Home Decoration

Shopping online for dorm decor is the smart way to shop. You’ll have the flexibility of browsing a variety of sources without using even a gallon of gas. And you can click your way through hundreds of selections at midnight or noon. It’s your choice.

Whether you want to find the perfect set of sheets, a cozy down comforter, a purple transparent lamp, or accessories for your jungle-themed room, you’re sure to find it somewhere online. And whether you find a dream dorm room at PBTeen or on the organized shelves of The Container Store, the many styles and colors available today mean you’ll probably be able to find exactly the right items for your taste and budget.

Here are eight steps with tips on how to start your search for great room decor:

1. Ask for information from your school about room sizes, existing storage, and recommended items. This may be on the college website or in their orientation materials. If not, call the administration office to ask if they have a list of requirements or suggested items. For example, will you need linens, kitchen equipment or lamps?
2. Next, determine which items are prohibited. For example, some dorms don’t allow candles, halogen lamps, or flammable wallhangings. Find out now so you don’t waste time and money.

3. Contact your future roommate. Discuss financial arrangements and room decor, being honest about your budget. Try to be flexible and share ideas and opinions. You may land a roommate who really doesn’t care, and maybe won’t work with you. But maybe you’ll at least be able to decide on a color scheme or room theme to help you plan for decorating purchases.

4. Browse dorm decor websites to get inspiration, see color schemes, and find theme ideas. The Bed Bath & Beyond® site is a terrific place to start with dorm checklists, tips, and a convenient “pack and hold” shipping service to send your order directly to your school on the date you specify.

5. Bookmark favorite items on websites or print out photos to compare colors, styles, and prices.

6. Fill in your “need” and “want” lists and prioritize each, so your budget is spent on the basics first. Decide what items you already have (sheets, rugs, lamps, TV) that you can take with you, and what items your roommate will bring.

7. Research choices. Make a detailed packing list with everything you might need, including furniture, desk accesssories, and clothing items. If possible, ask other students what’s worked for them. Compare sizes and brands. Browse for various storage options. Don’t buy in a rush, only to find out later something else would be better or cheaper. Use your measurement list or floorplan to help determine what will fit.

8. Buy only when you have a clear plan, know what you need, and know what will fit both in your room and in your budget.

The sheen or the gloss level of the paint you choose for your room décor has quite an impact on the look of your room. It can be determined according to the function of the room and the aesthetic sense. Let’s discuss the type of seens available in the market, though their names and gloss level can vary with the manufacturer:

• Paints with flat or matte finish have no shine and thus hide little imperfections in the wall. However, they are not so stain-resistant though today paints with matte finish and high stain resistance also available in the markets.
• Eggshell paints or velvet-finish paints have very slight sheen or gloss level, are soft and impart a warm look to the room and are easier to clean too. They are preferable for most bedroom and living room décor themes.
• Paints with satin or semi-gloss finish can be used to highlight architectural details and focal points of the home and also in kitchens and baths as they are easy to clean.
• Very high gloss or sheen paint are quite reflective and should be normally reserved for doors and trims and to create special effects.

Here are some tips on how to choose the optimum sheen level of your paint:

• Higher gloss or sheen level generally means easy cleaning of the room or area.
• These paints are suitable for amateurs as they distract the viewer from any painting imperfections.
• Rooms and areas that need to be washed and cleaned often such as bathrooms and kitchens and where people visit most can use high gloss paints.
• High gloss paints also have most stain resistant finish and are toughest when it comes to wear and tear.
• You can use high sheen paints to highlight the focal point or a bold color scheme of the room such as kids’ room or fantasy room décor.
• For kids, one can use bright high sheen primary colors to make different patterns that look interesting such as polka dots.
• Flat paints or paints with low sheen or gloss level are for professionals as they make the surface appear smoother and more uniform and are non-reflective in nature.
• Flat paints are generally used in newly constructed homes or in areas that are not so frequently used in the homes.
• For a vintage home décor, flat paints can be used to paint a wall near the fireplace to highlight it while warm earthly hues look quite beautiful on pillars or columns in old homes.
• For an interesting dramatic effect, one can also use combination of different paint sheens.
• One can consider a monochromatic room décor in two different sheens for an interesting customized effect such as in stripes, blocks or other geometrical patterns.