Transforming Your Dorm Room: Balancing Style, Space, and Budget
Moving into a dorm room is more than just a move; it’s a rite of passage. I remember my own journey vividly, and now, as a parent, I’m experiencing it anew through my daughter’s eyes. As the Founder and CEO of Premium Prep College Counseling, I’ve guided countless families through this transition. But this year, it’s personal.
While decorating one’s dorm room can on the surface sound like a very materialistic endeavor, at the risk of waxing poetic, I do think the process has layers and deeper meaning.
Here are 7 considerations to keep in mind before you begin the move:
- Identity– This is for most young people the first time they get to envision how they want their space to look and feel. And so their dorm room is in many ways an expression of how they see themselves and what they value. For some, it’s about warmth and comfort, and for others, it’s about what’s trending and hip. Decorating a dorm room might seem frivolous, but it allows a young person to think about who they are, what’s important to them, and even what their style or vibe is.
- Space– For students, this 4-walled room is their everything. It feels a bit like a “little house.” It’s their bathroom- you need cosmetics, toiletries, etc., but available in a transportable fashion to bring to and from the actual sink and shower. It’s also a kitchen– snacks, breakfast, late-night munchies. Think mini-fridge, pantry, microwave, toaster oven. It’s a bedroom, too, of course, but there shouldn’t be any spillover to the family room or front foyer. It all has to fit in that little shared space. So every inch counts. It’s an exercise in math, measurement, efficiency, and of course, decoration.
- Decor– So let’s talk decor; after all, this deserves its own category. I am not going to try to compete with Dormify, Target, and Amazon with my tips for everything you need and want! But what I will say is: start with your bed! This is really the centerpiece of the room–the biggest item, and the one that they will sit and relax on the most. They will probably even eat there, so avoid white! And you don’t want to clash with your roomie, which brings us to the next topic…
- Roomies– This is such a valuable part of the dorm room experience. From Day 1 you need to negotiate, coordinate, communicate, but most importantly, be thoughtful about how you treat others. Showing compassion, sensitivity, and care towards this person when thinking about budget, color patterns, and overall tone is so important and such a valuable life skill as you navigate future relationships personally and professionally.
- Budget– Decorating and setting up a dorm room is a great exercise in managing money. What do you want to splurge on? A comfy pillow or a nice mattress topper (yes, dorm room mattresses can be pretty skimpy!)? And what can you economize on? Storage containers, for example; don’t get sucked into the overpriced ones. Figuring out what to spend on can also create valuable conversations between parents and kids. What do parents offer to pay for? What do parents expect their children to pay for? What is the budget?
- Organization– This is also an extreme exercise in planning, and I don’t know about you, but I am not an organizational expert (even though I’m good at it). Lucky for me, my daughter is one! This became especially confusing for us when our budget made us realize driving was not realistic. So deciding what to ship, how to consider Amazon’s 30-day return policy while maximizing Prime sales in the timing of when to ship, finding a local friend to ship to in case (according to the parent Facebook page) the college mailroom is a complete zoo, and what we could pack in our suitcases was tricky. Oh and while there is a Target almost everywhere, word is, it’s also a zoo during move-in days, so think of everything and plan, plan, plan as much as possible!
- Parents– Helping your child get all the supplies for the dorm room is fun and exciting but also emotional. The conversations, planning, shopping, and budgeting is all a reminder that your child is leaving–leaving the childhood room that you decorated to make home-y, cozy, and comfortable for your child. That room will now stand empty. And this part is hard, really hard. You’re excited, but you’re also sad. So much of this stage feels uncharted and less explained; sure, there are books and podcasts, but not like what we read and studied before having kids or before getting married. It feels so ambiguous. And while we were not just raising kids (we also had jobs and spouses and lives), our children, for many of us, have been a focal point of our lives for the last 18 years. Now suddenly that’s over, so give yourselves a break and allow yourself to feel all the feels. It’s ok.
So yes, the big reveal is that this blog is not just something I have heard about for years from my students and their parents as they prepare for this epic journey to their first year of college and their tiny house dorm room. Now it’s also my reality as I send my second child off to school. (I did have this journey two years ago, but my son went to college down the road and didn’t give a hoot about his dorm room decor; in fact all the storage items I bought on Amazon got returned the next day as his t-shirts and gym shorts easily fit in the small dresser and closet the dorm room provided.)
Move-in day is quickly approaching, so as I wipe away the tears as I conclude this blog, I will report back for a part 2 on all the things we did right and wrong!
As you embark on this exciting new chapter, remember that college is a time of growth and discovery, both academically and personally. If you or someone you know is preparing for college admissions and needs expert guidance, schedule a complimentary consultation with Premium Prep College Counseling.