Back-to-school season is upon us… While it can be sad leaving summer behind, there are things you can look forward to getting you motivated! A good living setup, both practicality and aesthetic, was ESSENTIAL in my academic success and well-being. This applied to my dorm room and my bedroom while finishing up college online from home. Your living space should feel safe, pleasing to be in, and set up for an effective workspace. It’s also a space for you to express your creativity too!
Finding Ideas There are infinite ideas for vibes and organization in your living space. Pinterest, YouTube, and online blogs were my go-to resources for narrowing down ideas. Pinterest is awesome because of the visuals you get in picture form and for building mood boards. I needed budget-friendly inspiration, and this was the best source for decorations I made and how potential organizing tools could look. I usually chose a theme for the year to build up a Pinterest board and kept it in mind when shopping for items. Later, I will explain how to shop for the ideas that resonate with you. Finding a Vibe Choosing a vibe or theme for your living space is a fun and super effective way to curate items for a place you will spend a lot of time. Don’t underestimate the power of this! You can decide on themes that bring you peace or joy, like a beach style, that of your culture, city vibes, minimalist, and more, or you can go simpler and choose an appealing color palette. (Check out the recommended sources mentioned earlier for ideas.) Doing this research also helps when shopping for items that stick out amongst the infinite dorm room supplies you encounter. Organizing Your Theme Looking through “to buy” lists from blogs and online searches can be overwhelming. A good idea is to go through the lists while making your own. Pick and choose what works for you. Every list has different ideas. For now, less is more. Don’t add too much; better buy more things later than waste money on more than you need. Fitting Your Budget Decorating on a budget was my main priority when setting up my dorm room. There are many ways to make an expensive, creative look without spending more than you can afford. Thrift stores are a great start to finding small pieces of furniture and unique decor or organization. There are plenty of back-to-school sales you can take advantage of as well. Back Market is an amazing website for buying refurbished technology at the lowest prices. I also started at the dollar store to find supplies for DIY decor and other items. Plants are also a great and affordable way to fill up and improve air quality in your space for better health, sleep, and more. While saving money is good, investing in a few items is worth it. One is a good pillow. Good sleep is crucial and helps avoid muscle tension from stress. Better to buy good pillows than cheap ones that you have to purchase multiple times. Another item to invest in is a comfortable chair. It’s easy for students in a small space to stay in bed throughout the day, making it harder to stay productive and fall asleep at night. A dish chair or bean bag is a comfortable, affordable solution for an alternative chilling spot. Lastly, the tools and organization you use for your desk are also good items to invest. You want this space to feel motivating, inspiring, and pleasant to work in. Make your go-to supplies accessible, add decorative pieces, and try different tech setups. Best Wishes, ~ Isabel Serrano
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Valecia Rotell is a college counselor and consultant who helps students work through the challenges and hurdles in college, leading them towards a successful, happy and authentic journey. Read more...
Isabel Serrano is a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate from Southern California. She graduated from La Sierra University in 2021 (Magna Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Arts in Music as well as a minor in business studies and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Classical Flute at Manhattan School of Music in NYC. Read more...
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