Going away to college is often an exciting and scary prospect. Often it is the first time we are launching out on our own as adults. We are forging our destiny with an entirely new group of people and possibly in an entirely different state. It may be the first time we have lived with a room mate we don’t know much about, if at all. It is a time of both excitement and anxiety. If you have a young adult who is going away to college, here are some Feng Shui tips to help them set up and organize their dorm room in a way that supports their best College experience and gives them a sanctuary space to rest, rejuvenate, play and study all in one.
One of the challenges of having one room fits all is to insure that we have a space that inspires us but is still conducive to good sleep. If the space is too active, it will serve the purpose of fun, but not rest. For more on this please see my article on Feng Shui for Small Spaces along with my article on Feng Shui for Teen’s Bedrooms, for much of the same principles will apply.
An important thing to remember about dorm rooms is that you need one space that serves three purposes: sleep, study and play. If you create a space that accommodates all there, you will greatly enjoy being in your new space.
Sleep Musts:
Getting enough rest is always a challenge for college students, and not often a priority. However, we all know we are more balanced, study better, and can better manage all of the stresses- albeit exciting ones- when we have had enough sleep.
Black out Eye Masks and Ear Plugs: Bring several pairs of blackout eye masks and extra packets of earplugs. If your roomy is a night owl/or a party animal you will just need to deal with it, so come prepared for this possibility. Always put eye shades and ear plugs on before going to sleep and you won’t be jolted away by late night comings and goings.
Bed in Empowered Position:
In order to feel the most comfortable, sleep soundly and feel safe, the bed should be placed in the empowered position.This is where you can see the door when you are in bed, but are not in direct alignment with it. Dorm rooms tend to be small and there are few places to put beds. If your bed has to be placed in direct alignment with a door create a ‘faux’ wall by positioning some sort of divider between you and the door. This can be a large banner that hangs down above the foot of the bed, a large plant or a room divider. Choose neutral patterns and/or designs for a more calming space. If you can’t, and your bed has to be placed in such a way that your back is to the door, place a small mirror in a position that allows you can see who is coming in.
Choose calming colors for sheets and bedding that inspire you but are not too active. Your bed should feel like a big comfy stuffed animal you can curl up in and escape from the world. Make sure the area around the bed is also calming, placing more active pictures and posters out of your sight line if possible. For this I will refer you to my article on Feng Shui for Bedrooms.
Make sure the thing you see just before you go to sleep and right as you wake up is inspiring. Feng Shui teaches that everything in our living space is interacting with us and moving our lives in that direction – due to the subliminal messages. Your moods and emotions will be affected by the messages of your art, so make sure they are empowering and moving your life forward in a way that you desire!
Your Study Area:
Desk in Empowered Position: The arrangement of your study area is crucial for any student who needs to spend a lot of time at their desk. The desk should ideally also be in the empowered position, where you can see the door but are not directly facing the open door. If there is nothing you can do about it make sure to place a mirror in such a way that you can see the activity that is happening behind you.
You want to have a good strong reading light, and a big enough desk to hold your laptop, the immediate books you are using, and anything else you need to use for each project.Everything else should be stored in file cabinets and/or book shelves. If you have to throw off mountains of stuff every time you go to study, you won’t do it and grades will suffer.
Your Affirmation Board
Have a bulletin board over your desk and put on it inspiring pictures and affirmations that lift your spirits and affirm the positive visions you have for your life. Attach pictures of someone scaling a mountain or performing awe inspiring feats, or places in nature that you love. This is a place for the positive things you seek to do, be or become and/or manifest in your life. Avoid negative pictures with messages that don’t serve who you truly are. Feng Shui teaches that everything in our environment is interacting with us and is moving our lives forward in this direction so be very conscious of what you put up on your walls and ask the question “Is this serving my highest vision for me and my life?” The Affirmations Board will also keep you from taping scraps of things to the walls, providing a place for everything to ‘live.’
Dry Erase Board
You can also use this for affirmations. Use this also for tasks and projects you need to complete with the deadlines dates next to them. Use positive phrases after each project like ‘rocked it!‘ and you will!
Clearly Delineate Your Space from your Roomie’s:
Although dorm rooms are often tiny, trying to make a clear delineation between your part of the room and your roommates. Sometimes the boundaries between who owns what stuff can become blurry over time. If you set up in the beginning who energetically owns which part of the room, closet, etc. you won’t have to deal with friction later. It is always good to anticipate challenges upfront and head them off at the pass. Living in a small space is challenging and acknowledging and dealing with it early will save hurt feelings later. So separate which areas are exclusively theirs, yours and what is shared space.
Spaces for Fun:
The spaces for fun can be the shared spaces. If you can fit a separate futon couch, loveseat or a few chairs add a little coffee table or get an inexpensive crate and decorate it yourselves and use this as a place for candles and fun relaxation objects. Make sure to have floor lamps where you can dim the lighting for down time. String twinkly white Christmas tree lights around the room, plug them in, light the candles, put on the music and create a magical ambiance. Lighting is a way to completely change the mood in a room, so make sure you have the right kind to change it up!
Keep it Organized and De Cluttered:
I know this is a huge one and nearly impossible for dorm rooms, but if you anticipate what you need and get the necessary organizers before hand, you will have a space to put everything. This is often the problem with clutter; too much stuff with no where to put it. Get shoe caddies and double hanging rods for closets to double the hanging space, and under-bed storage for things you don’t need as often. This is not something we like in Feng Shui but is a must for small spaces. The fact is you will be spending a lot of time there and won’t want to if it looks like a big disorganized junk heap. Make this your magical space and keep it organized and it will greatly enhance your College experience.
Finding your Romance Corner – for those interested in finding out which part of the room represents romance and how to enhance it, you are invited to read my article here.
Your College Packing List:
Here’s a packing list of the most important things you should remember to take with you, arranged by category. Should you be moving into a shared living space with other friends like my nephew, this list will also include things you will need for the Bathroom and Kitchen.
Sleep:
Sheet set
Comforter quilt
Bedside caddy
Bed pillows duvet cover
Comforter/duvet grip
Bedside table
Throw/blanket
Alarm clock
Worried about bed bugs?
Mattress protector
Mattress topper
Mattress pad
Study:
Desk
Book Case
Desk accessories
Laptop sleeve
Wastebasket
Desk lamp
Computer chair
Bulletin board, pushpins
Light bulbs
Surge protector
Laptop accessories
Dry erase board and markers
Book light
USB flash drive
Digital audio recorder (optional)
Relaxation
I pod or CD player
IPod or Cd Speakers speakers
IPod accessories
Headphones/ear buds
Floor cushions/backrest
Area rug
Fan
Frames and wall art
Blackout window panels
Floor lamp
Room fragrances (such as aromatherapy)
Door mirror
Little white Christmas Tree lights
Candles
Comfy chairs and/or love seat
Crate or small table for Coffee Table
No closet doors?
Closet doors or coverings are always recommended. Clothes carry a lot of energy and it can be disturbing to your sleep to be looking at them, so cover them up when ever possible
Curtains (choose a more muted pattern, too wild= too active a space)
Click rings
Closet curtain rod
Organizing
Under bed storage (not normally recommended but only if necessary)
Shoe storage
Stacking drawers
Closet organizers
Luggage
Batteries
Safe/laptop lock
Small iron/ironing board if necessary
Purse organizer
Hangers
Emergency First Aid Kit
Small Tool kit
Hooks for hanging bathrobes, jackets
Drawer organizers
Wash
Towels
Washcloths
Mesh bath sponge
Laundry basket
Bath storage
Laundry hamper
Shower tote/caddie
Hairdryer
Shower curtains/liner
Hand vacuum
Robe
Slippers
Toothbrush and holder
Drying rack
Toilet brush
Over the door towel rack
Soap holder and soap
Shower/bath rug
Air purifier
Eating:
Plates and bowls
Glasses
Coffee/tea makers
Cutlery and utensils
Cups and mugs can/bottle opener
On the go travel mug
Water bottle
Bag/chip clips
Water pitcher and filters
Food storage
Lunch bag