When decorating your own space for the first time, it’s easy to fall into the Wal-Mart plastic bins, purple/green color scheme, and the haphazard bags of [insert your favorite snack here] cluttering the desk. If this describes your room, don’t miss our weekly installation of Behind the Door, where we unveil the best-decorated rooms on campus.
When walking into Ceanna van Gelder and Sarah Arndt’s room, you forget that you are in cold upstate New York. These two sophomores hail from Marin County, a suburb right outside of San Francisco and their room pays homage to their home state, California. Before coming to Skidmore, these two future roommates were introduced by a mutual friend back home. Sarah is an Environmental Studies major with a French minor, while Ceanna is an English major with a double minor in Environmental Science and Dance. The two both share a love for the environment (which is evident in their room) and are extremely active in Skidmore’s Environmental Action Club. HC finally got a chance to sit and drink tea with these two planet saving girls in their pacific inspired room:
HC: How has living in a double impacted your decorating decisions?
SA: The size of a double probably most impacted how we decorated because we could create a space that functioned as both a cozy and comfortable place to sleep and study, and also as a social place where people could hang out.
CG: The amount of space (compared to a triple) allowed for lots of furniture rearranging and the decorating process was just one big collaboration because we have such similar taste.
HC: How have you both brought your California lifestyles to your room in the Northeast?
SA: I brought Ceanna with me! Not exactly…she came on her own accord, but it is nice to both be from the same area. Also, everything I used to decorate comes from home – so it’s all a reminder! In addition, the photos and calendar pictures on the wall are all California scenes. I also like that there are colors in our room – the Northeast gets so grey, so I like having warm colors to brighten things up!
CG: Coincidently, Sarah and I both received the same calendar for Christmas last year. Each month is a picture of Marin County, where we are both from, and because we had two copies, we tore all the pages out of one and made a border with the images along the wall. Our beds face the photographs so we get to wake up to them every morning.
HC: Where are your favorite places to shop?
SA: Paper stores! For wall decorating especially, I like paper stores and flea markets where they sell old postcards and prints. I also love Anthropologie – it’s expensive but its fun to look at and get ideas from!
CG: The day I have my own apartment I will be heading straight to the Alameda Flea Market for all the furnishings. I also like to shop in Sarah’s closet.
HC: What is your favorite thing about your room?
SA: I like that the room is relatively simply decorated and that there is still open wall space. I also like that our beds are set up “sleepover style” – perfect for late night conversations when needed!
CG: One – Since our beds are pushed over to the far side of the room, we have all this space for dancing around! Two – Sarah lives in it. Three – The light that the lamps and Christmas lights give off is SO much better than the fluorescent overhead light. Four – We have a lot of tea.
HC: Do you have an advice for other students?
SA: Keep it clean! Less clutter = less stress. Just gotta be the mom and say it.
CG: Push your beds together to make one big bed sometimes!
Think your room is a work of interior decorating genius? Email rstern@skidmore.edu to nominate your or a friend’s space!