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Getting Started
Most Dorm rooms have the basics: a bed, desk, desk chair, study lamp, curtains or blinds, wastebasket, clothing storage space, cable TV hookup, and a touch-tone phone. Guess what? That's not enough.

Residence hall directors at the University of Arizona recommend that students bring towels, pillows and bedding, laundry items, hangers, an alarm clock, personal toiletries, a shower caddy (or bucket), and dinnerware utensils. Likewise, they discourage against the packing of halogen lamps, toasters, hot plates (or any other appliances with visible heating elements), incense, candles, and pets. At most schools, fish are OK, as long as they're in a 20-gallon (maximum) tank, one per room.

And, to make life a little more convenient, UA recommends that students also bring along an umbrella, self-supporting shelving, a microwave, TV/VCR, radio/stereo, hot pot/coffee pot, and a computer.

More You than U
According to Indiana University (IU), senior, Starr Proctor, dorm rooms reflect a lot about a person. "I can usually tell a student's Major just by their room." After all, your dorm room will become your home for the entire school year. The more personal the room, the more at home you'll feel.

How to Stack Up!
Erica Moore, an interior design major at IU, suggests bringing along the following extras: a loveseat, stacking crates, end table, and a box fan for an open window. Next comes the big dilemma! How should you organize all this stuff into a productive space? Think tall!
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IU junior, Teale Chattin, lofts his bed five feet above the floor. His relaxing chair, end table, arm weights, and extra bed hang out under the loft. Following the stacking theme, Proctor situates her bookshelf on the top of her desk shelf. An encore of stackable crates stuffed with lurking (and stinking) laundry stand in stiff salute nearby.

Dividing Lines
Need to create a boundary between your study-base and leisure pad inside your room? Easy! A bookshelf, loveseat, or desk are all good candidates to separate the space. Even area rugs can provide a separation.

"It's nice to sit in my chair and take a break from my work," says Darin Clark, an IU chemistry senior. His chair rests under his loft, strategically placed so that he cannot see his desk.

"Every available piece of space is an outlet for decoration and personal statement through pictures," says Erica, whose dorm room is adorned like a virtual photo album.

Handmade lamp shades, cutouts on the walls, unique pillows, and funky dishes can all add glitter and color to a dorm room. Jennifer often glances at her favorite black-and-white portrait of a man Drinking coffee in a Paris café which she ripped from a calendar and framed. Looking there, she manages to take a break from the books stacked on top of each other in her bookshelf.

Personal Pizazz
For many students, the first step in dorm room deco is jazzing up the door. Those small room numbers may not be enough. Teale's door flaunts a large poster with words "No Whining" written in fluorescent orange. For many students, door decor alone doesn't 'sit' well with them. They need to go even further!

Jennifer redecorated an easy chair in an attempt to add a personal touch to her area. She adorned it with a plush leopard print pillow and an inviting tan blanket. As she stretches her legs out across an Oriental rug she placed in the middle of the floor, she picks up the remote and changes the channel on her miniature TV. Next to her TV is an eight-sided jewelry box. Hanging on the wall near her dresser is a gold parade of elephant miniatures linked onto a belt. Jennifer returns the remote to her nightstand that sits next to her comfy chair. Just underneath the nightstand she has some easy reading magazines in a wicker basket.

Erica suggests that dorm dwellers cut shapes in shelving paper for a wallpaper border. And, when it comes to putting up posters (a dorm room must), go for the gallery effect! Get a hold of those cheap plastic hook stickups to hang frames. Another hint: asymmetrical designs add variety. Art reproductions, photographs, posters, and other delights spark conversations in your room and reveal parts of your personality to guests.

Finishing Touches
On that note, make sure that there is enough room for guests. Jennifer's bed is a pillow party that attracts friends. Darin has an extra fold-up chair hiding between his wall and desk. With the extra space that lofts provide, many students find room for futons and loveseats.

Want to change the moods of your room for less than $30? Plug-in lights that stick to your wall, Christmas lights, and mini lamps are all illuminating possibilities. And, if you're still looking for a theme, retro is in. Check it out at the Goodwill, flea market, and your Parents' attic.

When embarking on dorm room deco, remember to take your imagination along with your wallet! Happy decorating!

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