Making Your First Year Dorm the Best It Can Be

Content

Oak Hall, visible on the left, is one of the two first-year dorms, Photo: Will Kraft

A perk of being an Honors student is the housing that is offered in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community (CHCRC). Constructed just 10 years ago, the CHCRC is state-of-the-art and allows you to live and learn all in one place. It is centrally located, steps away from the Recreation Center, and has its own eatery, Roots Café.

First-year housing is located in Oak and Sycamore House. While the housing accommodations come with a single bed frame and mattress, a desk and chair, a bookcase, a bureau, and a wardrobe — you have the option to bring whatever will help you feel at home.

Image

Sycamore Hall is one of the first-year residence halls in CHCRC, Photo: Eva Trainer

Here’s the lowdown on what to bring with you to make your Honors College living experience as great as it can be. 

Posters and wall decor

When I was planning how I was going to decorate my room, I knew I wanted to hang up posters so my room could be adorned with all of my favorite things. I ordered three posters of my favorite albums and hung them next to my bed. Many of my friends did the same. Posters are a great conversation starter when meeting your floormates. They’re a really good way to showcase your interests to new people, and an easy way to personalize your room. If you don’t feel like getting them ahead of time, every year there is a poster sale in the Student Union during the first week of classes. But also keep in mind that per university rules you cannot cover more than 50% of your wall with posters or decorations. 

TVs and games

Some of my best memories from my first year were movie nights with my friends in my dorm room. I brought a TV from home, and we always put it to good use by watching movies or streaming a new episode of the show we all were watching. Hanging out with friends and watching movies and shows is a great way to spend quality time together and unwind after a long week of classes. If you're a gaming fanatic, you gotta bring your console. My friends were always playing their favorite games whenever they had some downtime.

Bring a TV, and you can put it to good use blowing off steam with video games, watching movies, and streaming shows; Photo: Myles Braxton

Lighting features 

If you are a fan of dimmer lighting, definitely bring string lights or another light feature. I brought a galaxy light that projected stars onto the ceiling, and a sunset lamp that cascaded warm yellow and orange light around the room. These help to make your room feel cozy, especially in the cold winter months — so I definitely recommend them. 

Pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals

Bringing anything that can add to the coziness of your room is a must. I for one was worried about bringing my stuffed animal to college but I soon found out that pretty much everyone brings one, especially in the era of Squishmallows. Bringing whatever it is that helps you find comfort is especially important for first-year students so don’t be afraid to. Blankets and pillows are also a must if you want an extra cozy bed, and be sure not to forget a mattress topper if you prefer a plush bed. 

It's essential to bring items that enhance the coziness of your room, Photo: Eva Trainer

Overall, making your dorm feel like your perfect bedroom is totally up to you but these are just some tips that I found helpful when I lived in honors housing. The accommodations themselves are nice as is — but it never hurts to add your personal touch!