I don’t remember putting a whole lot of money or effort into decorating my dorm room.
Even though the internet was a part of everyday life for me by that point, it wasn’t a Google Everything time. So I used the recommended packing list the college provided and my parents’ and brothers’ experiences to determine what was needed.
And what was needed? Well, what I remember getting were new sheets to fit the extra-long mattress, bed raisers to increase the storage space under the bed, and some cups, bowls, plates, and utensils. We rented a mini-fridge. And I may have gotten a new quilt with some matching shams – it makes sense that I would have gotten something new blanket-wise for the new mattress size, and that would be a reasonable time for me to have obtained that set….
A few years later, I shared an off-campus apartment with three other girls. After everybody was moved in, there was a trip to a thrift shop to get a few finishing touches. No coordinating beforehand.
It was pretty close in time to then that I first read a novel in which a girl coordinated with her college-assigned roommate, who she had never before met, about what they would each bring to furnish their dorm. Looking at it now, that seems very sensible, but it was a new idea to me at the time.
This summer, I read a lot of articles about outfitting dorm rooms, and they go way beyond just making sure you have the necessities, or even coordinating with your roommate to make sure your new bedding doesn’t clash and decide who will bring a rug. They have suggestions for everything in that room – including posters on the wall. It’s like college freshmen are expected to buy brand new everything.
Probably all the new college students don’t actually buy brand new everything. They can’t all afford it, and at least some are going to want familiar things from home.
But I’m pretty sure the majority of new college students do still need to buy new bedding to fit those twin XL beds. And they can get some at my Spoonflower and Society6 shops. Every design I have for sale at Spoonflower is available on pillow shams, twin XL sheets, and twin XL duvet covers. My Society6 designs are available on comforters, duvet covers, and pillow shams. And you can check out my rugs, bath mats, and shower curtains at Society6 and Threadless if you’re in need of those as well.