But before you get too caught up in your classes and demanding schedule, you need to take some time to unpack, set up your room, and decorate! Some students find the beginning of the school year a bit overwhelming and forget to take time to create that perfect "home away from home." Suddenly, it's the middle of the first semester, and your clothes and other items are still sitting in your bags and boxes!
So get those clothes into the drawers; your toiletries into the bathroom; and your books, pictures, knickknacks, and paraphernalia onto your nightstand and the shelves and walls! Once that's done, you can start thinking about how to decorate your dorm room and maybe display some college team spirit, too!
First, talk to your roommate(s), if applicable, to discuss your ideas. You might need to compromise or slightly alter or "tone down" your ideas to ensure your dorm room will be a stylish and comfortable haven for both/all of you.
Next, consider your budget. Extra furniture and décor can be quite expensive, so think about how much you have to spend all together before you make an impulse purchase on one particular item you think you simply "have" to have, which ends up being all you can afford.
Many students don't have oodles of disposable income available to them, so you might want to consider budget-friendly ways of decorating your dorm room. Look for sales and discounts, bring stylish pieces from home that you can use to accent your room, search online for secondhand items, scout out yard sales, and consider multi-use purchases (for example, a funky ottoman that can be used for storage, for sitting, for propping your feet, and for holding your jacket or bag). Also consider what might be available right at your college or in town for a reasonable price that you can use to show some team spirit.
Many students choose to display a little team spirit through the décor in their dorm rooms. This can be a great idea to help you feel a part of your college community, as well as to help make the college feel like home for a while. Some ideas for incorporating team spirit into your dorm room décor include putting up posters or banners, displaying a small plush-toy version of a college sports team mascot on a shelf, taking a good-quality outdoor photograph of the campus and framing it, framing your acceptance letter, displaying a blown-up version of the college logo on a bulletin board, or incorporating the colors of your college or college sports team into your décor (curtains, pillows, throw blanket, lamp, garbage can, bathroom accents, etc.).
You can also display team spirit in your dorm room using blinds or shades. One option is using college colors in the blinds/shades. Alternatively, you might consider PERSONA Custom Graphics' Collegiate Collection Roller Shades, featuring the official logos of leading colleges and universities in the U.S. These shades are available in a variety of quality fabrics and hardware options.
However, exercise caution when going the team spirit route-going overboard and doing too much with the space you have can make your room look tacky, like a walk-in advertisement for the college, and make you seem like you're trying too hard, without any taste or sense of style of your own. The overdone team spirit dorm room can be off-putting to your roommates and guests.
Instead, try to integrate the concept of "team spirit" into your overall décor and style, and choose a few items that particularly stand out and appeal to you, instead of going overboard with every kind of college paraphernalia that you can think of.
There are various ways to show your team spirit - from football team flags to MLB window shades; These are fun and exciting ways to keep your room decorated and full of spirit.
