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closeUniversity students are getting ready to head back to class, and that means it's time to get down to business and crack open the books.
But a bland, cramped room, whether it's a dorm or an apartment, isn't exactly the best motivation to stay in and study.
The Bellingham Herald got a few tips from Cara Piscitello, owner of downtown shop designLAB, and Gretchen Bjork, owner of downtown spot Digs, on how to spruce up a less than inspiring space.
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Here are a few places in Bellingham where you can pick up items to revamp your apartment or dorm.
Digs
200 W. Holly St.
Digsshowroom.com
DesignLAB
202 E. Holly St.
Desinglabshop.com
Ideal
1227 Cornwall Ave.
752-5522
anidealshop.com
Greenhouse
1235 Cornwall Ave.
676-1161
greenhousehome.com
Target
Bellis Fair mall
734-0220
target.com
Challenge No. 1: Your place looks just like your neighbors'.
Answer: Make it personal.
To create a comfortable, lived-in feeling in your dorm or apartment, add touches that are meaningful to you.
"Some cool things are little, tiny collections of things that are very special objects to you personally that don't take up a lot of space," Piscitello says. "Make just a few really special items stand out."
Bjork uses pieces from her travels as a reminder of good times. They could be fabrics, photos or any number of knick knacks picked up in a foreign place.
"Making something personal is about keeping objects out that are personal to you," she says.
Don't hide your favorite things in a drawer or some corner of your bedroom; put them out there for people to see.
Challenge No. 2: Changes can't be permanent. That means no paint and no big projects.
Answer: Use color wisely.
Whether it's with curtains, pillows or area rugs, get some color in your space.
"You can do a lot with color," Bjork says. "Picking colors that represent the mood and personality you want your space to portray is important.
Bjork and Piscitello both advise using removable wall stickers, available at either store, to make a wall more dramatic without paint. You can find blocks, dots or stripes of color, or Bjork has small silhouettes of birds, chandeliers or kits for a whole wall available for less than $50.
"If you change your mind every season, you can change your whole room," Bjork says.
But as with all things, you must use color responsibly.
"In designs in a small space don't overdo it with tons of color and patterns," Piscitello says. "Especially in a small space, if you start throwing tons of things in there it gets a little hyper."
Challenge No. 3: Harsh, unflattering lighting.
Answer: Plug in something special.
There's a world of lamps and lighting out there just waiting to be explored, and it can completely change your interior.
"I'm not really into normal overhead lighting," Bjork says. "I like lamps and hanging pendant lamps; they're easier on the eyes. It softens your environment and makes it cozy."
At Digs you can order custom lamps, by choosing your base shape, glaze color and lampshade pattern.
Challenge No. 4: Small space, big problem.
Answer: Eliminate clutter creatively.
In a small space, clutter is bound to happen, so finding a chic place to store that clutter is a must.
"Make sure everything has a spot," Piscitello says. "Keep stuff in little boxes so your surroundings are nice and calm and peaceful because that's a huge issue. We have boxes made from vintage wallpaper that are awesome for catch-alls. You can throw in your mail or magazines or all your chargers, to eliminate all those wires."
She also likes the idea of making items dual purpose; old suitcases can be stacked and topped with a lamp, and they can be filled with blankets or items that you only pull out on special occasions. If you have a dual-purpose room, such as a dining room that's also a work space, it's important to make the transition from one to the other as easy as possible.
"My new thing is I have all these vintage trays, and I love to use them on a surface to corral office supplies or other items," Piscitello says. "It keeps it all kind of in one place."
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