3 On Your Side: Outfitting A Dorm Or College Apartment
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Outfitting dorm rooms has become big business. But it can certainly pose a challenge to students on a budget. For those who don't want to add more expenses to an already-expensive semester on campus, 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds there are still ways to make a dorm room feel more like home.
Whether it's a dorm or a shared apartment, there are ways to deck out small spaces on a smaller budget. Brianna Kovacs' room in an on-campus apartment this fall will feature a travel theme. She says, "I already had so much travel stuff, and since I really love traveling and have all these pictures, I really wanted to make it cohesive in my room."
Starting with her own photos is right in line with the advice of designer Kerra Michele Huerta. She says, "Grab a $3 frame with a mat, pop it in, it's on the wall and it looks much more expensive than it actually was."
Dorm decor and furnishings will account for more than $6 billion dollars in spending this back-to-school season. Ikea, Target, OfficeMax, Staples and Best Buy have partnerships, promotions, apps, and even college registries. Jennifer Stockdale of Ikea says, "You need to remember you are going to college, not a dessert island so there are stores there. The best thing you can do is just pick up the basics and then spend a couple of weeks getting used to your dorm room and make a list of the things you really can't live without. Go on a shopping trip a couple weeks later."
Dana Vento was shopping with her daughter Kallie. Vento says, "It's organization, it's making lists."
But those special back-to-college sections might not get you the most bang for your buck. According to Stockdale, "Skip that section and go to the regular bedding section, office supply section first, and take a look at what's there. You can find a lot of clearance items, a lot of deals." She also suggests checking out the children's area, saying, "There's a lot of cute and colorful things there and it's usually a lower price because it's for kids."
For college kids sharing a common living space, working around a basic a color scheme is helpful. If you're looking to make a small space feel bigger and brighter, you may want to ditch the old blinds, and cover windows with an inexpensive fabric for privacy instead.