It’s the end of the year, and now seniors are heading into college. They’ve got all their planning done, but what about dorms? Even if you are staying on-campus, a lot of us haven’t put much thought into our future living spaces. Well, look no further for inspiration, here are three easy suggestions.
- Lights
If you’re like me, you like to hang out in your room, but most dorms have only the overhead lights that aren’t dimmable and that can be super annoying. What if you need to find something in the middle of the night but you don’t want to flashbang your roomie? What if the light is too harsh and you’re trying to wind down before bed? What if you straight up just don’t like the light? A fun lamp can be an easy solution to all of these
problems! Be it a desk lamp, a floor lamp, or even a lantern, the warm light can make even the barest of dorms seem cozy and comfy! Most lightbulbs nowadays use blue light, which can be great in the day, improving reaction time and mood, but it’s also been proven to disrupt your circadian rhythm while you sleep. Trust me, you’re gonna need that precious beauty sleep in college. Red light on the other hand is easier on the eyes and actually helps the production of melatonin, a beneficial hormone to keep you sleeping peacefully.
2.
Plants
A pop of green can be just the right thing to pull a room together. It could be something small and easy, like an air plant, or something larger, like a monstera. Whatever you choose, I promise it will look fantastic. Having a plant can reduce stress and anxiety levels and it can even lower your blood pressure. But what if you don’t have time to take care of a plant, or like me, you can’t keep anything alive to save your life? Easy, just get a plastic plant! It’ll look just as good and can have similar benefits without the stress! If you want your room to look really green, you can get some fake vines and hang them anywhere!. Some of my favorites are succulents, like Christmas cactus and lithops. Be sure to do your research and pick a plant that will work for you and your schedule before purchasing, you don’t want to come back to a sad brown clump.
- Whiteboard
Whiteboards and bulletin boards put the ‘fun’ in functional! Put photos, doodles, chore lists, and reminders up without them being an eyesore! Communication is essential to living with another person, and having something fun to communicate with can ease tensions and make chores fun! Talk with your roommate about organizing chore schedules: you can alternate chores every week, have designated days for doing things, and if you have trouble incentivizing them or yourself, make a reward system!
Bonus: Games!
Games can be an easy gateway to making new friends and even settling disputes in a fun way! Need something to bring to a get-together? How about inviting friends over? One of my top recommendations is to bring at least one physical game. If you like to get rowdy, bring Uno, Monopoly, or Cards Against Humanity. If you’re more of a strategist, checkers, Parcheesi, or Blokus. For an all-around favourite, bring a deck of cards for infinite possibilities!
