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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 2004)
nil Page MSi irouti Sam} 'e ati OUO’f Aggielife ..... ., The Battalion Page 3 • Tuesday, August 31, 2004 PAGE DESIGN BY )ULIE BONE Away from home improvement Undents don't need a TLC show host to decorate dorm rooms on a budget By Amber Gray THE BATTALION As school swings into session, most students living on campus are ondering about what’s hot in decor in 2004. For many students, this semester marks their first time away from home and subsequently their first time decorating their own space. ^■“1 really didn’t decide or plan what to bring; I just grabbed the ne cessities,” said Ryan Robbins, a freshman biomedical sciences ma- ; jlrand a resident in a Commons dorm. “Most of the items I brought Mere what I already had from home.” Since packing only the necessities may leave some walls bare, ming a dorm room into a home may require a trip to a home deco- ting store. The vogue look is huge with girls this year. We have posters and ictures featuring this 1950s style that have been selling like crazy,” said Mashalle Lara, store manager at Bed, Bath and Beyond. This look includes posters and pictures featuring vintage European liquor advertisements. This trend has not caught on as well with the men, who seem to vor bold colors. “Guys are opting more for black, navy or maroon color schemes Jir their rooms,” Lara said. Another popular theme has been the coffee shop look, which in cludes posters, pictures and accessories to easily imitate that of a arisian cafe scene, she added. “And since most students are looking for a bargain buy you can urchase a cheap poster in this theme, or any other for that matter, |ndadd a plastic frame to add more appeal,” Lara said. While many students may be discovering difficulties in decorat ing a 10-foot by 10-foot dorm room, Lara had many tips to add di- IMension to the room. ■I “In order to brighten up a dark room, mirrors are definitely bene- qelBcial because the light will reflect throughout the space,” she said. ' BAnother helpful item that we’re completely sold out of are the ace Biedusa lights, the ones with different colored lamps that can bend iiall crazy direction that add light and color at the same time.” Lara has also noticed some of the most popular necessity v Lems students have been purchasing are sheets, mattress pads ar S el ;nd alarm clocks. tot* “The absolute hottest items have been the bed lifts, which add 1 ibout six inches of height so that students can actually store items : underneath,” she said. I Designing on a budget can be tricky, but there are good deals jgraiii waiting to be found. “One good bargain to look for is the bed-in-a- bag,” Lara said, “And buy a big pack of hangers ver sus individuals, this is def initely a big best buy.” Those living in resi dence halls know that find ing space for their belong ings can be challenging; however, there are items that can be beneficial for organization and storage. “Anything over the door has done really well this year,” Lara said. “Over- the-door shoe racks, for example, can add a lot of space to your closet.” Like most students in the dorms, saving space in Robbins’ small room has become a major issue. “My room has more space now because me and my roommate stacked our drawers on top of each other,” he said, “And to add room in my closet 1 just divided it up between my clothes and my laun dry basket.” Many students have also been looking for items that make the residence halls cozier. “Good items that add comfort are pillow backs,” she said. “They are great for lounging anywhere on your bed or even the floor, and they add seating.” To make community showers more bearable, Lara suggests com fortable robes and sarongs. When it came to decor, Robbins wanted his room to reflect what he is all about. “We have mostly Aggie colors in our room,” he said. “All we have on our walls is a bulletin board with a few pictures on it, but I think my room says that I’m just a regular guy who loves sports.” EVAN O'CONNELL • THE BATTALION Freshman political science major Meghan Sheridan (left) and her roommate, freshman business major Gina Bullock, accentuate their Mosher Hall room walls with photos Sunday afternoon. While Robbins may have opted to bring a minimal amount of belongings, some female students seem to head in the opposite direction. “I brought as much as I could from home; all that would fit any way,” said Meghan Hancock, a junior agricultural development ma jor and Krueger Hall resident. “I wanted it to feel like home.” Texas A&M mailed Hancock a checklist of things that she would need during her first year in the dorms, which was helpful when she planned out what to buy, she said. “Plus, I had an older brother who had already lived in the dorms, and he helped out a lot too,” Hancock said. See Decorating on page 4 u n- : ! 'l Show your student LD. & get 15% off regular price merchandise. Here's a no-brainer: Simply show your valid student I.D. and save 15% on all regular price stuff. (That's a lot of stuff.) But, you'd better hurry. Come September 26th, this offer's history. Sorry, cannot be used with any other discount or offer. Offer ends September 26, 2004. % ESIGN Visit Design U at pierl.com for a chance to win a $1,500 Gift Card. SATURDAY, SEPT. 4TH « LAKE BRYAN KEVIN FOWLERj'JASON BOLAND BOTTLE ROCKETSMACON OREYSONJTOST TRAILERSJ'ELI YOUNG FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: WWW.ZIEGFEST.COM DOORS OPEN AT 11:00 AM PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT: 1 S Mj PRESENTED BY: KORA greater I no. COUNTRY