Decked out Dorm Room

This time of year a lot of kids are off to college for their first year in a new & exciting place! And while it's exciting for both the parents and the student, it's also nerve-racking, stressful, and even a little sad for everyone. You're sending your kid off to somewhere totally new, maybe far away from home, with a bunch of strangers and you just really hope they are complacent and happy--and your kid is really hoping this too! The best way to start off on the right foot? Create a comfortable living environment!

Help your child get settled in their new dorm or apartment and create an area where they will feel at home.

Below are some of our favorite Dorm Room essentials to use to design the perfect space for your child (or for yourself if you're the one going off to college).

(product details after the image)

Dorm Products List:

1. Navy Curtains - Urban Outfitters - Dorm windows typically aren't pretty so use these curtains to bring in color and provide extra privacy.   2. White Desk Shelf - Container Store - This shelf collapses so it's easy to move.   3. Table Lamps -  West Elm - With the harsh lighting of the dorm these accent lamps will create a much warmer atmosphere.   4. Cozy Bedding - Urban Outfitters - nice bedding is the quickest way to brighten your plain room and bring in your own style. Since you probably will only have this for a couple of years, don't spend too much! But don't cheap out completely...you'll already have trouble sleeping if sharing a room with a new roommate.   5. White Desk Chair - Overstock - Desk chairs don't have to be ugly or expensive. This white number is sleek and will modernize any space.   6. White Desk - Urban Outfitters -  a lot of dorm rooms now provide a desk, but if they don't you'll want to invest in at least a small table. There will definitely be nights you don't feel like going to the library and the desk will come in handy!   7. Mini Fridge - Home Depot - A necessity for all dorm rooms! You'll occasionally want your own groceries to help prevent that Freshman 15.   8. Tall Bookcase - Overstock -  If you can fit it, definitely consider purchasing a bookcase. You will be acquiring a lot more books and it will add an upscale accent.   9. Record Player - Urban Outfitters - Want to be the coolest new friend on campus? Get a record player.   10. Dishware Set - Urban Outfitters - Just like a mini fridge, dishware is a dorm necessity. An affordable set should get you all the way through College too.   11. Framed Pictures/Art - Urban Outfitters - Decorate the walls! Create a photo collage or buy a bunch of cool, inexpensive prints--it will make your place feel a lot more home-y.   12. Blanket - West Elm - A super soft throw will help get you through those long nights of studying.   13. Mongrammed Towels - PB Teen - if your dorm has a community bathroom, monogrammed towels are essential...then you'll know if someone steals your soft, fluffy towel.   14. Wall Shelf - Urban Outfitters - the more shelving & storage the better. And this one is perfect for a cool plant!   15. Accent Mirror - Urban Outfitters - Mirrors always make the room feel bigger & are great for putting by the door to look at on your way out to class!   16. Seating Poufs - West Elm -  you probably won't be spending too much time in your dorm, but you'll still want some extra seating for when your new friends come visit.   17. Floor Lamp - Urban Outfitters - Just like the table lamps, this will make your dorm environment much more pleasant & calming.   18. Sheepskin Rug - Pottery Barn - Something soft to put your feet on every morning, to make you want to get out of bed for class.   19. Blue Accent Chair - West Elm - If you can fit it, you'll appreciate this pop of color and a comfy place to sit when you need to read all those new books!

We hope this long list of items inspires you to create a dorm room where you or your child feel at home and relaxed!

Sometimes you don't know where to begin with moving in and creating a home away from home...so if you need help we would love to offer our professional advice! Feel free to reach out to us.

Click here to see more Blog Posts by Paula Ables Interiors.

3 Things to do when Creating your Home Office

One of the more common things we are seeing in houses today is a fully functional home office.  More companies are trying to save money on commercial office spaces by having employees work from home and more people are running small businesses from their home. I too went through the work from home phase and was fortunate to have a "work from home professional" (my hubby) to show me the ropes and what NOT to do.  He went through several work phases starting with the laptop table in bed, to watching TV in his pj's while working, to finally realizing he needed to get up, shower, dress for the day and sit at an actual desk to be the most productive.

Some of you reading this now are nodding your heads and laughing because you too have experienced one or more of these phases.  When deciding if it is time to create your new home office, here are a few things to keep in mind while setting up the room to make each day productive and comfortable.

1.  Ergonomics for your home office

There are several items to consider to keep you comfortable and healthy in your home office space.  Do a little research to see what works best for the job you do.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when starting your search.

1. Use a good chair with a dynamic back that is angled slightly to the rear.
2. Top of monitor screen should be 2-3" above eye level
3. No glare on screen; use an optical glass anti-glare filter where needed
4. Sit at arms length from monitor; further if distance is comfortable and screen is readable.
5. Rest feet on floor or on a stable foot rest (move feet frequently for circulation)
6. Use a document holder, preferably in-line with the computer screen
7. Wrists should be flat and straight in relation to forearms to use keyboard/mouse/input device
8. Keeps arms and elbows relaxed close to body
9. Center monitor and keyboard in front of you
10. Use a negative tilt keyboard tray with an upper mouse platform or downward tilt-able platform adjacent to keyboard
11. Use a stable work surface and stable (no bounce) keyboard tray
12. Take frequent short breaks (micro breaks) and stretch.

2. Lighting for your home office

Lighting in your work space is important.  Having natural sunlight in your home office can make the difference between a happy workspace and a depressing, sleepy environment (see how I said "environment" here, because we all know that no work is being accomplished in a dark and dreary office).  Being able to enjoy a wonderful view of nature is a plus, but having any visual connection to the outside -even if it is just another building- can be beneficial to your work environment.

Having the right amount and type of light is important to prevent eye strain and this is achieved through layering light sources.  Besides natural sunlight it is important to have general overhead lighting to provide an even sheet of light over the entire space to minimize shadows and severe dark to light contrasts that can strain your eyes over time.  Another thing to consider is a good desk/task light to provide additional, focused lighting.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when lighting your work space:

• Make sure your lamp has enough light output to cover your entire work surface. Having the ability to adjust the placement and direction of the light is ideal.
• Place the lamp on the opposite side of your dominant hand to reduce shadows when writing or reading.
• Position your computer screen so it is angled away from the natural light by day and away from the light beam of the desk lamp at night. This will reduce the reflection on your computer screen.
• Use task lights combined with general lighting for reading, writing or drawing, this helps to avoid eye strain.

3.  Incorporate personal touches for inspiration in your home office

All work and no play can make anyone a dull boy/girl.  Make sure to include things in your space that inspire you.  Whether it is photos of your family, a beautiful piece of art or a mood board to help spur your next brilliant idea.  This is your space, use it how it works best for you.

There are many more factors to consider when creating your perfect home office space, it is impossible to cover them all in one blog.  We at Paula Ables Interiors pride ourselves in our ability to listen to your wants and needs and create a wonderful, aesthetically pleasing environment that functions just the way you need it to.  We want you to love the space you are in, whatever that room might be.  Do you have a drab office space in need of some love?  Or are you considering working from home and need to transform a room you can stand to be in for 8 hours, or longer, a day?  We would love to help you get there.

Click here to see more blog posts by Paula Ables Interiors.