Ending high school and entering adulthood can be incredibly exciting but also terrifying. It’s hard to know where to begin or how to act in a new environment with new social rules. The main thing that is so new to almost everyone is sharing a dorm room with a stranger. It can be uncomfortable and hard to adjust to, but it can be a fun experience too, making new friends while learning the freedom of living on your own. It’s so different, but you don’t have to take on that newness alone, here are some tips for how to navigate a dorm room.
Setting Up and Organizing
First is your setup. Most dorm rooms will have a bed, a desk, and a dresser. The goal is to make it your own, homey, and comfortable, while not taking up too much space. An easy place to start is with bins. Most dorm beds will be raised and provide room underneath for storage. There, you can place some bins to store extra items. Keeping these bins organized is also key to making the most of your space. Some options are to get bins with preexisting sections, getting smaller organizers to place in the bins, or getting smaller bins all with different purposes. You can also decorate the bins or get cute bins to make them more personal.
Posters and pictures are a great way to make your dorm feel more of your own. While most dorms don’t allow thumbtacks and duct tape, there are other ways to hang things up. Posters can be held up with painter’s tape or specialized poster backers. These are both available at any standard store. A creative way to hang up photos is to hang fairy lights and attach the photos to the wire. It’s easy and aesthetic while providing another source of light in the room. The overhead light of the dorm is often harsh and fluorescent, so getting a lamp or string light in yellow will be better on your eyes. String lights also aren’t as bright as other lights, so it’ll allow you to still have light while your roommate sleeps.
Roommates
Roommates are tricky to get the hang of at first, but as long as you stay communicative, that is the key to a good year. When you first meet your roommate, it’ll probably be over the phone or text. Get to know each other a little bit before going into the logistics of rooming together. Important things to ask when you talk to them about rooming are: are you a morning person or a night owl? When do you usually take a shower? Thoughts on alarms? Are you busy, or will you be more likely to stay in? Will friends be coming over? Do you want to share food or have your own sections in the cabinet? These questions will provide a baseline of understanding between the two of you while also giving you a glimpse of what living with your new roommate will be like.
The showers in the dorm will be communal, and there’s very little room for privacy, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve privacy. If you feel uncomfortable or need more privacy, communicate that with your roommate, and if they don’t respect that, go to the dorm’s RA for help. This also applies the other way around; if your roommate places a boundary, try your best to respect it. It’s fun to have a night in with your friends or partner, but you need to tell your roommate first. This allows them time to make other plans or not be surprised by a stranger in their space. This should be done a few hours before at the very least.
Dorm rules
There will be hall and dorm meetings, and those are important to attend. Like stated before, communication is key, so make sure to keep in mind all of the rules of the dorm building. Something that will be said in these meetings is that candles are not allowed, and while they do smell nice and are very calming, they are a fire hazard, and that rule is meant to keep everyone safe. Be mindful of quiet hours; some people have 8am classes. Some dorms also have rules about guests, and as annoying as it may be, it is for safety. Each dorm rule has a reason, and that’s why they’re so important. The RA(s) of the dorm are a great resource; if you have any questions, go to them.
Going to college is a grand new adventure, and even though it might be out of your comfort zone, it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. Having nerves and being homesick at first is completely normal, but you will find a rhythm with the person you will be living with. Dorm life can be very freeing as long as you communicate, understand building rules, and make your space your own. If you keep those things in mind and put them into your life, then that first year of college is yours.
