'Pimp My Room': Four steps to achieve a sweet sanctuary

A dorm is the college student's home away from home. Adorned with some of his or her favorite things, the room can be seen as an extension of the student's soul. The inhabitant's very existence is pinned up on those walls and emanates from the furniture and artifacts contained therein.

Well maybe not, but dorm design is an important aspect of student life, whether your room is your study sanctuary or a happenin' dance hall. Though you might lack some of the fabulous five qualities possessed by those "Queer Eye" guys, we all hope to decorate our rooms to distinguish them from the other identical filing cabinets for people on the same floor of our buildings.

So whether you live in Walker, Little, Patton or in Butler or the Junior Slums, here's some "Pimp My Dorm"-style makeover advice for turning your dull room into the penthouse pad of your corner of campus.

Step 1: Loft your bed. This is the ultimate space saver if you are in a small room. Construct a wooden rig that elevates your bed a few more feet above sea level, thus allowing the desk to be slid underneath, as well as possibly a chair. The loft creates a semi-fort for your desk enclosing it in its own personal space. And if there is anything better than studying, it is studying in a fort-like atmosphere. Lofting also allows for more places for self-expression. The rig can be painted with designs or serve as a place to post pictures. "I had an idea over break to make bed curtains suspended from bungee cords," Julia Brav '08 said. "It gives me a lot of privacy and I think they look awesome." Also, a plus for Butler kids: Lofts just put you that much closer to your beloved waffle ceilings.

Step 2: Decorate the space around your desk. It is extremely important to have pictures, photos or drawings near your desk so your eyes can wander from the textbook you are reading. The intent of these items is to distract you, and it is imperative they do their job every once and a while. Kean Tonetti '06 said, "I found this funky set of postcards that are '70s male models and I put them up as a border around my desk."

Step 3: Posters, posters, posters (and wall hangings). Whether it is a music, sports, vintage or an "In Case You Need A Reason to Party" poster, they all tell stories about the person who pinned them up on the wall. Melissa Deutsch '08 said, "Essentially, every single dorm room I've seen has had posters. Particularly "The Kiss," which seems to be in an inordinate number of guys' rooms for some reason" (And if you have seen it, you know why.). So make sure posters are pinned up on every wall, and cover the otherwise empty space because all interior designers know that empty dorm wall space is unsightly. Wall hangings are also important, but not nearly as common as posters. Sheets with psychedelic designs, flags and Princeton banners all are good wall pinups. A flag above the bed also works well to break up the monotony of the ceiling as you fall asleep.

Step 4: It's all about the futon. Couches are so '90s, so don't get caught up in the past. Futons are the future of dorm furniture. Easily changeable from couch to bed and back to couch, the futon is the popular choice for dorm furniture. An old recliner is also a common choice, especially when it doesn't match the rest of the room. In fact, a good rule of thumb for dorms is to make sure nothing matches anything.

These simple guidelines show you the path to great dorm design and décor. But the most important rule is to make your dorm room your own. Do whatever you want to it, but make it personal. In the end, it is your room and you are stuck with it for a year, so make it good.