Seniors, it’s time to start shopping for dorm room supplies for next year. Wherever you may be living for the next four years of your life, it is essential to make it feel like home while you’re there; a bedspread, lamp, decorations, and a few things from home are relatively necessary. If you’re fretting going shopping with your parents because Mom wants to buy those “awesome” sheets with Buzz Light-year on them, or that lamp with a princess for, well, her little princess, and Dad just stands there staring at his wallet, then stop there and worry no longer. You can choose what you want just by looking at your phone or computer. They are the resources so many clothing companies and franchises are creating applications to easily find the right décor for you.
IKEA – “There’s an App for that.” Depending on where you live in the district, IKEA is a bit of a journey away from home. If you like taking the harder route in life, getting in the car and wasting gas getting all the way to what seems like Sweden, by all means, go to IKEA. You might regret it, since I’ve found myself there for hours on end because it’s practically its own country in size! Using the IKEA iPhone App it’s much easier to look at whatever you want, with just a touch of a finger. With the building being so large, IKEA always has a large quantity of objects to choose from. I highly recommend shopping here for all the bigger things like beds, dressers, desks, chairs, and bookshelves, particularly if you’re planning on getting an apartment. A little on the pricey side, but in the end it’s all worth it.
Urban Outfitters – UO is more for people that are interested in vintage, SOHO, and indie-type items. Here, you’d buy those creative little trinkets for your bedside table that every one loves to look at. They have a “Graduation Gift Guide” on their website, and on their App, under the apartment link containing furniture, bedding, decorations, cameras and electronics, books, toys, and more. Purchases can be as simple as a coat hanger, or as intricate as a multi-photo frame. Not expensive, but not dirt cheap. You won’t regret your buy.
Earthbound Trading Co. – Containing hippie tie-dye T-shirts, glass Buddha’s, and incense sticks, just taking one step through the doorway takes you back to the sixties and beyond. For dorms, this is mainly only for artsy people. There are photo frames and bowls made from tightly rolled pages of magazines and hanging beaded door curtains that could also add that extra touch to your room. Although residence halls don’t allow pets, not once have I read that they don’t allow hermit crabs. With great artistic designs on their shells, Earthbound is home to many hermit crabs located in all stores, with cages, rocks, and food available on site.
Target – As soon as you walk in, tell an employee you’re shopping for dorm accessories, and they’ll not only lead you to the aisle you want, but give you a list of cool new accessories for the 2012 school year. They have a wide variety of bedspreads, lamps, and trashcans, but by far if you’re looking for the perfect bathroom set— aim for Target’s bathroom section. There are aisles upon aisles of matching towels, toothbrush containers, toilet seat covers, and shower curtains. Target has a range from professional looking decorations to more young, child looking supplies. You can order dorm décor online in a plethora of colors, or go to a store near you and handpick them. Target has great prices and good quality items; shopping here for dorm décor is suggested.
