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Dorm Room Idea: Near Eastern Studies
I have fond memories of decorating my dorms rooms through my four years spent at Goucher College. I had my own room, so no pesky roommates interfering with my vision. The years go by too quickly because my nephew is off to Virginia Tech in a few weeks. He won’t let me near his dorm room. (Can’t figure out why. I thought he’d love the purple unicorn bedspread I sent over). So, I thought I’d use my dorm room design strategies here instead.
I’m starting with a Near Eastern scheme because all things Indian and Turkish are very much on my mind lately.
But first, let’s start with a nice background to inspire us. I’m loving this wallcovering from Graham & Brown. Frames ($40 per double roll) lets you release your inner Creative. Fill the frames with photos from India, Morocco, and Turkey, Include some of your friends and your own travels. Write your hopes and dreams, or get really creative and draw your own pictures.
Yes, I know most dorms won’t allow wall covering on the walls. BUT, you could attach strips from dowels hung from the ceiling. Weight the bottoms with another dowel. You can take your panels with you when you move rooms next year.
Most dorm rooms have a tile floor that’s easy to clean. But I rug is so much better for social occasions. I chose this fabulous Souk Chic area rug from FLOR. It comes in three colorways - this is my favorite. It’s $149 for a six-tile rug.
You’ll need some lighting to. I’d like to suggest the Volant table lamp ($94) (pictured above) from Lighting Universe.
For curtains I chose colorful and exotic panels made from Saris (above). They sell for $100 at Indian Selections. This site has a lot of sari curtains to choose from - some for only $50 a set.
Finally, you’re going to need some toss pillows for your study nights at the Casbah. I found these Thomas Paul wonders ($49 - $98 each) at 2Modern.
Do you have a dorm room dream of your own? Share it with us. Or, give me a head start and I’ll come up with a few ideas.
Design Dilemma: Bedroom for a pre-teen
Today’s design dilemma involves redecorating a room for Becky, a 10-year old girl moving out of childhood and towards her teen years. She needs a look at matches her personality. Becky likes music and sports and is a great student. Her mom, Sandra, says, “I want her to have a bedroom that has her things. She is both a little girl and a “hip chick.”
Design concerns
Sandra told me that a big problem with the room is the lack of light. Becky’s room lost a window after some remodeling and the room is dark.
“I can’t stand the minty teal color,” says Sandra. “Becky’s first choice of color would be hot pink! I’ve had her bed in every possible spot and we re-arrange constantly. I can’t wait to get rid of the rug.”
Starting with a focal point
Becky loves Lilly Pulitzer. Fortunately, Lilly patterns are available in fabric by the yard. This was my starting point. The room needed a focal point. The bed is the obvious solution, but it was stuck in the corner. So I moved it in front of the window and added a Lilly Fabric curtain to frame both the window and the bed, thus creating a central focus to the room.
Color and Light
Currently, the room has no depth because the walls and carpet are the same hue with the shade (or value). It makes the room look flat, and darker than it really is. Contrast and a lighter tint of paint will make the most of the daylight. Another problem is the plantation shutter. It looks great, but cuts the daylight in half.
The solution is to paint the walls a light hue to reflect as much light as possible. I chose Benjamin Moore’s I Love You Pink. Paint the ceiling the same color. The trim could be painted green to match the fabric, or a darker pink, such as Benjamin Moore’s Hot Lips. Beware! My number one rule is to choose the paint last. Sandra will need to adjust the exact color after she chooses fabrics and sheets.
Even though there’s a ceiling fixture, Sandra says we still need more lighting. I placed table lamps by the bed and on the dresser. I removed the shutter and added a fabric roller shade for sleeping and privacy.
But we need some light and drama. A small chandelier is just the thing. I’ve hung it over the desk/dressing table. It’s the perfect thing for applying makeup.
Eliminating clutter
Becky’s room is a clutter factory – a typical teen problem. This room needs more storage with furnishings that work together. Currently, the separate pieces give the room a chopped-up look. I pulled it all together by adding two tall shelving units on either side of the desk. It frames the desk, with the chandelier, and the adjustable shelves take the clutter off the floor. These can work throughout Becky’s school years as her style changes. I removed the toy chest. She’s too old for that. I love the pink furry chair. It has a lot of personality. Next, I added a new bedside table that’s not skirted. Again, this diminishes the cluttered look.
Pulling the look together
I started with the Lilly Pulitzer fabric. Two choices are shown here, but there are lots of options. To pull the entire look together we need patterns that work with the Lilly and add texture and fun. I chose pink dots and stripes for the bed and a zebra-stripe rug for the floor.
Final thoughts
Sandra is a woman who loves to decorate. And she likes things to go together. So do I! A home looks best when the rooms work together. However, an exception sometimes needs to be made when it comes to teens. They’re rooms are their own planets – completely separate from the rest of the universe. They need that space to help them discover who they are. Sandra sounds like a mom who understands the concept of creating a beautiful room that still reflects her daughter’s personality.
For more thoughts on this subject, see my post on teen rooms. And don’t forget to weigh in with your thoughts and ideas!
Resources: Lilly Pulitzer fabric, PB Teen