Students collaborate to transform residence halls into homes

Deciding what students need in order to survive for an entire school year is not an easy process, especially when dorm rooms are only 200 square feet and are shared by two people.

But at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, more than 5,000 students must outfit their dorm room every year. They learn to cooperate, shop smart and organize in this new living environment.

Residents have referred to dorm rooms as "prison cells," but many solutions exist to brighten these dreary rooms. Rugs or carpet warm up cold floors, and colorful bedding brightens the room.

Houston Perrett, a freshman education and human sciences major living in Harper Hall, said a large, white dry-erase board made his room more welcoming.

The most popular items seen in dorms this year seem to revolve around storage. A trendy item was cube organization, which stows items away in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Moriah Panter, a freshman marketing major living in Abel Hall, said an ottoman was a good way to hide clutter and could also be used as a place to sit.

Other unique dorm room accessory finds included bungee cords to hold doors open, curtains to cover closets and wall stickers that won't take off paint. Panter and her friend Mackenzie Merritt, a freshman general studies major, discovered curtains with suction cups stick on the wall without ruining the paint.

It can be hard for students to decide what they can afford on a budget. Ideas from residents on how to save money vary: Panter said she learned a lot about what to buy from her sister, who also went to college. Perrett said he saved money by using a futon he already had at his house.

Another thing to keep in mind when outfitting a room is roommates. Though Perrett admitted that cooperating with a roommate can be hard, he also said, "I feel that me and my roommate meshed really well because he brought the TV and stand, and I bought other stuff."

New roommates Alissa Kolm and Kaitlyn Young, both freshman general studies majors, used their dorm shopping trip as a bonding experience. They coordinated bedding and bought closet organizers, which they agreed was "a must."

Every year, resourceful UNL students are once again finding ways to make their dorm rooms "home."

roxannesiel@dailynebraskan.com