Make your dorm feel like home

Shauna Hines
Features Editor

College can be an exciting experience. Living away from home for the first time can result in homesickness even if you’re only 30 minutes away from home. Here are some tips to make your dorm a home away from home.

Even if you can’t move the furniture around, there are ways to personalize your room. Hanging posters and lights and adding color to the drab white walls will make any room feel more inviting. Bring pictures of family and friends to hang in frames or on a cork board. Do be mindful of how you hang items because many buildings do not want nails in the walls; instead use adhesive wall hooks that remove cleanly.

Comfort is another key factor to make your dorm feel like home. So make your bedding, furniture, and floor as comfortable as possible. Add a mattress pad to your bed for extra support and cushioning for a good night’s sleep.  A comfy chair in the corner of the room may be useful to help unwind from a stressful day. Rugs add character and comfort to the cold floors.

Many may not know exactly where they are living next year at college, but there should be lists of what each dorm provides for its inhabitants. Here are some essential items for your dorm next year:

Bed Bath and Beyond Comforter

• Check your dorm’s website to see what size sheet the dorm requires. Many beds are extra-long and require extra-long sheets, so take advantage of this opportunity to buy matching comforter, sheets, and pillows to add color and coordination to your dorm.
• Mattress pad
• Rug(s)
• Desk Lamp and/or an adjustable clip lamp
• Storage containers
• Trash can (not all dorms provide this)
• Mini-fridge
• Microwave
• Extension cords
• Alarm clock
• Shower caddy and shower products
• Medical kit (bandages, Neosporin, etc.)
• Plastic bowls, plates, and utensils

Besides decorating your room, here are some helpful tips to get you through living away from home:

• When it comes to food, buy non perishable items like chewy bars, fruit snacks, Ramen, and microwave popcorn.
• Learn how to do the laundry before going to college. You don’t want to shrink your favorite pair of jeans.
• Dorm closets are usually small so don’t bring all your clothes. Bring seasonal clothes because you can switch out clothes during breaks.
• Make sure all clothes, sheets, and comforters are machine washable because dry cleaning is expensive.
• Have trash bags on hand for storage, dirty clothes, or anything else you may need.