Whether you are a returning resident or a first-year student, being away from home and getting settled into your dorm room can be stressful. Here are some helpful tips on making a dorm at Newman feel more like home.
1) Display photos of family and friends. It could be the Christmas card picture from last year, or a few pictures of a summer bonfire with some pals; these snapshots serve as a comforting representation of the people that you care about most. I make a collage of pictures every year by printing off my favorite pictures and arranging them in a standard poster frame with some double-stick tape. They are lightweight and easy to hang with 3-M™ hooks.
2) Put a mural of posters on your wall. This worked really well for me last year. I purchased about ten reasonably priced posters from the “Beyond the Wall” poster sale at the Union at the start of first semester, and I arranged them on the wall behind my bed. All of the posters reflected my interests and personality, so it gave the room my own personal touch. (The annual “Beyond the Wall” poster sale will be held Monday, August 25 through Friday, September 5 from 9AM to 6PM in The Pine Room at the Illini Union. Posters are ridiculously inexpensive, but I strongly recommend that you buy your school books first and spend whatever you have left over on posters).
3) Bring a good blanket. When the air conditioner is up too high, or you just want to get cozy and watch a movie in bed, a blanket from home will keep you warm and comfortable, as if you were back on your living room couch.
4) Stock your fridge with comfort food. I realize that everyone panics about the “Freshman 15”, but I keep chocolate bars, carrot sticks and (most importantly for me) Diet Coke at all times because my fridge at home is stocked the same way. It’s nice to have your favorite foods easily accessible for times of stress or homesickness or just plain hunger.
5) Make your room smell fantastic. This can be a little difficult with a smaller living space. Boys (and girls), Febreze™ works wonders on closets, hampers, bathrooms, etc. I like to stick lavender-scented dryer sheets in my dresser so that my clothes always smell nice. Febreze also makes wall plug-ins called NOTICEables ™. They last for thirty days and release a pleasant aroma into your possibly otherwise not-so-pleasant smelling room. Having an environment that smells good is not only beneficial to your friends and/or roommate but will also make you feel more at home.
The first few weeks can present a few challenges when it comes to being away from home, but by doing whatever you can to make your space a nice place to relax, the more you will be making Newman Hall your home-away-from-home.
By Mary Kate Norton
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