<p>Anyone have any luck finding nice dorm things besides at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond? Looking for some nice alternatives to those two. Thanks!</p>
<p>Circuit City for a nice big plasma TV. :)</p>
<p>Or, if the kid has a top bunk, one of those plastic trays that attach to the side of the bunk that can hold a drink, clock, cell phone, etc. </p>
<p>Sears, Penneys, etc. should have some dorm things during dorm shopping season (summer). If it's a big room (unlike the ones my Ds have had), Ikea for furniture. They usually have a section for dorm stuff on their website. </p>
<p>I think it's best to not overdo the dorm things beyond the standard items since they might not have that much room and might be moving frequently.</p>
<p>I-K-E-A! Has nice lamps, area rugs, wall hangings, plants, bookshelves, etc.
Pier One=Gives 15% discount to students in Aug-Sept</p>
<p>If your child is like mine, she did NOT want the same room things as half her dorm mates. We spend time from April through August looking for original pieces and even now, when I find something interesting, send it up to her.</p>
<p>Back in the day I had a sweet papasan chair from pier 1. It didn't hold up really well, though I did manage to sell it after three years to another student for about 20% of the purchase price. I also had a pottery barn quilt - and that has held up very well.</p>
<p>Also, if you see something you like from a chain store (like pottery barn or ikea), but it's kind of expensive for dorm use, check e-bay. I know that sounds kind of strange, but when I was furnishing my first apartment I got a rug and some bedding (both brand new in original packaging) off e-bay - saved me a bundle.</p>
<p>my groovy D2 will be shopping pier 1 and cost plus for that "straight from the ashram" look.</p>
<p>If price isn't a consideration, Pottery Barn Teen has really nice things. Lots of organizational stuff.</p>
<p>my d's dorm had heavy cream 9at least originally) colored curtains on hooks and traverse rods...we bought two $10 pashminas (rayon) in her favorite color and flipped them over about 12 inches from top - so the one fringed end made a valance...put the hooks from the dorm curtains thru the back side of the pashmina and hung them ...the curtains are in a plastic bag that held her comforter under the bed in the deepest darkest corner til May when they will return to the windows for end the year inspection...</p>
<p>meanwhile she always gets compliments on the color in her room</p>
<p>D and I found some cool stuff (hangers, desk organisers, storage tubs, etc.) at the Container Store:
The</a> Container Store: Store Locations</p>
<p>A side note: Linens and Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond take each other's coupons.</p>
<p>and BB&B coupons don't expire dispite what they say on them - save them - use 6 at a time...</p>
<p>Craigslist did wonders for furnishing my dorm. Cheap too!</p>
<p>Is dorm decor a girl thing? I walk past the women's open doors and see great looking rooms- then the guy's wing with unmade beds, stuff all over, no decor but electronics...</p>
<p>wis75, in my experience, yes. Decor is a girl thing. The only thing DS cared about was his wall posters, and that his comforter not look too young. He ended up with a solid color, reversible navy blue/beige comforter. Teal towels because they were on sale, and "they're towels, who cares?" They have no curtains in their room, just the shade.</p>
<p>yep, My S1 was not interested in decor at all (although we did get a rug for the middle of the cold linnoleum floor). The beds were lofted and they got a hand-me down futon from roommate's sister. He used those fold up portable camp chairs for extra guest seating. He only took 2 bath towels because "you can only use one at the time". No curtains(miniblinds). Their most creative touch was the flag they hung from their ceiling by the overhead light that gave their room a sort of weird glow,lol.</p>
<p>Make sure you check the actual dorm room before buying furniture. My D was in a triple first year and a double this year and there's no way one could fit a chair in there and I've seen even smaller rooms than hers.</p>
<p>Sticky back velcro is the best in dorm rooms! You can attach it to anything! It will hold up fabric for drapes, to cover the back of ugly dressers/desks for room dividers, fabric on walls for wallpaper look, little containers on walls, etc. Command hooks are also great! Ikea has cool inexpensive dorm items. I always tell everyone to get get the little push lights to have if you loft your bed. You can turn on the light so you don't have to jump down in the dark, great for in closets, too. The hanging mesh containers from Ikea are good to store things in. </p>
<p>We also had D1's towels monogramed so they could always be found and not easily "misplaced".</p>
<p>Sigh...I'm kind of jealous about the cool decorating. Last fall I was so distraught about him leaving that I was kind of glad I didn't have to deal with it though. I think it might be enjoyable by child #3, who is a D.</p>
<p>My S refused to let me hang the navy curtain valance I bought. Packmom--your S is more creative than mine. Once I did visit and see a flattened BudLight box thumbtacked to the wall. As they have matured over the semester, that has disappeared too. Now the entire decorating scheme consists of a tan 4'x6' rug and black futon.</p>
<p>Another idea is a roll of contact paper (Home Depot for example) which can be used to brighten up industrial paint walls. My son finally "allowed" me to put some marble pattern paper up along edges when we took him back after winter break. You can make a big impact for a little amount of cost.</p>
<p>Linen's and Things too. Not much of an alternative, I know. But we bought "grown-up" brands that no other kids had. D's comforter was orange, bittersweet and dark pink (not garish, as it sounds) in a textured weave (all woven together) in squares. Liz Claiborne. Let to very easy accessorizing. One accessory was a large pink parasol like I got for free by asking a store owner who used them for decoration what he paid for them.</p>
<p>DS's room is a small single, but very well accessorized. He said he didn't care and picked out something awful because it was cheap, but I talked him into returning it in favor of the Ralph Lauren navy comforter with crisp, white stripes at a significant distance from each other. Also a nice backdrop.</p>
<p>Posters were significant to him. He did his room in blues except for one large Monet print (sunset colors) he bought himself after the room was done.</p>
<p>Neither room really had space for extra furniture.</p>
<p>I am amazed at how many kids have flat screen TVs! Thought D1 was kidding but there were tons of them!:0</p>