By Laurel O'KeefeSpecial to the Chronicle
Whether you are returning to the dorms or are new to campus this fall, it is always a challenge to start from scratch when it comes to turning your room into a home. The key to making your small space feel like home for the next eight months is to keep it organized and to make your decor reflect your personality.
Staying organized can improve your schoolwork and make you feel at ease when returning from a long day of classes. An easy way to stay neat is to use drawer organizers to keep your school supplies in order. To keep your wardrobe intact, scarf hangers can be helpful and a hanging closet organizer can be used for shoes and bulky sweaters. Another good way to prevent clutter in your closet is by keeping your seasonal gear tucked away. Store winter boots in boxes and heavy jackets in a storage container under your bed until it is cold enough to wear them.
Covering your vast amount of new wall space can be a daunting task. A cheap and popular way to decorate your walls is by printing out your favorite pictures. Hang them by a clothesline for a rustic feel or stick them directly to the wall with putty to create shapes or your initials. You could intertwine old ticket stubs or notes to fill in gaps. If you feel like your pictures need more of a defined place on your wall, frame them with lights – they can help create a border between your pictures and your posters or other decals.
Get creative! Make your own artwork or collage and put it on display. Write out your favorite quote in fancy lettering, paste together your favorite outfits from a magazine or create posters on your computer and print them out with your extra PridePrint points. Another way to decorate is to display your favorite records, CDs or sports team jerseys by mounting them to the wall with adhesives.
It is important to make your space cozy. Use extra throw pillows and a rug to add comforting touches. A rug easily hides the cold, ugly tiling and can add a splash of color where it is needed. Rugs make the space more inviting for guests and more comfortable to sit on while you’re pulling up your skinny jeans. Pillows bring a splash of color too, but you can also use them to hint at your personality. Look for throw pillows with the logo of your favorite TV show or artist, or get pillows that have your favorite animal or a unique saying embroidered on it.
Moving into a new space can be intimidating but an organized and comfortable environment will make your dorm room feel like home and keep you less stressed throughout the school year.