One of the best tips I can give towards decorating dorm rooms is this: you can never get enough light. Not only is light important for studying, especially in the dorms, but it makes numerous contributions toward the room itself: it can raise the temperature, allow the room to never acknowledge night time (which comes in handy for all-night cram sessions) and, of course, light sets the mood! An array of lights/lamps are recommended for dorm room decoration – desk lamps, mountable lights, and even night lights. Yes, night lights.
Night lights come in handy when decorating a dorm room because not only are they discreet during the day time, but they allow for a late-night stealthiness that won’t wake up a roommate. In fact, you could call them a necessity – just don’t go with anything too childish. A conservative night light will prove to be a perfect decoration, as long as it doesn’t stand out too much. They’re also quite convenient for dimming a dorm room, when necessary.
Another great accessory for decorating is the mountable light. Whether it’s a string of chili pepper lights nailed on the walls or a reading lamp clamped to a loft, a dorm room will flourish with some added flavor and accessibility. The most important thing is that mounted lights allow for room to move around. That means you don’t have to sit in the same spot to read text books for hours on end. Another great aspect of using mounted lights as dorm room decorations is their capability to bounce light; finding creative ways to light the room during a small party is half the fun!
Now, for the meat and potatoes of the dorm room decoration: the desk lamp. A good desk lamp needs to have personality and flexibility in order to suffice. By personality I’m referring to the capability to change bulbs. Picture a dorm room with green light bouncing off the walls on St. Patrick’s Day or, better yet, red light for Halloween. Now that’s what I call dorm room decorating! This is where the flexibility comes in. Not only should a desk lamp be personable and easy to move around (i.e., easy to tuck away), but it needs to be able to bend upwards in order to best decorate the room with light. It’s the best way to light a ceiling or any other strategic place in the dorm.
One last thing before you leave – no black lights! Black lights are easily the sleaziest thing anyone can decorate his/her (probably his) dorm room with so definitely stay away. Plus, they shatter easily. Trust me, it’s not worth the risk or the cost of installing a black light just so you can show someone how much dandruff is on your shirt. When it comes to decorating a dorm room, stick to conventional means of lighting the room. With normal lights and a bit of creativity, the dorms will prove to be much more healthy and relaxed.
