Colors make the difference in dorm room decorating

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Proper lighting, pictures of loved ones and colorful pillows can transform your dull dorm into a refuge for comfort and relaxation. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser Price is nice Here are some key dorm furnishings that we purchased for less than $50 in total: Bedding set, which includes flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcase, Ross: $9.99 Decorative pillow, Ross: $7.99 Picture frame, Ross: $5.99 Storage basket, Pier 1 Imports: $12.60 Desk lamp, Home Depot: $8.86 Total spent (tax not included): $45.43

But maybe it should be, considering the number of college kids preparing for another year of student housing in Hawai'i. That's nearly 3,700 at University of Hawai'i campuses statewide, more than 1,100 at Brigham Young University-Hawai'i, 420 at Chaminade University of Honolulu and 211 at Hawai'i Pacific University, according to campus officials.

Chances are most students don't have the decorating flair of flamboyant Christopher Lowell of Discovery Channel's "The Christopher Lowell Show" or "clean lines" guru Vern Yip of TLC's insanely popular "Trading Spaces."

"(Students) are going to be spending a lot of their time in their dorm room, and it needs to be a place where you feel comfortable and you're relaxed," said Karen Caneso, sales associate for the decor department at The Home Depot in Iwilei.

But comfortable and relaxed doesn't have to mean boring or pricey.

With just a little bit of shopping patience and some key bargain buys, a dull dorm can be transformed into a chic college hangout.

Local designers offer the following ideas on how to spruce up a dorm room without breaking the bank:

Bedding a 'focal point'

A bed in a dorm room isn't just a place where college kids crash after a long day of studying (or a long night of partying). When it comes to decor, it's a major piece of furniture, said Elise Yates of Elise Yates Interior Design in Honolulu.

"The bed in a dorm is like a sofa in the living room," Yates said. "It's a focal point."

So Yates said her first major purchase to spice up a dorm would be bedding.

Inexpensive bedding is available at stores such as Macy's and Sears, or Ross, which sells complete sets — flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcase — for as little as $9.99.

Yates suggests fun designs, such as retro or animal prints and stripes. Or they can punch up solid-colored bedding by mixing up colors or adding accent pillows.

She added that color is key because it invokes certain emotions.

Orange, yellow and red are stimulating and energetic colors, while blue and green are calming, she said.

Sheets should not only look good, they should feel good, too.

"The higher the thread count, the softer the sheet," Yates noted. "So over 200 is good."

Storage solutions

With limited space in a dorm room, finding a place to store stuff can be a problem.

An affordable and attractive solution that's gender-friendly are baskets, which come in all shapes and sizes.

"No matter how disorganized things are, they always look great in a basket," Yates said.

Baskets can hold everything from books and magazines to clothing and shoes.

"Big K and Wal-Mart are good stops for storage baskets," added interior designer Marcia Kerr, owner of MK Designs in 'Ewa. "These will often go under the bed or on closet shelves."

For those wanting bold-colored storage bins, muck buckets are one way to go. "They're the ones with the nylon handles on them that they usually use for beer or soda," Caneso said.

The Home Depot carries 16-gallon, plastic muck buckets in red or blue for $5.98 each.

Light up your life

Lighting not only accentuates a space, but it is also essential for students who will inevitably hit the books for countless hours a week, often into the wee hours of the morning.

"Because of a lot of studying, (students should) make sure that their eyes are not too tired and they really focus on what they're seeing," Caneso said.

Think task lighting.

A wide array of trendy desk lamps are available for less than $10 at home improvement and thrift stores.

Accent lighting in the form of stringed lights can also add to the hip factor of a dorm pad, Yates said.

Party City in Waikele offers stringed lights in several designs — palm trees, parrots, flamingos, fish and tiki statues — at $9.99.

It's all about accessories

Nothing makes an unfamiliar space feel like a cozy home away from home like photos of family and friends.

When they're in colorful picture frames, all the better, Yates said.

Wall art can also add some bang for a few bucks, and do-it-yourself art projects are practically free.

"I remember plastering my dorm walls with posters," Kerr said. "I also took all the cards my boyfriend sent me and attached them to ribbons and hung them."

Calendars provide another source for pictures, she said.

"Especially if you buy last year's for cheap, some of the photos are awesome," Kerr said. "Buy colored paper or cardboard and mount them."

A dressed-up cork board and even colored fish netting can be used to hang pictures, notes and other personal possessions.

Keep in mind, however, that many dorms have rules when it comes to hanging things on walls.

"Basically, if you're doing anything that will penetrate the wall, like drilling or nailing, that is not allowed," said Janice Nakashima, physical plant officer with UH student housing services.

She advises students to check with dorm staff members for a set of rules on what can and cannot be done.

Whatever students do with their space, it should be fun and reflect their personality, Kerr said.

"I remember having an empty keg that I put a cushion on for a chair," Kerr said. "I don't remember where or how I got it, but it sure was fun."

Reach Zenaida Serrano Espanol at zespanol@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.