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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
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