Aug. 17, 2017 "An education on dorm room decor": Today I found this article by Melissa Rayworth in the Globe and Mail:
When Young Huh left for college in the 1980s, she brought “one giant poster of the Cure, bedding from the local bed-and-bath store and maybe some desk accessories.” Like so many Gen Xers, her one creative touch was asking a supermarket for leftover milk crates to use as bookshelves.
Now an interior designer, she has helped her own children decorate their dorm rooms, and she’s amazed at the design expectations among college students.
“It’s a level of decorating that did not even exist in my world view when I was in school,” Huh says.
Today, there are lots of products “that cater entirely to the college crowd,” she says.
Interior designer Jon Call sees the same phenomenon: While his main business is designing luxury homes in Manhattan, he also gets asked to design college living spaces.
“This new generation has grown up under the influence of home magazines, HGTV and the virtues of ‘democratic design.’ They understand the value of creating unique spaces for themselves,” he says. They want their dorm rooms “not only to function, but also to reflect who they are.”
We’ve asked Huh, Call and small-space design expert Theodore Leaf, host of the Design Network series Living Big in Under 1,000 Sq. Ft., for advice on infusing a college dorm room with style and personality, while keeping budget and function in mind.
Choose your vision
As with any design project, Huh recommends beginning with an overall vision for the space. “Is it all one colour and soothing? Is it ethnic eclectic? Are you going for pink extravaganza? Clip some pictures or start a Pinterest page,” she says.
Then, choose a focal point for the room, something you would like to see every day. “It could be your bed with an oversize art work or a fun suzani wall hanging over it,” Huh says.
“Having something overscaled or very interesting to look at distracts the eye and makes you forget the size of the space.”
“Having something overscaled or very interesting to look at distracts the eye and makes you forget the size of the space.”
If your focal point includes saturated, dramatic colour, it will also help disguise the fact that a room is small. “This could be a red bed in an otherwise neutral room,” Call explains. “It allows the eye to focus on one thing and the defining walls to disappear.”
Call also suggests adding a beautiful headboard to the existing bed frame, elevating the look of basic dorm furniture.
Another trick: Keep your colour scheme to just three colours to help make a small space feel bigger, and “focus on fewer pieces of furniture at a larger scale,” Call says.
Small-space specialties
Leaf says the few furniture pieces you bring should do double-duty, such as a storage ottoman large enough to function as a mini coffee table or as seating.
Call agrees: “Your end table may have a drawer that is outfitted with chargers and cords to make it an electronics station. Your bed could have bolsters on it to convert it into a daybed for additional seating.”
Huh suggests adding a loft to lift the bed, or at least adding risers to create under-bed storage space.
You can also use window draperies to make the room seem larger. Dorm rooms often come with vertical blinds, Leaf says, and you can transform the look by adding inexpensive sheer curtains hung high on a tension rod over the blinds. To make it even more dramatic, use a larger rod (even a tension rod made for a shower curtain) and run the sheers across an entire wall.
Personal touches
A colourful rug is an easy way to add style and warmth. Temporary wallpaper also can make a dorm feel less institutional. Candles (or artificial candles, for safety) can make a room feel “a little bit more tucked in,” Leaf says. And an oil diffuser is great for scenting the space.
Lighting is another powerful room-changer: Instead of living with harsh fluorescent lights, Leaf suggests gathering a few hand-me-down lamps from parents or grandparents, and changing the lamp shades if you don’t like them. Dimmers make a difference, too: You can use technology such as Philips’ Hue bulbs, which are controlled via an app, or simply bring plug-in dimmers.
Lastly, says Huh: “Fairy lights are de rigueur dorm decor.”
And don’t forget personal items from home.
“Anything that you can bring from home will make a dorm room feel more personal and comfortable,” Huh says. “A favourite mug and something you love from your room at home should also come with you to school.”
Aug. 18, 2017 "Design for success": Today I found this sponsor content article (for Staples) by Sarah Gunn in the Globe and Mail:
The key to an effective study space is allowing the room to express your personality. Here are some important tips for arranging ideal study spaces where both you and your student can work.
BEDROOM
According to designer and influencer Sarah Gunn, the first thing to think about when designing a study space for a bedroom is getting the right furnishing. “You want a good-sized desk and a comfortable chair,” says Gunn. “You definitely want ample space to get your work done.”
According to designer and influencer Sarah Gunn, the first thing to think about when designing a study space for a bedroom is getting the right furnishing. “You want a good-sized desk and a comfortable chair,” says Gunn. “You definitely want ample space to get your work done.”
Choosing from the plethora of desk options can be daunting, but Gunn suggests focusing primarily on storage that suits your specific needs. “If you’re a messier person, you want drawers in that desk,” she says. “If you’re a bit of a neat freak, you can get away with open shelving with some pretty baskets.”
Inspiration is the key to keeping focused while you work. Gunn suggests an Instagram wall, with square canvas prints, or even an evolving pinboard of photos or an Umbra clothesline photo display.
“You want to have something hanging over the desk that inspires you, be it art, photography, a collage – just something that makes the space feel special.”
DORM ROOM
“When you’re thinking about a dorm room, you’re thinking about a really blank slate and a cold, empty space. You can’t paint the walls or put a hole in them, so you need to come up with creative solutions to personalize the space and make it feel like home away from home,” says Gunn.
DORM ROOM
“When you’re thinking about a dorm room, you’re thinking about a really blank slate and a cold, empty space. You can’t paint the walls or put a hole in them, so you need to come up with creative solutions to personalize the space and make it feel like home away from home,” says Gunn.
While wallpaper might not be feasible, you can hang artistic panels on the walls with products like Command strips, which can be removed with zero residue left behind, to create a unique colour palette for the room.
Gunn says that personalization can extend to desk accessories that keep clutter to a minimum and feel like an organic part of the room design.
“Staples carries brands like Poppin and Umbra which are super stylish and functional,” she says. “They come in a bunch of different colour palettes so you can really customize your space and make it your own.”
Another thing to consider is lighting: it can be hard to find the right amount of light to work in tight spaces, she says. The key is adjustable, multifunctional task lighting: products like the Tensor LED light come with add-ons, in this case a built-in Bluetooth speaker, save on space.
“Mood lighting also helps,” she says. “Try draping some string lights above the display on your desk, which offers some soft lighting for the space. Even a floor lamp near the desk makes it better lit.”
Gunn also recommends investing in a pocket-sized HP Sprocket photo printer, which can wirelessly print photos of all the new experiences you have at college or university, and displaying them along with things like ticket stubs above the desk.
SHARED STUDY SPACES
When it comes to spaces that are shared by adult, teens and children alike, the most important thing is compartmentalizing.
SHARED STUDY SPACES
When it comes to spaces that are shared by adult, teens and children alike, the most important thing is compartmentalizing.
“If it’s a common space that the whole family is using, I think it’s key to create some storage in that space that’s designated for each person in the family. It could be inside of a buffet or dresser: it doesn’t have to be a plastic roll-out cart that doesn’t look attractive,” she says.
Whether it’s a young toddler doing crafts, a teenager writing a paper for school, or a parent getting their work done, Gunn says having personalized storage for every member of the family where things can tidily be put away makes a space as effective as it is multifunctional.
“If everyone has a place that’s hidden, they’re more likely to tidy up. Also, if you’re using the same computer or technology, set up different usernames so everyone can sign in to their own screen.”
Using a library cubby or a common room at your dorm? It doesn’t have to be sterile just because it’s a temporary working space.
“Personal photos, mementos from home, and even plants are a great way to personalize a workspace. Anything that adds that personal touch – and portable for when others need to use the space.”
Using Command strips, magnets or even fun clips can help make things easy to clean up when you’re done with the space. And make sure to bring your own stationery to give it a look that’s as unique as you are.
Feb. 17, 2019: Today I reread those articles. I was then inspired to look for a job in interior design companies. I applied to a furniture store.
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