Dorm Essentials: Make It Super Cool!
From comforters to alarm clocks, everything you need for an awesome dorm room.
Aug. 23, 2007 — -- The descriptions sound like ads for a dream home: newly renovated with hardwood floors, giant walk-in closets, kitchens with ultramodern appliances, even home theaters and swimming pools.
They're not part of a pitch for the hottest new house on the block — these amenities can be found in some of today's swankiest college dorms.
All-out luxury is the newest trend in on-campus living and universities say deluxe dorm accommodations are a great way to attract incoming students.
But better digs mean digging deeper into your wallet.
At Marist College in New York, some dorms have state-of-the-art kitchens and spacious living areas, but to live there, students pay about $2,000 more a year than for an average dorm.
Most schools say the difference in price is not a deterrent. In fact, there are hardly enough rooms to satisfy demand for these posh pads.
Popular Science magazine says all these amenities could be just the beginning. The magazine predicts that high-tech dorm living will soon be the norm on campuses.
Not surprisingly, students say that upgrading from the typical to the totally tremendous is worth every penny.
"I study more when I am comfortable," one Marist student said.
What to Get
Even if a student isn't living in designer digs, there are a few easy ways to jazz up a dorm room and add stylish storage.
Walls and Decor
Don't fear if nails aren't allowed in the dorm room, you can still decorate the walls with a few tricks.
3M COMMAND STRIPS, $2.97
You can hang anything with no damage to walls. Comes in lots of different styles and sizes, from poster-hanging strips to hooks that can hold up to 7.5 pounds.
Available at Lowe's and other hardware stores.
FABRIC AS WALL HANGING
Marimekko Kaivo Blue, $35.70 per yard
Available at Reprodepot.com
POLKA DOTS WALL DECAL, $37
Vinyl wall decals are another great way to get around the no-nails decorating policy in dorms. Sixteen candy-colored dots let you create any design you want on your wall. Huge selection of funky designs available from birds and groovy flowers to mod designs in tons of colors.
By Blik in style: Sweet Sixteen
Available at www.velocityartanddesign.com
Bed-Risers and Bedding
The bed is the largest thing in any dorm room and serves many purposes sleeping, hanging out and providing lots of storage underneath.
CREATIVE BATH BED RISERS, $9.99
Set of four risers raises bed six or more inches. Provides extra storage room but can still be hidden by a dust ruffle.
Available at Linens n' Things
RACKRAISER, $78.99
RackRaiser can raise your bed 20 to 25 inches off the ground, which provides almost 40 additional cubic feet of storage space.
Available at www.dormbuys.com
Rolling Under Bed Cart, $16.47
Unlike basic boxes that can get weighed down with items and difficult to pull out from under the bed, the rolling under bed storage cart makes retrieving your stored items easy. Underbed carts are ideal for storing shoes, clothes, towels, blankets, supplies or anything else you want organized and out of the way.
Available at www.dormbuys.com
Under-Bed Storage Bag, $9.99
Clear plastic underbed bag stores clothing, bedding blankets and keeps seasonal items out of your way, clean and dust free. Perfect for coats, sweaters, etc. when the weather gets warm.
Available at www.containerstore.com
Aluminum 9-Pair Shoe Rack, $14.00
Store extra shoes under your bed in this compact shoe rack that sits low to the floor. Stores up to nine pairs of shoes and fits under bed.
Available at www.containerstore.com
The Bedside Organizer, $13.99
Bedside organizer that tucks under the mattress for a secure hold features seven pockets to hold remotes, magazines, glasses, tissues, water bottles, etc.
Available at www.dormbuys.com
Memory Foam Mattress Topper, $19.99
Memory foam mattress topper makes you feel like you are sleeping on air.
Available at www.target.com
Wamsutta Expressions Sheets and Comforter Cover, $19.99
Available at www.linensnthings.com
FLOR Tiles, $13.99
Nothing adds more warmth to a room than a rug. Create any size or color carpet you like with Flor Tiles that come with adhesive that you just stick to floor. InterfaceFLOR has reclaimed 93 million tons of old carpet and recycled it into new carpet backing. The company also has a return/recycle program where it sends you a recyclable bag and pays for the shipping of your old Interface Product back to the company where it recycles it into new product.
Available at www.flor.com
Stripe Rug, $12.99
Available at www.ikea.com
Isaac Mizrahi Dot Print Sheet Set, $29.99
Your bed is another opportunity to make a big decorative statement! This year there is a great selection of happy bold colors and fun patterns.
Available at www.target.com
Jonathan Adler Happy Home Twin Duvet Cover, $89
This comforter is geometric and chic, its black and white pattern will go with anything — including next year's new dorm redecorating.
Available at www.bedbathandbeyond.com
Jonathan Adler British Flag Pillow, $95
Available at www.jonathanadler.com
Bed Gadgets:
Adjus-Table, $79
Flexible side table that you can adjust the height from 22" - 32" tall. Turn any lounge chair or even your bed into a study space with the help of this handy work surface.
Available at PBteen.com
Mini Mantle, $19.99
A top seller on dormbuys.com, the Mini-Mantel was designed by two college students who identified a need. It provides shelf space for the person assigned to the top bunk. It fits on the post of virtually any bed to hold a small lamp, alarm clock, book or glass of water.
Available at www.DormBuys.com
"Never-Late" Alarm Clock, $34.98
The Never-Late 7-Day Alarm Clock accommodates your schedule with seven settings — one for each day of the week! Set it once and forget about it all semester.
Available at www.DormBuys.com
Portable iPod Speakers, $99.99
iHOME iH80WPortable speaker that plays music from your iPod and can also be powered by batteries, so it's portable. Charges your iPod when not in use.
Available at www.iHomeAudio.com