How To Prepare Your Dorm Room For College!

College offers many exciting opportunities, but there is perhaps nothing quite as exciting as decorating your own dorm room for the first time. Whether you dream of a room covered in movie posters or are aiming to flex your interior design muscles, your dorm can be a reflection of your personality and your goals.

With that said, college can be a stressful time, so your dorm room should also be a place of comfort and relaxation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all there is to buy, look no further than our handy checklist below. It’s a great starting point for you to build your dorm around.

Regardless of whether you’re heading across town or across the country for college, The Futon Shop can help you prepare.

Searching for Style

There are a few must-have items that no college student should be without. Dorm rooms should be functional first, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put your own unique spin on the usual decor. Of course, you’ll need all the essentials like stationery, office supplies, a desk, a chair and the like, but accessories are also good for making your space to study and work more personal to you. As you prepare, keep in mind both functionality and style. Be on the lookout for:

• Bed linens
• Clothes hangers
• Laundry basket
• Bath linens
• Shower tote
• Bathrobe
• Storage boxes or crates
• Desk lamp

This list is just the tip of the dorm room decor iceberg. There is always more to buy but be careful in selecting more than you need. Dorm rooms are notoriously small, and while it’s easy to fall in love with complete bedroom sets, you may simply not have room for it all. Start off your academic year by getting the essentials. You can always add more throughout the semester!

Calm Room, Calm Mind

Feng shui is the Chinese art of harmonizing one’s surroundings for maximum peace, relaxation and happiness. There’s a lot to do the summer before college, so don’t stress about becoming a feng shui master. Instead, channel a little of that energy into your dorm room. Understanding basic feng shui principles can help ensure that your room is cozy and peaceful.

Start by decluttering. While you might have thought moving out of your home meant an escape from chores, you’ll immediately see the benefit of cleaning your space. By folding clothes and putting them away, taking trash out to the dumpster, and making your bed, you’ll have a clean slate and a clear mind to study.

Next, take advantage of your room’s natural light. Open your curtains to let in some sunlight during the day. Fresh air is crucial to the success of feng shui, so on particularly mild days, consider opening up your windows, too. Bring some of the outdoors in with a houseplant or two. Not sure you have a green thumb or the ability to keep a plant alive long-term? Buy a fake plant instead! We won’t tell anyone it’s not real.

From helping you find the perfect futon to a comfortable and versatile bean bag chair to complement your college bound child’s dorm room, we’re proud to be Hamilton’s largest and best selection of Canadian-made futon furniture, covers, bean bag chairs, and so much more! At the Futon Shop we look forward to updating you monthly on great new decorating ideas, DIYs, and more.