Dorm room tips, tricks and trends

(WFSB) - As your Back-To-School Authority - we have you covered when it comes to preparing your move into college, whether it be your first time or if you’re returning.

Nicole Nalepa has the lowdown on the best way to make the most of your living space, and the essential items you want to make sure you have on hand.

It’s an experience like no other. Ireland Davis, an incoming senior at Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts, knows all about it.

“Once I got to college I realized, this is adult life – this is an insight to what my life is going to look like,” she said.

Even though you’re away from home for the first time, you still have the support.

Westfield State’s Director of Residential Life calls it “adulting with a safety net.”

“That’s one of the best parts about living in the residence halls, you’re beginning to learn how-to live in a community,” Director of Residential Life Chris McKenzie Willenbrock said.

One of the first supportive steps students are given is a list prior to move-in day.

“It usually includes everything from what we would recommend folks to bring,” Willenbrock said. “What’s available in each of the rooms, and also a few of the items that we encourage folks not to bring.”

But where do you begin?

dormify.com, a home décor brand and e-commerce store, Co-Founder and President Amanda Zuckerman says that you should create a space that feels like home.

“And that comes into play with how you decorate it aesthetically, but then how you outfit it functionally to make sure that you’re maximizing every single inch of that very small space,” she said.

That comes in the form of creating more “vertical” space!

“So the three places that, that takes place in is: under the bed maximize every single square inch with stackable, collapsible bins and even storage ottomans,” she continued.

The next place are the spaces higher up.

“A desk hutch is something that’s really great to put on top of the desk to create additional storage space,” said Zuckerman.

One space that often gets overlooked is the closet space with a door.

“Make sure that you have an over-the-door storage piece that really holds what you need - whether it’s something to hold shoes, cosmetics, and personal care items,” she continued.

One of the most utilized spaces for storage is under the bed.

“We do have beds that are loftable, so they can actually slide that right underneath,” Zuckerman said.

As far as the essential items list goes, make sure to pickup at least two pairs of twin XL sheet sets and get a mattress protector.

“And then we recommend putting a foam mattress topper for extra comfort so that your bed feels like home,” continued Zuckerman.

“Rugs can be helpful in terms of giving a little bit more soft kind-of underfoot feeling,” Willenbrock said.

One other thing you don’t want to forget when you take a shower is the shower caddy and your flip flops!

“You need a floor lamp, you need a lamp next to your bed, you need a lamp on your desk,” Zuckerman said.

And don’t forget your fan!

“Actually, I would recommend a good two box fans,” Willenbrock said. “Some rooms have two windows – and if they do, you can actually set them up so one is pulling in the air and one is pushing out the air.”

Keep in mind, if any of these items include a charging port – that will go a long way!

There’s one more essential item Davis says she stands behind.

“My Brita. That has made it very easy…I’ve saved a lot on just water bottles.”

Back in the day, posters, pendants and bedding-in-a-bag did the trick when it came to decorating our dorm room.

“Wow, it’s been in a while since I’ve been in a dorm room like this!”

Now the opportunities are endless!

“It’s so much easier to create a space that’s so much more representative of your own personal style, b/c you’re influenced by seeing all this inspiration out on the internet or on social,” Zuckerman said.

Zuckerman said personalization is hot right now.

“Personalization is probably the biggest one right now, so creating custom neon signs, or custom pillows or towels or throw blankets; just to have their name or even their zip code on something that sits on their bed is really popular,” she said.

“They like to bring in décor that often represents their school,” said Willenbrock.

She has had a front row seat to the evolution of dorm room décor.

“Students are bringing in carpeting and doing a little bit more to make it feel like home.”

This involves anything from bright lights to led strip lights.

“We often see decorative string lights, curtain string lights, neon signs, led strip lights – those kinds of things that change colors that people like for the vibe.”

“We do see a lot of the led lighting strips either around the top of the room or some will put it around the floor,” Willenbrock added

Also, the presentation of the bed is becoming more of a focal point.

“A bed skirt is something that we see a lot of students using – which is an extra-long bed skirt b/c they’ve lofted their bed and they want to cover up everything that’s being stored under their bed so that the room looks tidy,” Zuckerman said.

Tidy and stylish from the bottom to the top!

“They have started creating actually decorative headboards; and so students are bringing in these dorm room headboards that they can attach to the back ends and actually create more of a styled bed look,” Willenbrock said.

All of these decorative items typically follow some kind of color scheme.

“You see tons and tons of inspiration ranging from a light blue coastal look -- that’s very new England -- to a hot pink and Kelly green look that’s very southern,” Zuckerman said.

“I had coordinated with my roommate for like a theme and color scheme that we were doing,” Davis said.

But as an incoming senior, Davis confirmed for us that the classic decorative touches like photos and other wall art will continue to stand the test of time.

“I brought like pictures of just people and things that I love to kind-of make it more of a home,” she said.

This experience of creating your new “home away from home” also promotes growth in other areas.

“It’s one of the first kind-of opportunities for our students to work together, to begin to collaborate about what they want their space to look like, to begin to build some of those skills around how do I communicate what I need and what I want within this room setting,” Willenbrock said.