A sudden shift from the comfort and familiarity of home to living in a shoebox-sized room with someone you probably haven’t met before is a daunting experience. What’s supposed to be the best years of your life might not feel great right off the bat, but creating a homey environment in your dorm will put you on the right track. Here’s a few things you can do to change your dorm experience from surviving to thriving — from product hacks to tips for making unforgettable friendships.
Making your dorm room home
As a dorm life survivor — and thriver — I’ve accumulated a list of three products that will make your dorm life one to look back on with no regrets. These items will make your space inviting, comforting and the go-to hangout spot.
Warm lighting is necessary for achieving the perfect environment for movie nights, game nights or late night chats. String lights make for the perfect ambiance.
Secondly, having extra seating creates welcoming space for guests and is sure to bring in lots of new friends and memories. Whether it’s a futon or foldable chair, extra seating is essential.
Lastly, having a couple of games on hand will make your dorm experience fun and enjoyable. A deck of cards or silly games like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and Cards Against Humanity will make your dorm room the hotspot.
There’s no doubt that fitting everything will seem impossible. Optimizing space and remaining organized is a must. Lofting your bed to fit dressers, storage compartments, a desk or TV stand will be a game changer for creating more space. Closet space is also limited, so purchasing items like a pants hanger or a hanging shelf organizer will help you store all of your favorite clothes and give you extra space for shopping!
To feel a little less homesick, bring home with you! Fill your room with pictures of the people you love, old birthday cards or handwritten notes to remind you of all the love you have in your life. There will undoubtedly be times throughout college where you’ll need a warm reminder that everything will be okay.
Most importantly, make your space feel like you. Get posters of your favorite artists or movies, pick out bath towels in your favorite color, buy bedding that shows personality or hang up those summer arts and crafts projects. If your dorm room resembles your character and brings you comfort, you are set to have peaceful mornings, productive study sessions and homey nights in.
Building a respectable roommate relationship
Although it is perfectly fine to just co-exist with your freshman year roommate, forming a strong relationship with them could be the greatest friendship of your life. After all, you are spending most of your time together and going through the same traumatic college experiences most freshmen go through. Getting close with each other isn’t a terrible idea.
Roommates can be tricky. We’ve all heard horror stories about unwanted messes, lack of privacy or pushing boundaries, but there are ways around conflict. The biggest tip to becoming best friends with your roommate is to set expectations early on. Talking about bed times, cleaning responsibilities or sharing rules will eliminate awkward conversations and passive aggressive behavior, allowing more time to enjoy each other's presence.
You and your roommate could be very different people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with them. Besides, you are sure to have one thing in common: being a college freshman living through a new chapter in life. Learn from each other’s differences and be open-minded and accepting of their characteristics.
Befriend the people in your dorm
The idea of making all new friends in college is scary. You went from hanging out with the same people for ten years to moving away and starting over. The cool thing about it is that everyone else is in the same boat. Everyone is looking for new friends and an amazing college experience.
The biggest piece of advice I have is to leave your door open on the first day you arrive and say “hi” to everyone. Take a moment to make yourself known with introductions, fun facts or sharable snacks. Bring your grandma's famous cookies or microwaveable popcorn — anything to start a conversation with your floor-mates.
You’ll be seeing the people in your dorm hall almost every day, so ask how they’re doing, what their plans are for the day and if they heard about the fun event happening on campus. Start inviting them to study sessions at the library or movie and game nights in your dorm. Having an open mind and positive attitude will lead you to some of the greatest people you’ve ever met.
Dorm life will come with challenges, but it also comes with the opportunity to gain independence, meet new people and create unforgettable memories. Embrace it all because you’ll miss it once it’s gone!
