By Felicia Czochanski Bisaro
Back-to-school season is somehow around the corner again. If you planning to live on campus this year, that means more than ensuring your new-school-year wardrobe is ready. While some dorms may come fully furnished, you still need those fun, personal touches for your dorm to help make it feel like your own. Other schools may require that you bring all furniture, from beds to tables and desks to lamps. Either way, there is always a way to make your back-to-school home feel like the perfect comfy spot where you can relax after a long day of class.
It’s amazing the difference a few years can have on someone’s personal style, especially in our younger years. When I moved into my college dorm as a freshman, I was so excited about the freedom it was going to bring, including the chance to pick out a refreshed look for my room. I shared a room with two roommates and the room came furnished, but I was able to create a fun navy and hot pink polka dot look with my bedding and desk essentials. I had fun with it and was able to create a little oasis for myself that I could count on looking how I wanted it to after long nights of studying.
My senior year, I lived in more of what my school called a “suite,” with four other roommates a tiny living room and kitchen. This was also furnished, but it was still a challenge to make it look the way we all wanted. I’ve learned over the years that the littlest details can make all the difference. With these memories in mind, I recently went into a newly opened Goodwill store in New Jersey to see what is in stock for those back-to-school students looking to elevate their dorm.
Check out what I found below for inspiration on how to make your dorm your own.
Inspirational Wall Art
I love these “Do What You Love, Love What You Do” prints, especially for college students pursuing their passions in school. If you have the wall space in a bedroom, near your desk or around your living area, wall art that means something to you can be a nice way to personalize a blank canvas and keep your mind on what’s important to you.
Fall Flair
Decorating the outside of the door to your dorm room is also a fun way to show off your personality and create an inviting environment or a conversation starter to help you make new friends. This fall wreath could be the perfect way to decorate your door once September comes around.
Setting the Right Vibe
This group of items could definitely be counted as the best section I came across in Goodwill’s home goods shelves. You best believe that ‘Girls Night Out Fund’ jar would have been a staple in my dorm room. In the meantime, I opted for the ceramic knotted candle holder that I’m pretty sure is originally from West Elm. It was scratched, but I knew of a hack that would get this out.
With the help of a magic eraser, I was able to make it look good as new!
As you start your back-to-school shopping this year, don’t forget to shop secondhand. Not only is it more sustainable and more affordable, (this candle holder was $1.99 at Goodwill, but at retail it would have been anywhere from $35-95) but shopping at Goodwill gives back to your community through education and workforce development that helps people find jobs or advance their careers.
There’s no better way to start the school year on the right foot, plus, you never know what unique and even vintage pieces you might find to help you express your personal style.
Don’t forget to tag us @goodwillintl in your back-to-school hauls for a chance to be featured in a future blog.
