Living the dorm life can be depressing at times. All the dorms come with standard, ugly, red furniture, white walls, and dim lights. This is not what most people think of when they think of home. There are no smells of a casserole mom made, the scent of fresh laundry, or the quietness of your home bedroom. Instead we get little to no food scents from the dinning hall, the smell of damp laundry in the laundry room, and noisy roommates and neighbors. In your home away from home you should feel comfortable and be able to live in an environment that doesn’t have you itching to get away from dorm life. But with a few simple steps you can have your (almost perfect) home away from home.
Firstly, start calling your dorm home. When a friend asks you where you are going reply with “home” not “dorm”. This simple word change can make a world of difference. The word dorm just does not sound very homey. Over the past year and a half my suitemates and I have called our suite our home and it makes us feel a little better about going back to it at the end of the day.
Secondly, decorate. Decorating is the easiest and most fun part of finally moving away from home. Hang up your old art projects on the wall, get decorative pillows and blankets, and cover up those ugly old couches with couch covers. My roommates and I love to decorate so we are constantly coming up with creative ways to decorate. We hung up pictures on all the walls, a chandelier in our living room; we got giant floor pillows, decorative sticks and feathers in vases, and floor rugs. This is a collection of décor we have acquired over just the past two years.
Third, keep your place clean. Unless you are used to a messy house filled with garbage and rotten food then clean up. It takes a few minutes a day to reorganize your junk drawer or vacuum all the hair that’s been collecting off of the floor. Plus, anytime you have anyone over they will always notice how clean your place is. This will win you bragging rights and everyone will rather hang out at your place. Messy suites can remind you of a dungeon, especially with how dim Emerson’s lights are. So buy a lamp, turn on some lights, and live in a classy place. My suitemates and I made a chore chart and we stick to it. That way one person isn’t always stuck cleaning the whole room.
Last, just accept Boston and Emerson as your home…at least while you are here. The city and our school have so much to offer. There are great places to eat and shop and some pretty amazing people to be friends with. So make your dorm a home and enjoy your Emerson living experience.