Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 23, 1994 TAG: 9408250020
SECTION: WELCOME STUDENTS PAGE: 25 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JESSIE HENSLEY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
These are the things that could cause a dispute between dormitory roommates, or, even worse, an interior design faux pas.
To help students with their decoration problems, Eric Wiedegreen, assistant professor of interior design at Virginia Tech, took a critical look at one of Tech's typical dorm rooms.
"Do everything possible to make the room as big and light (as you can)," Wiedegreen said.
To accomplish this, he suggested students not cover the walls completely with posters or use too many plants for decoration. He also suggested using light- or bright-colored, rather than dark, posters and tapestries.
Today's college student may be required to use a computer, which takes up a lot of room space. To make up for lost square footage, students can take advantage of the total cubic footage in the room, by stacking their beds into bunks or by setting up lofts.
The single overhead fluorescent light commonly found in student rooms is purely functional, according to Wiedegreen, and should be complemented by other lamps.
"This light doesn't do a whole lot except to keep you from tripping," he said.
A small room will appear bigger, Wiedegreen said, by using "up-lighting" to project light on the walls and ceilings. The room will "seem to glow," he said.
Color is an important element of your room's design, Wiedegreen said, but it should be kept to a consistent theme such as all warm [i.e., earth tones] or cool colors [blues and greens].
A rug helps add color to a colorless room. Many carpet retailers set up tents on campuses at the beginning of each new year. They sell a variety of rugs, cut small for dorms.
Bedspreads, curtains and other fabric accessories should be kept to solid colors to avoid visual clutter. Wiedegreen said prints, plaids and floral patterns "visually take up space," and should be avoided in situations where space must be accentuated.
A solid-color fitted sheet would be a good idea for beds, also, to keep the room looking neat and consistent.
Wiedegreen said learning to compromise about the furnishing of their room is a good icebreaker for roommates. He suggested they wait to buy furnishings until they get to school, so they won't buy unnecessary items that could be bought inexpensively in the New River Valley, he said.
One important detail to remember regarding color, Wiedegreen said, is that warm colors make a person feel physically warmer, and cool colors colder. Colors should be chosen based on the climate control available to the room and each roommate's preferred comfort zone.
Wiedegreen said students shouldn't expect miracles, considering what they have to work with, and should remember that the dorm situation isn't permanent.
"I think you can make it comfortable, but you just need to be realistic," he said. "You should realize it's not forever; it's your home for the year. Any decision you make isn't going to be the end of the world."
by CNB