HOW TO GET ALONG WITH YOUR COLLEGE ROOMMATE

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Tips for Getting Along With Your College Roommate

By Jamie Rona

It is exciting to move away from home and live on your own. You get to make your own decisions about how to decorate, what to eat, etc. There is a new found freedom and it is exhilarating to be able to spread your wings.

However, the first time many people experience living on their own is when they go to college. Not only are you living on your own for the first time, but you are dealing with the stress of college courses and many times you are living with a roommate. More often than not, the roommate is a stranger. Someone the housing department decided would be your living companion for the next year.

Now this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Many lifelong friendships have begun from being thrown together as college roommates. But, you need to remember that everyone comes from a different background and it is very likely that there will be a few issues. So here are a few tips for getting along with your college roommate.

  1. Set boundaries and rules from the beginning. Many times we start off thinking that everything will be great and rosy. You many think that you can share your food and the household chores with no trouble at all. But things don’t usually work out that way even if they start out going well. Once you have a routine in place it is hard to change it, so it is best if you set rules the first day.
  2. Divide up household chores such as taking out the trash and sweeping the floor. If you have an apartment with a kitchen, add kitchen cleanup to the list. Divide the duties so the work is spread evenly and then rotate every week.
  3. Develop a schedule for visitors and study time. One of the most difficult things for college roommates is dealing with unwanted social time. Many times one roommate has a big project due and the other is entertaining friends until late in the night. Set firm rules about social time and study time. Remember, you came to college to get an education so that needs to be a priority.
  4. Let things go. Many times college roommates get in huge fights over little things. Remember that when someone is hungry, tired, or angry they are more likely to get upset over the small stuff. The little things aren’t worth a year of misery because you and your roommate can’t get along. Be quick to forgive and forget and your college experience will be much more pleasant.
  5. Sometimes the problems you encounter with college roommates are bigger than you can deal with on your own. Things such as excessive partying, illegal drug use, and other issues should be reported to the head of your dorm for resolution.

College is a time to spread your wings and gain your independence. By following these simple tips you can have a great experience and perhaps make lifelong friends with your college roommates as well.

Your college dorm room should be a home away from home and great dorm room chairs will add comfort and style. Your choice in dorm room furniture will make your dorm room the perfect place to relax!

 

 

 

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SMALL SPACE 101: GETTING ORGANIZED FOR DORM LIFE

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By Stacey Agin Murray

It’s no secret–dorm rooms are notoriously small. There are many challenges to living in a tiny space. And sharing that tiny space with a perfect stranger makes day-to-day college life even more challenging! In order to embrace your itty-bitty home-away-from-home, it’s important to arrive organized and create an organized space for yourself. Here are some ‘pre-dorm life’ organizing tips for the college-bound student:

 

De-clutter Before Leaving Home

Mom and Dad are having a tough time watching you ‘leave the nest.’ It won’t help matters if you leave that nest a mess before you leave. Go through your belongings and decide what you’d like to take with you to college and what you’d like to have in your room when you come home for vacations. All items left over, consider boxing up in a storage space for sentimental reasons or donating to a charitable organization. You’re going to want to come back to an uncluttered room—please don’t leave the de-cluttering to your parents. They may throw something out that you’ll be looking for later. Or, find something you didn’t want them to see…

Call Residential Life

Most dorm rooms come equipped with a bed, desk, dresser and closet—maybe a bookshelf. Give the Residential Life office a call to ask about what you’ll find when you walk in the door such as furniture, size of room and storage options. They may even have pictures on their website you can view. Another good question to ask is what’s NOT allowed in a dorm room. Many colleges and universities prohibit microwave ovens, coffee makers, hot pots and candles. No hiding contraband items! They might be discovered during a 3am fire drill…

Call Prospective Roommate(s)

Once you find out who you’re roommate is, contact them—not only to introduce you’re self but more importantly—to discuss who will bring what! You don’t want to stuff two DVD players, two TV’s and two fridges in your small, shared space. You need all the square footage you can get!

Shop at Home

Don’t wait to get all of your stuff at the Wal-Mart down the road from campus. Everyone else had the same idea and has already bought out the coolest looking comforter sets and memo boards. Now that you’ve spoken to Residential Life and your roomie-to-be, start looking online and in brick & mortar stores for dorm room organizers and other needed items. Involve Mom and Dad in the process and let them help out. They want to know you’ll be OK when you’re away…

Products For An Organized Dorm

How will you know which products you’ll need to set up an organized dorm room? Start by asking older friends and relatives what they use to maximize space in their dorm rooms. Also, many stores offer checklists for college bound students to refer to when shopping. Don’t forget to check out discount stores, too—the cost of these items add up! Before you head out to the stores, here’s a list of some popular and functional storage products to turn your dorm room into an organized oasis:

Bed Risers

Bed Risers elevate a bed to provide more storage space underneath. Why use them? Under the bed space is what many professional organizers refer to as ‘prime real estate.’ It’s a great place for storing off-season clothes and rarely used items.

Under Bed Boxes w/Wheels

This is the perfect container for storing those off-season clothes and rarely used items discussed above. Wheels make getting the piece easier to pull out from under the bed.

Bed Organizer

Think of this as an instant nightstand. A Bed Organizer or ‘bed pocket’ tucks under a mattress, hangs over the side, and contains multiple pockets that are good for little things that can easily create clutter in a small space. Great for holding remote controls, lip balm, hand cream or whatever a college student needs by their bedside.

Hanging Hamper

What if you have no room for a laundry basket? Use a Hanging Hamper! This type of hamper is equipped with a hanger at the top–hang it from a doorknob or closet rod. Some models have a carry strap—great if the laundry room isn’t close to your own room.

Closet Organizers

For an organized closet consider using a Canvas Hanging Sweater Organizer and/or Shoe Organizer. These closet organizers have mini shelves that are designed to store sweaters, shoes and much more. These pieces usually wrap around a closet rod with Velcro or it hangs from two hangers. Canvas is breathable which helps to keep your clothes fresh.

Folding Bookcase

A folding bookcase is the perfect solution to a shelf-less dorm room. It can be used as a freestanding bookshelf or as a hutch on a desk. Often, there is no assembly required and it folds for easy moving and storage during vacation time. With just a few phone calls, some fun shopping, and a bunch of cool products, you’re on your way to getting a 4.0 in Small Spaces 101!

 

Stacey Agin Murray is a professional organizer and the owner of Organized Artistry, LLC. She transforms mess into masterpiece with patience, organizing know-how, and a sense of humor. Her booklet “7 Steps To An Organized Wedding Thank You Note” is available directly through www.OnlineOrganizing.com. You may visit her web site at http://www.organizedartistry.com.

Content provided by OnlineOrganizing.com — offering “a world of organizing solutions!” Visit www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau, get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you, or get some help starting and running your own organizing business.

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COLLEGE DORM BEDDING – How to Pick It

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dorm room bedding

How to Pick College Dorm Bedding

 

Your dorm at college is your home away from home, so it is important to furnish and decorate it comfortably and inexpensively. Buying the correct bedding will make a difference; your bed takes up the majority of both physical and visual space in your dorm room.

Steps

  1. Remember that college is the first (and probably last) time you will live essentially on your own before entering “the adult work world.” It’s okay if not everything matches perfectly or if you mix prints.
  2. Read any dorm guidelines that your school sends you. Pay attention at orientation and ask current students there for any tips.
  3. The most important rule of buying bedding for your dorm is getting twin extra-long sheets. Regular twin size sheets or full sheets will not fit!
  4. Don’t get white bedding. Because you have so little space in your dorm, your bed is also your couch, your office… and your dinner table. Getting bedding with dark colors or prints makes it easier to camouflage any spills or stains.
  5. Buy more than one set of sheets. A sheet set includes pillowcases, a flat sheet, and a fitted sheet. You aren’t going to want to do laundry very often but your sheets do need to be changed, so don’t wait until Thanksgiving break to come home and ask Mom to wash your sheets. Two sets is probably the minimum: that way, you can have one set on your bed and one clean set.
  6. Buy a mattress pad. Because your college has to outfit so many dorms, you can guarantee that your mattress won’t be the most comfortable one you’ve ever slept on.
  7. Take the climate of your school into account. If you’re going to University of Las Vegas, you might not need a heavy comforter all year round. On the other hand, if you’re going to University of Maine, you might want a comforter as well as a few lighter blankets.
  8. Instead of trying to figure out how to put a comforter in the washing machine, consider a duvet cover. It goes over your comforter and usually closes with a zipper or Velcro. When it needs to be washed, just pull the cover off and throw it in the machine.
  9. Invest in under-bed storage. During the warmer months, you can store your comforter (and winter clothes!) under your bed. Or, you can bring your winter stuff home when you come to visit. Always leave a fleece throw or two in your dorm, in case the air conditioning is cranked up one day.
  10. Ask your parents if they have any spare bedding things lying around. They might have a comforter folded up in a closet somewhere. You might not want to bring the bedding from your bed at home to school with you; that way when you come home, you’ll still have something to sleep in.
  11. If it’s important to you, get in touch with your roommate(s) before buying bedding. If you want, you can try to coordinate.

Tips

  • Don’t waste money on throw pillows. One or two are nice to have, but bring them from home instead of purchasing new ones.
  • Check the washing instructions before you purchase bedding. If your comforter is dry clean only, it might not be a good choice for a college dorm.
  • Shop online. You already know what size you need, and it’s not a big deal if it doesn’t match perfectly.
  • If you have allergies to dust mites, mold, or something similar, consider hypoallergenic mattress pads or pillowcase covers.

Things You’ll Need

  • At least 2 sheet sets – twin extra-long
  • Mattress pad
  • Comforter or duvet cover
  • Fleece or lightweight throw blankets
  • Throw pillows
  • Underbed storage

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Have some tips you would like to add? Please feel free to add your tips and ideas to this article at How to Pick College Dorm Bedding. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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DECORATE A DORM ROOM – How to Tips and Ideas

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dorm room decoration

Learn how to spice up and add personal flare to a small space.

Steps

  1. Think of how you want it to look. You only have a limited about of space but you can make it work.
  2. If you can’t paint, add some of your favorite band posters or pictures of your friends and family. You can make your own frames or buy them.
  3. Get bedding that corresponds with the them or color of your room, unless you’re random and don’t care what it looks like.
  4. Add a small desk if you can, so you can study and have space to put your books and other things.
  5. Add a small lamp for light and style. They come in many different styles and shapes.
  6. Get little shelving so you can put your clothing and your extra things you may have.
  7. Make sure you like it and you’re not trying to impress anyone but you. Make it so you feel comfy, happy and it’s like a little piece of home.

Tips

  • Have fun with it, it’s your dorm, do it how you feel it should be done.
  • You can get the things you need from stores that sell that type of items.

Warnings

  • If you’re painting wear a mask because paint fumes can be harmful.
  • Be careful of nails and screws that you are using in the wall or putting something together.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Have some ideas you would like to contribute? Please feel free to add your own ideas to How to Decorate a Dorm Room.  All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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THREE C’s TO AN ORGANIZED DORM ROOM

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By Susan Stewart

It’s back to school time and some of you will be sending a young adult off to college this year. If you are in this position, it may seem like an overwhelming task so here are a few tips to simplify it for you.

 

1. CATEGORIES:

This works for ANY room by the way, and not just dorms. Set up the dorm room in zones and store things accordingly in that zone. In a dorm room, your categories may be grooming, dressing, studying, sleeping and eating. Putting things away is easier when you have decided what and where the zones are. Keep in mind that your space is small so bringing only seasonal clothing and making use of vertical space here is also going to help.

2. COMBINE:

You will want to combine your efforts with your roommate. Check ahead of time with what they are bringing so you don’t end up with duplicates. Some items to share are a mini fridge, microwave, tv, game system & furniture. You’ll also want to choose items with multiple uses. For example: an iPhone can be a phone, calendar, iPod and map. Attractive message boards, hooks and shelves serve dual purposes combining utility needs with decoration.

3. COLOR COORDINATE:

This is going to come more into play for the ladies than the men but it still stands true in both places. A dorm room is a small space and small spaces look less cluttered when things are containerized and are color coordinated. That’s why photos in a catalog look so good. Pick 2 or 3 colors and stick with those throughout the room when picking storage pieces, decor, bedding, etc.

Happy packing and don’t wait until the last minute!

 

Susan Stewart is the owner of Perfectly Placed and lives in the Phoenix area. Perfectly Placed organizes along side of you or virtually to make your life simpler and the way you use your time more efficient. To learn more about Perfectly Placed and the services we offer, visit www.perfectlyplaced.org

Content provided by OnlineOrganizing.com — offering “a world of organizing solutions!” Visit www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau, get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you, or get some help starting and running your own organizing business.

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DORM ROOM DECORATIONS – Add Color, Pizzazz and Privacy for Little Cost

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Q:

Cheap Dorm Room Decorations?

I’m living in residence this year, and I want to decorate my dorm room. I don’t want to spend a lot of money but would love to do something bright and colorful on my walls while adding a little privacy in my shared space.  I also have to be careful about what I use to put things up on my walls. I believe the white or blue sticky putty stuff is okay to use to put up dorm room decorations. Any ideas of things I can easily do myself to decorate?

 

dorm room decorationsdorm room decorationsdorm room decorationsdorm room decorations

A:

When it comes to dorm room decorations, one of the best ways to create some instant color and pizzazz is to tie dye a sheet and hang in on your wall with sticky tack or to creatively hang it from your ceiling. Doing so will add a cozy feel and address your wish for some privacy in your shared dorm room. I’d recommend buying two twin flat sheets in either white or a light color.  Instead of  buying new sheets you may be able to find some some gently used ones at a local thrift shop.  You’ll find that your sticky tack will adhere better if you first hot glue some thick paper or a thin piece of cardboard to the corners and randomly on the edges of the backside of the sheet you want to hang on your wall. As for how to hang a tie dyed sheet, it all depends on what kind of ceiling you have. I’ve heard that everything from magnetic clips to wire and ‘S’ hooks work well (if you have ceiling panels and knot the corners of the sheets).

While you’re at it, why not tie dye a pillowcase to coordinate? Other dorm room decorating ideas include adding a colorful throw and using peel and stick wall decals (just check to make sure they are removable first) and creating your own photo college.

Hope the above ideas for dorm room decorations are of interest.

 

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College Dorm Room Essentials

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Dorm Design 101: 6 Must-Haves for a College Dorm Room. In this KMart Design video, Chief Designer Theresa shares 6 dorm room essentials for organizing and decorating a dorm room.

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Dorm Design Tips and Ideas

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Dorm Design 101: Your Home Away From Home. In this KMart Design video, get simple dorm room ideas for turning a typical dorm room into a comfortable home away from home with Chief Designer Theresa.

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How to Arrange a Dorm Room for Privacy

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Don’t let the prison cell dimensions of your dorm room discourage you. This Howcast video shows you how to carve out a little personal space in your shared dorm room by creating a dorm room divider.

To complete this how-to dorm room divider project you will need:

Curtains, preferably blackout ones
Screens or freestanding curtain dividers
Headphones
A loft bed
Bed risers
Cork paneling

Step 1: Decide private areas

Decide with your roommate what areas you’d like to cordon off as private. Ideally, you want the room arranged so neither of you has to smell the other person’s dirty laundry or see them get lucky.

Tip: Dividing the room down the middle is not necessarily the best choice.

Step 2: Take stock of furniture

Take stock of the furniture in the room. A dresser or wardrobe can double as a space divider, letting you study — or not — in peace.

Step 3: Arrange beds strategically

Try placing one bed against a wall, with the back of one desk next to the bed. Arrange the other bed and desk similarly, but against the opposite wall. This way, whether you’re sleeping or studying, you won’t be in each other’s faces.

Tip: If possible, loft one of the beds, or lift it off the ground a few feet using bed risers. Your roommate will be less able to see you when you’re elevated.

Step 4: Hang some drapes

Consider hanging drapes around your bed. Your dorm mates will stop laughing once they see the great night’s sleep you get with your blackout curtains.

Step 5: Put up screens

Move vertical screens or freestanding curtain dividers around the room as needed — like in front of your roommate when they’re sucking face with someone.

Tip: Add cork to the panels of your room divider and they double as bulletin boards.

Step 6: Use headphones

Invest in a good set of noise-canceling headphones so you can enjoy your music — and your sanity — while your roomie is making a ruckus.

Step 7: Set up a schedule

Work out a schedule with your roommate so that you both can count on some solo time every week. Maybe they can make themselves scarce on Monday and Wednesday evenings and you can do the same on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Step 8: Get real

Be realistic. Realize there are going to be times when you get on each other’s nerves. Hey, there’s always the library!

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Cheap Dorm Room Ideas

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A little planning is all it takes to decorate your dorm with style! The following dorm room ideas from Howcast will show you how to furnish your dorm room without spending a fortune.

To complete this cheap dorm room how-to project you will need:

A nose for bargains
A futon
A storage box
Old photographs and keepsakes
A creative spirit

Step 1: Scope out the garage sales

Hit neighborhood garage sales for items such as a desk, small table, lamps, and pictures. Haggle for the best price!

Step 2: Buy used rugs and mirrors

Area rugs and mirrors can make your room look much bigger than its shoebox size. Head to a local thrift store for bargains.

Step 3: Replace the dorm bed with a futon

Futons are the ultimate in functional furniture — you can sleep on them and use them as a comfy couch. Make the futon your biggest investment and enjoy the extra space.

Step 4: Pick up accent pillows from the clearance bin

Search the clearance racks at home furnishing stores for colorful pillows to brighten up the space.

Step 5: Shop end of season sales

Big box stores that sell furniture and home decor mark down dozens of products like lamps, clocks, pillows, comforters, and more at the end of each season, perfect for back-to-school purchases.

Tip: Furniture that requires assembly is usually cheaper than pre-assembled pieces.

Step 6: Make storage boxes

Wooden boxes with a hinged lid are great for storage and can double as a bench for your seating area. Build or buy a simple one and cover it with cushioning and colorful fabrics for an inexpensive and stylish addition.

Step 7: Make a collage for your walls

If you don’t want to invest in expensive paintings or prints, decorate the walls with a homemade collage of your favorite photographs, quotes, crafts, and pictures that you’ve drawn.

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