E-mail
Print
Banish blank walls
Renters need not sacrifice style
By Gemma Guenther
If you are thinking of leaving your parent’s house or the dorms next semester, keep in mind that your redecorating options will likely be limited, unless you buy a condo or house.
Many college students’ rooms are less than inspirational, and there is a common culprit behind all of them: landlords/parents who refuse to consider anything less than blank walls and boring furnishings. (In a way, you can’t blame them. When selling a property the less personality, the better, because a conflicting style can make the potential buyer unable to imagine him/herself in the space.)
However, while you live there it is important to get the most out of it. Your apartment/dorm should feel like home, no matter how temporary your situation may be. If you are thinking of leaving your parent’s house or the dorms next semester, keep in mind that your redecorating options will likely be limited, unless you buy a condo or house.
Here are some decorating ideas to take your room from cookie-cutter to beautiful and personal.
Bring out the dried/silk flowers! Though fresh is often preferable for an arrangement, for decorations you will usually need something a bit more sturdy. On one of my walls, I took a vine and thumb tacked it along the top edge of the wall, then following down the left side. (My vine is black, which can be difficult to find outside of October or the Internet.) To add more drama, I incorporated some used wall sconce candleholders, which could use some help in the style department. I added three silk flowers, tied them together with some twist ties, and finished it off with a bow of purple ribbon. (I don’t really have to remind you not to burn these candles, do I?)
If you have a rather generic dorm bed, consider decorating the headboard. Cover it with a sheet of black lace or other fabric, which can be tied to the bedpost. If you have an extra flower or two, insert them between the post and the sheet.
Shadowboxes and shelves! Why keep your fantastic collectibles or sentimental objects stored away under your bed or in the closet? Just remember when using a shadowbox with Velcro and velvet as opposed to those with tiny compartments for each object to stand on, you may not want the Velcro attached to your favorite figurines forever – in this case, consider using a needle and some fishing line to stitch the objects to the back of the case.
Of course, these tips are just the beginning, really an introduction into some of the tactics I have used to combat white-wall boredom in my own room. For further projects for the beginning designer, check out Voltaire’s “Paint It Black: A Guide to Gothic Homemaking.” You can also take a look at the Web site digsmagazine.com for general ideas on young adult life, including great decorating advice.
> Comments