believe that it's been 11 years since my first year of college! This brings back memories. Anyways, here's a suggestion: crates. You can buy crates in a variety of sizes. They're very easy to carry and pack stuff in. And after you unpack, you can use them as shelves and really increase your storage space!
Post Home Staff: Hi Laurel. You ARE talking about plastic crates that stack. They are great for storage and easy to carry.
One thing you might try to determine in advance is the clearance between the bottom of the bed and the floor (unless you happen to be on the top bunk) because under the bed is a great place to store and stash all manner of things.
One of those crates could also make a good file box.
McLean, Va.:
As for what to use on dorm walls, use poster putty! You don't get charged for holes in the walls, you dont have to hammer, or worry about stepping on nails or tacks. it comes off the walls and posters easily as well.
Post Home Staff: Dear McLean,
Thanks for the suggestion. You can get poster putty at hardware stores. We have some other ideas for storage, too, which is always at a premium in dorm rooms.
Over the door racks (which you can find at the Container Store) come in models with hooks, shelves for cds and books and also configured for shoes.
The Container Store's catalogue for College Bound Students also shows a bulletin board alternative- a gripping felt strip that's tacky on both sides (one sticks to the wall and other holds pictures and memos in place.) One that is three feet long goes for $17.
Nashville, Tenn. and soon UNC!
Please help! I'm desperately searching for extra-long FULL size sheets - not twin!
Post Home Staff: We don't think we've seen anything bigger than Extra long twin around here - Bed Bath and Beyond had lots! But you may be in luck. Tarheel country is also Outlet Country! If anyone out there has seen extra long full size sheets, please write in!)
Silver Spring, Md.:
My "husband" was indispensible in college, and I am not referring to the one I am married to now, but rather those pillowy things, with armrests. Makes reading in bed the best!
Post Home Staff: Silver Spring;
Those are great...if you're looking for one, try the mars as in Kmart and Wal-Mart, Penney's. There are also cool sitting cubes in great colors like tangerine and silvery blue at Ikea.
Rockville, Md.:
On the subject of laundry. It would be nice for the students to have a $10 roll of quarters if the washing machines and dryers do not take cards. I was very popular the first couple of weeks because of my quarters.
Also please check about picture frames. If we hung pictures in frames we owed the dorm money at the end of the year.
Post Home Staff: More great stuff from fellow chatters! Thanks.
Texas:
What about bikes or roller blades for transportation. How about other recreation equipment (tennis raquet, basketball)?
Post Home Staff: We're happy to share this suggestion from the great Lone Star State. Are you anywhere near Crawford?
Somewhere, USA:
I would bring a fan even if there is AC! Sometimes, to save money, the college has the ac turned off very early in the year (when it's still hot), and then you REALLY need the fan. Those box-type models that fit in the window are nice. Also very useful for covering up the sounds of a snoring roommate (the only thing that worked for me freshman year, when I shared a room with a human warthog).
Post Home Staff: Yes. If your room-mate is a warthog, a fan is a must. Earplugs might make life more pleasant and avert a homicide but the fan idea is terrific especially if you're headed south or west.
Arlington, Va.:
Speaking of the "husband" - my lap desk was invaluable in the dorm room!
Post Home Staff: Hi Arlington. You can get these through mail order at Levinger. Anybody else know a good source for these?
Recent grad now in D.C.:
For those looking for "essential" items:
A bulletin board/wipe off board combination to hang on the door. I had two, one for the outside for friends to leave messages and one on the inside for roommates to leave messages.
Post Home Staff: Way to go, recent grad.
Somewhere, USA:
I would advise people not to buy too much stuff until they actually SEE the size of the room, and also until they know how much stuff their roomates are planning on bringing. Even if you know the room is 10x12, it might not always be obvious what you can fit. Plus, it might be easier to coordinate with a roommate in person than over then phone (especially if it's someone you don't even know).
Post Home Staff: Dear Somewhere. Some schools match up room-mates complete with phone numbers weeks before school starts in order to avoid this very problem. In a perfect world, they can agree in advance - who brings what.
Two Words:
Lava Lamp
Post Home Staff: absolutely!
Somewhere, USA:
Must haves: those little fridges are awfully useful, but you can probably find one cheap from a graduating student. Check the classifieds!
Post Home Staff: yup. Check with the school before you haul it.
Georgetown, D.C.:
Hello Home staffers-
Any recommendations for some hardy plants that will withstand neglect, confinement, and mishandling in a dorm room? They make everything a little brighter (not to mention keep the air healthy) but I've always had bad luck trying to keep my plants alive.
I'm thinking small, cheap, nice-looking and easy. Oh, and legal.
Thanks!
Post Home Staff: Our pal and colleague, Adrian, suggests small pots of ornamental ivy, mother-in-law plants and avoid rosemary topiaries..they dry out too fast!
Somewhere, USA:
When I went away to college, the one thing I wish I had was a local phone book! Not sure where you can find one, but believe me, they're awfully useful.
Post Home Staff: Yes. Yes. Yes.
San Antonio, Texas:
When my daughter showed me pictures of her dorm room, I couldn't stop thinking how little desk space she had. A computer monitor and keyboard sitting on top of the desk leaves very little desk space for writing and studying. I suggested that she buy a simple computer desk (they call them carts) from one of those office product stores (like Office Depot which offers free delivery). This would leave her plenty of study space. What do you think? What do other students do?
Over-concerned Mom
Post Home Staff: Sounds great to us. Everybody needs desk space for snail mail home.
Washington, D.C.:
The key thing in college for me was MILK CRATES. They made great book shelves and stores things neatly.
Another great idea is the inflatable furniture. I got an inflatable lounge chair and ottoman for my niece (who is a college sophomore). She loves it because when the term is over, she can deflate her furniture and store it easily!
Another great idea are trunks. I was a student who's home was 3,000 miles away. Two weeks before school started, I shipped two trunks. I fit everything - towels, sweaters, picture frames to even extra toiletries. This made packing for my plane ride a lot easier.
Post Home Staff: All great ideas...and what about an inflatable Aero bed for vistors.
Post Home Staff: Dear All.
Wish we could have gotten to everyone but we ran out of time. Tune in next week on Thursday at 11 a.m. for our regular home chat and if you want to continue the dorm discussion we'll be happy to soldier on. Ciao 'til then. The Home Team
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