SHOPPING! | Seniors | Hampton Roads Portrait Photographer

Hi!

Now that graduation party season has died down it's time to talk DORM SHOPPING!

 

WhenI was a freshman in college (*cough* 2006 *cough*) we were forced to live with at least one other person-- that is unless we paid EXTRA to have our own room-- and if we did it usually ended up being a tiny broom closet at the end of the hall. SO, needless to say one learned VERY quickly how to NOT be a pack rat and how to get creative with their organizational skills ;)

 

I've learned from some of this year's Seniors that their dorms are apparently going to be much nicer and a lot of them are even getting a shared kitchen space and semi-private bathrooms!! (i'm a little jelly!)

 

Either way I can pretty much guarantee you'll still need to find some unique ways to store your stuff and get the most out of your space.

 

SO to save you some headache and creative brain cells I've compiled a list of some of what I deem as the MUST HAVES for your dorm (and a few fun gadgets thrown in, too-- just because):

1. First thing's first: check out your dorm rules.
Some places will let you hang any and everything on the walls and some will require an oath in blood before you can even LOOK at the walls- so it's a key piece of the shopping puzzle to first know what you can and can't have (for example I was NOT allowed to have a hott plate in my dorm. Did this include candle warmers --ya know, the things that melted the wax so you didn't have matches?--no one knows. But i had one anyway! shhhh!)

If you can hang things on the walls my first "MUST HAVE" is shelves!
-Shelves get things up off the floor and help spruce up the place! You can place pictures of you and your besties, pictures of mom and dad, pictures from your senior session we had, flowers, mini-vases, the teddy bear your boyfriend won at the fair for you last summer, a framed hand-written note from your gramma, cards your mom sends you, and on and on and on.

Shelves are an obvious choice to help decorate AND help with clutter (that is IF you're allowed to have them).

 

2. If you can't actually drill holes into the walls to hang shelves the next great option are these:
http://www.target.com/p/over-the-door-6-hook-rack-chrome/-/A-10788144#prodSlot=medium_1_25&term=hooks

 

It's not a shelf, of course, but it will help get little things up off the floor or keep them from getting scattered all over the bed and night stand. Use it on your closet door or even the door to the room. You can use it to hook purses, hats, umbrellas, or even your bath robe!

I also used the individual ones with the sticky gum on the back and put them all over one wall to make a sort of decoration with the purses i had to hang up.
Like these:
http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/SCOTCH-Scotch-Command-Adhesive-Mount-Metal-Hook-Large-Brushed-Nickel-Finish/14881957?action=product_interest&action_type=image&placement_id=irs_middle&strategy=PWVAV&visitor_id=79468684548&category=0%3A4044%3A90828%3A1075664&client_guid=46f7f0d7-8c59-4949-8dca-c7ea6b062588&config_id=0&parent_item_id=32512007&guid=6d963302-2879-4ac2-99a8-c669f8152790&bucket_id=irsbucket011&findingMethod=p13n

Gets them off the floor AND helps decorate just a bit!

3. LARGE MIRRORS (and decorations)

Large mirrors, if positioned strageically in a room, can really help open up a place. Plus, decorating a room instantly makes it feel more inviting and a little bit more like home- so don't be afraid to go a little extra mile in the decore department. You'll be happier to come back to your room and it may even make you feel better about having to study ;) Just tell your parents that when they're telling you that you don't need that super cute throw pillow or awesome multi-colored bedside table.

"Mom, if my room is nicer I'll want to spend more time in it and I therefore won't be out at Jackie's apartment gossiping about Pretty Little Liars and ignoring my studies. I'll actually WANT to be in my room- and when I'm there I can't help but pick up my books."

{See how that works? ;) }


4. Cube Units

I love these. Hands down they're AWESOME. I have a set in my office, in fact, and I am in love with them. They not only help keep things organized but they are cute and space for decorating, too!

(My office!)

Trust me, everyone can use more shelf space for clothes but these are best used for storing books, picture frames, gadgets, purses, and all the other little things that don't have a good "home" but need to be up off the floor. PLUS you can pick really cute baskets in multiple colors to really add decoration to your space!

Here's a great one from Bed Bath & Beyond: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/real-simple-6-cube-storage-unit-in-white/201339?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_storage_&gclid=CjkKEQjw_N-cBRD2k73X3OjJ8eMBEiQAbdPic2l_riesgQqfE4f-i6ViNGBA3H50xqrMcuBEeMPBkcTw_wcB

So, to wrap things up, when you go dorm shopping start looking for things that do the following:

- help you stay organized and get things UP (off the floor, the bed, the desk, etc.)
- don't shy away from getting things that help decorate the space and truly make it your own
- and be SURE you check out the dorm rules before you head to the store! No need to have to make a whole trip back to return it all later

What's the first thing you're going to purchase? Tell me in the comments below!
 

XO,

Sarah