dormdwellings

floor cushions

2010-11-22T01:12:00.004-05:00

round up

With the low-to-the-ground beds typical of many college dorms, social seating often extends to the floor. Though rugs can be cushion enough, for some extra comfort, floor pillows can be a perfect solution. Floor pillows are somewhat pricey to begin with, but I've searched for the best designs and most modest prices.

1. Floor natural 23" pillow, CB2, $49.95

2. Simply shabby chic, Target, $21.99

3. Scandanavian modern floor pillow, Etsy, $25.00

4. Round pintuck floor pillow, Urban Outfitters, $42.00

not pictured

5. Corduroy floor pillow, Urban Outfitters, $28.00

6. Birds of fall floor pillow, Etsy, $25

Or if you're feeling adventurous, apartmenttherapy.com has a tutorial on a DIY floor pillow.

Sam D's boutique single

2010-11-21T21:25:00.008-05:00

dorm tour

Name: Sam DeAndrade
Location: Brown University, New Dorm
Type of room: Single

Sam D, an interior design enthusiast herself, designed a chic boutique vibe for her single this year. Homey touches like a framed mirror and an upholstered chair make us forget that we are looking at a college dorm.

Her use of accessories and jewelry as decor, along with the bunches of pillows, create a lush and stylish, comfy atmosphere. And the deep colors of plum, petrol blue, and cinnamon red warm up the room from floor to ceiling.

Thanks Sam!

keeping a clean and stink-free microwave

2010-04-09T03:42:00.008-04:00

With midterms, papers, and sleep withdrawals, most of us forget to make our beds. But if the idea of a clean microwave appeals to you, here are some options!

1. keep a cup of baking soda inside your microwave when not in use to keep odors away

2. cover your food with a paper plate or plastic alternative

3. clean it by heating a mug of water and wiping with a dish cloth, as explained at Apartment Therapy

no-installation curtain rods

2010-04-09T03:16:00.012-04:00

Dressing a window with curtains is a great and inexpensive way to make a dorm room feel less common and standard. And a pop of color could break up the white-ish tan expanse of the walls we know all too well. But there's the question of how to hang them.

The choices for curtains are pretty much endless, but as for curtain rods... there are limits, since the university prohibits the nails and screws necessary to install heavy-duty rods. (Unless you're cool with chancing a fine at the end of the year.)

I use a suspension rod, available at stores like Home Depot or Bed Bath and Beyond. Unfortunately, though, their strength is limited.

After mine broke with the weight of two curtain panels, I set out to purchase a new one at Bed Bath and Beyond. I wasn't too upset to upgrade my previous $4 investment.

And learning my lesson, I now only use one curtain panel.

Do you use a curtain rod? What worked for you?

cheaper alternative to fancy glassware

2010-02-24T18:27:00.005-05:00

I have to admit, this set of glassware came as a gift. But I had seen comparable (expensive) Bodum glasses, and I was surprised to get such a present.

They look so chic, and (as I later discovered) are a fraction of a cost of Bodum glasses. They're also double-walled, which means they are perfect for drinking really cold or really hot drinks. You can see the Bodum glasses after the jump.

Luigi Bormiolo set of 4 glasses, Amazon @ $24.99

Bodum set of 2 glasses, Amazon @ $34.99

Bodum glassware

Serious-ly Whimsical Cottage Dorm

2010-02-21T20:02:00.024-05:00

dorm tour
Name: Daniel Carvalho
Location: Yale University, Davenport College
Type of room: Single in the Cottage Suite

A weekend adventure to Yale brought us to this wonderfully happy dorm room. Daniel mixes intellectual pursuits with a few furry friends... and no we're not talking about the rest of the Cottage boys...

Cuddly friends welcome you in to both the dorm and the bathroom.

A colorful entryway welcomes you in.

The playful side of the room.

The serious side.

Thanks Daniel for letting Dorm Dwellings into your home away from home.

diy straw lamp

2009-12-17T03:37:00.003-05:00

As a project for class, I made a pendant lamp out of straws. I grabbed the clear straws and red stirrers from a dining hall and bought the lamp cord kit from Urban Outfitters.

I made a flat sheet from the straws by taping them together at both the top and bottom, which visually helps define the lamp. I used more tape to connect the sheet into a cylindrical form. The tricky part was fusing the two lamps to form one. I ultimately decided on using paperclips to keep the red lamp in place.

Placing the red inside the clear gives color but also helps diffuse the light more, which was really necessary. The light was a lot brighter than I would have expected.

Sam's photo-filled single

2009-12-17T01:25:00.009-05:00

Name: Sam R

Location: Young Orchard

Type of room: Single

Sam's room features a series of her own framed photos: Paris, San Antonio (her hometown), and her other travels. Other notable design decisions include hanging her large clock on the picture railing and placing the tall strip of photos on the right to create a well-balanced vignette.

And I can't help but nod approvingly at her stacks of books inside the bookshelf, staggered with several standing books. It adds texture and usable space, which is always a plus.

Thanks Sam!

UPDATE on holiday dorm decor

2009-12-17T00:08:00.011-05:00

I was shopping at Urban Outfitters today for a lamp cord kit (for a project that I'll be posting soon!), and I saw a plethora of baby Christmas trees. Thinking of my previous post on holiday decorating, I decided to post these inspiring little trees.

And, for holiday decorations that you can use all year long, consider light strands, also available at Urban Outfitters.

Purple 3' Tree, UO @ $29.00 (also comes in icy blue)

This tree needs you, UO @ $15

Light Strands, UO @ $10.00

bedskirts reinterpreted for dorm use

2009-12-16T23:03:00.010-05:00

Some dorm room beds can be lofted, which means one great thing for students: storage! But to be honest, storage isn't always pretty. As seen in Christian's dorm tour, an improvised bedskirt can be the perfect solution. They can be made of any fabric, really.

I use a queen sized flat sheet from home for my bed, which works perfectly because it covers the bed all the way around. If any of you have tried this method, what materials have you found most effective?

tucked in pillow cases

2009-12-16T09:36:00.011-05:00

This fabulous quick fix comes from Betty, whose room we saw in an earlier dorm tour. The idea is to transform your pillows, making them look fluffier, fuller, and more finished. How? Simply folding the outer edges and tucking them in. This trick works especially well if your pillow cases are just too big.

Read the rest of this post to get full pictures and instructions on how to achieve this look.

I would compare the process to wrapping a present. There is a lot of folding and refinishing the edges, but it leaves the pillow looking perfectly presentable.

First, lay your pillow out on a flat surface.

Fold the top flap inward and tuck in on the other side.

Fold again. This is where I was really reminded of gift wrapping.

Tuck the last bit in!

It should look a little something like this on the side.

And this from the top.

Your happy pillows will thank you!

books as decor

2009-12-16T08:00:00.007-05:00

Being college students, we may find our rooms overflowing with books sometimes. When shelf space isn't cutting it, I recommend stacking them out in the open. Should you stack them according to size or color? There are many approaches to this design solution. One of them includes stacks of magazines. What do you think looks best?

Some Apartment Therapy inspiration shows books not only as decor, but as functional furniture - tables and nightstands.

And the "conceal" bookshelf by Umbra also shows books to be design-worthy elements, perfect for display. Unfortunately, the bookshelf, as of now, requires screws (which aren't dorm-friendly). But, the other stacks we have shown are interpretations that prove the same idea - books are versatile and beautiful! (Image from Apartment Therapy)

Betty's warm deluxe double

2009-12-12T23:29:00.011-05:00

dorm tour

Name: Betty W (room 1)
Location: Brown University, Woolley
Type of room: Double

My freshman year, I was fortunate enough to have a super-stylin' roommate, who actually documented her designs. I'm hoping to bring a more current dorm tour to you from her current residence in Grad Center in the near future.

One thing Betty has always stressed is good lighting, which is evidenced in her own room here. The florescent overhead lights in our room just didn't create the same warmth as her lamps did. And you just have to admire how she placed her lamp in front of a mirror to give an even greater sense of space and light. Very smart.

Thanks Betty!

Kim's room through the years

2009-12-12T21:26:00.014-05:00

dorm tour

Name: Kim Arredondo
Location: Brown University, Woolley, Emery, Metcalf
Type of room: Double, Single, Single with closet

Over the years, my room has changed a lot, but my main decorations (and of course, the given dorm furniture) remain more or less the same. Here is a sampling of pictures to see just how my room layout has evolved with my different rooms.

You can really get a sense for how certain furniture has taken on different purposes throughout the years. For example, my adjustable chrome shelving unit. First visible in the photo with the aqua blue bedspread above, I used it as a headboard of sorts. Below, you can see it as a display unit and lastly strictly for storage purposes in my closet this year.

I also learned a little bit about the importance of a clutter-free,

effective desk space over the years. Though, I do admit, it did take some time.

Also, another piece of furniture -- that might not immediately strike you as furniture -- is a refrigerator. My freshman year roommate used her refrigerator as a stand for her microwave, which in turn was a stand for other snacks and such things. My sophomore year, I used my refrigerator as an area for my bowls, and for my short-lived flower (which is pictured below). This year, my refrigerator doubles as a night stand, for my nightlight, my phone, and whatever book I'm reading.

Christian's strategically exposed single

2009-12-12T03:09:00.085-05:00

dorm tour

Name: Christian Martell
Location: Brown University, Hegeman
Type of room: Single with small closet

Let's face it storage can often be an issue in dorm rooms. But, rather than hiding your belongings, why not leave them out in the open for everyone to enjoy? Take a look at how this dorm features creative ways to use your things as decor. It's easy, personalized and, best of all, totally affordable...

Bird and flower decals cost about $10 on Amazon. I used the construction paper it came wrapped in as a backdrop.

Here is an example of what NOT to display.

More decals and a durable door organizer that's toughed it out all four years of college.

These were the result of a shopping/arts & crafts day. The bags are from Urban Outfitters and the paper is from old Vanity Fair issues.

heat you can control

2009-12-11T23:41:00.015-05:00

Many dorms have heating that is controlled from some remote location on campus, which can mean many a cold night for college students. Some solutions to warm up winter nights include mini space heaters and heated blankets.

And there is always the old trick of heating your blankets in the dryer, made new by Brookstone's towel spa towel warmer. I have to say, the $1.25 it would cost to dry your blanket yourself is probably the more cost-effective option here, though.

Towel Spa Towel (& Blanket) Warmer, Brookstone @ 79.95

Personal Tabletop Ceramic Heater, Sharper Image @ 39.99

Mini Tower Surround Heater, Honeywell via Amazon @ 23.95

Electric Blanket, Sunbeam via Walmart @ 27.00 (for twin size, comes in 4 different colors)

space-saving storage

2009-12-11T22:13:00.007-05:00

If there's anything lacking in dorm life, I think most students would agree that it's storage. Here's a roundup of storage solutions, including some of the most difficult things to store in a dorm: shoes and dish ware.

I have to admit that the shoe wheel is absolutely crazy, but I love the idea of it.

Canvas 10 shoe organizer, Target @ 19.99

Mugsy Mug Tree, Umbra @ 21.00

TRONES Shoe Storage, IKEA @ 39.99

Folding Bamboo Dish Rack, Container Store @ 19.99

Silver Mesh Stacking Shoe Shelf, Container Store @ 12.99

Bissa Shoe Cabinet, IKEA @ 49.99

Cup Stacker, Container Store @ 4.99

Shoe Wheel (up to 30 pairs), Bed Bath & Beyond @ 69.99

furniture that you can pack

2009-12-11T20:40:00.010-05:00

When the end of the school year means packing up all your belongings into storage, the hefty sofa you bought earlier this year starts to feel more cumbersome than convenient. Dorm furniture often means compromises, but that doesn't mean they can't be stylish. Here are some of my favorite options (that are still perfectly packable).

The sofa from Aero has proven to be a comfy addition to my own room. And with a comforter on top of it and a pillow in the center, I'd like to think it takes on a cozier feel.

Another potential compromise is finding multipurpose furniture, like ottomans with storage or a futon.

Convertible Sofabed, Aero @ 109.99

Chrome microwave stand, Target @ 49.99

Java stackable folding bookcase, Container store @ 79.00

Hanging 6-shelf sweater organizer, Target @ 19.99

dorm-friendly fragrances

2009-12-09T23:51:00.007-05:00

Many universities have strict policies against the use of candles. Some ways to avoid fines and fire alarms are oil diffusers, wall flowers, and scent bugs. If what you're really missing is the glow of candles, there are some electronic solutions and a super smart option from Febreze that lights up as well.

1. Scentbug, Bath & Body Works @ 12.50

2. Wallflower, Bath & Body Works @ 6.00

3. Flameless Luminary, Febreze @ ?

4. Oil diffuser, Pier 1 @ 6.00 - 12.00

5. Everlast flameless tea lights, Bed Bath & Beyond @ 9.99

6. Remote controlled pillar candles, Bed Bath & Beyond @ 39.99

Hana's cozy common room

2009-12-09T23:41:00.016-05:00

This common room features one resident's original artwork, a dish ware station (which I love), and homey furniture.

Name: Hana W
Location: Brown University, Hegeman
Type of room: common room

Q&A with the dorm dwellers:

How did you all decide to decorate collectively?

As far as deciding to decorate our space, we tried to be resourceful since we are all pretty cheap people lol. We put my paintings up on all the walls, used Joanna's ceramics to eat/drink with, and decorated with Areebah's treasures from Syria (like the fabric hanging on the window). As far as furniture, the couch was free, and the chair joanna made in her art history class last year. Almost everything else we got from garage sales (the lights, the fake plants), or made by going to List and stealing wood (like the mini table). The only thing we got together and paid for was the $30 rug. It's funny because all of our bedrooms are very distinctively us, but we all brought that together to decorate our common room. I think our common room really represents each of us.

Were there any difficulties/differences in designing the common room as opposed to your own bedrooms?

The only "difficulty" is that I wanted the paintings that are in the living room to go in my room, but it just seemed to fit better in the common room, so we chose to put it there. My suitemates were all really nice about letting me put my artwork up.

Thanks Hana!

small scale winter decorating

2009-12-09T22:41:00.014-05:00

Living in a dorm doesn't mean skimping on holiday decor. Here are some affordable options for dressing up your dorm this holiday season. I especially love the creative pipe cleaner creation as seen on MarthaStewart.com.

Green pipecleaner tree, MarthaStewart.com
Multicolor pre-lit tree, Amazon @ 19.99

Holiday Sweets as Decor, via Apartment Therapy

framing your posters

2009-12-09T21:45:00.021-05:00

Posters are a staple in dorm room decor. To make them last through the years and to add a touch of class, consider framing them with simple, timeless frames.

Ribba frame, Ikea @ 4.99

Ribba frame, Ikea @ 7.99

Flat top espresso wood, Allposters @ 30.98

Providence pewter frame, Allposters @ 36.98