Making a Dorm a Home––Part 2

Go here to read part one of “Making your dorm a home.”

Sharing a room

One of the best, and most challenging, parts of moving to dorm is having a roommate. Whether you’ve had to share a room for years with a sibling or you’ve had your own space, it can be an adjustment to live with someone else, even if it’s the best friend you’ve known for years.

jft2If you’re going to be living with a friend you already know, get together and decide on a plan for your room. Who is bringing what? What kind of style do you each have? Are you both tidy people, or does one tend to leave clothing scattered on the floor? These are things you may want to consider when planning your shared space. If you’re rooming with someone you’ve never met, as a result of random selection by the college, try to contact the person beforehand to talk and get to know one another. Discuss your interests and styles and what each of you can provide for the room.

Decorating with a roommate

You may not care that you and your roommate have mismatched, clashing comforters on the beds––but your plaids and stripes with her dainty flowers might drive her crazy. You may love the smell of hydrangea candles––but she may get a headache any time she lingers near a floral scent. Make sure you discuss decorating ideas with your roommate, if possible, before you start purchasing everything for the room. However, don’t feel like you have to sacrifice your tastes to make her happy. Sharing a room is going to be about compromise, and it’s important that you are both willing to do so. Talk openly and kindly about what styles you each like and how you’d like to arrange and decorate your room.

Two’s too many

You probably don’t need two mini-fridges. Or microwaves. Or sets of curtains. Try to determine beforehand who will bring what. Does she have a microwave her parents are getting rid of for a newer one? Let her bring it! Did you find a great deal on a set of cute curtains? Let her know so that she doesn’t start shopping for some. Some things may be fine in duplicates, but consider the expense and whether you’ll ever need more than one at the same time. Another option is to go in together and purchase something larger for your room, like the mini-fridge. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll eventually have to decide how to split these items up.

Decorating and planning can be exciting with your new roommate. Just remember to lovingly consider one another’s ideas and preferences. And while it’s not necessary to have duplicates of certain items in your room, there are some things that you’ll probably each want for yourselves––like a computer.

By Lisa Grimenstein

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