<p>I came across a few websites that specialize in custom dorm bedding and decor. I have sons but it appears to cater to female students. I'm curious to hear from parents that have or are considering purchasing Custom Bedding for their child's dorm. </p>
<p>Do you have sons or daughters?</p>
<p>Who initiated the idea? (student or parent)</p>
<p>When did you or will you place an order? </p>
<p>Does the roommate ever agree to order custom bedding just so the room coordinates? </p>
<p>If you have purchased custom items for a dorm, has your son or daughter used it for more than one year? </p>
<p>If you have purchased custom items for a dorm, have you been happy with the end product? (Quality and value?)</p>
<p>As for window treatments, do most dorms have curtain rods in addition to blinds or shades?
If not, are there any schools that allow you to install your own drapery hardware?</p>
<p>My question is driven by curiosity. I have already sent two sons to college and the third is almost there (Fall 2011). I’m just trying to see is there really a demand for this product? </p>
<p>Even if I did have a daughter, I don’t think I would spend that kind of money on custom bedding and decor for a dorm. I will admit, the stuff looks great!</p>
<p>I didn’t/wouldn’t buy custom dorm bedding for my D but then again I don’t do that for my home! D ended up winning her bedding set at her post graduation lock in.</p>
<p>Some girls go crazy with the matchy matchy stuff. There was a thread somewhere on here last year that linked to dorm decorating contest results. Custom, matching. Bedding, wall coverings, curtains, letters on the wall.</p>
<p>Collegeshopping meekly raises her hand. My D has already been looking around a bit at bedding. But she really is hoping for a RM that wants to coordinate or match. She really likes order. I LOVE bedding. It has always been a weakness and I am afraid I have passed that on to my kids.</p>
<p>^^Collegeshopping…your daughter would be in the minority if the DIDNT have matching and/or custom bedding where she is living The majority there will. My D and her roomate looked at that site (I’m pretty sure it’s the same one) and they decided on Anthropology instead. Thier room is super cute…but they are girls. I dont think boys really care.</p>
<p>Our kids did their “dorm bedding and decor” shopping here at home. They took the comforters or quilts from their bed (and NO it didn’t matter that the beds were a little longer). They took decorations and the like from their rooms. And they took the oldest towels from our linen closet. We didn’t even buy x long sheets as we found that regular twin jersey knit sheets fit those xlong mattresses really nicely.</p>
<p>My kids are very low maintenance when it comes to this stuff…both the son and the daughter. DD did use some of her own money to replace some things when she moved into an off campus house. DS just took the dorm stuff with him.</p>
<p>Oh…and at the end of four years…we asked them to PITCH the college linens…they were worn out and did NOT need to be moved home.</p>
<p>My daughter has already purchased her duvet cover, sheets, and a decorative pillow. I don’t think she really cares if her roommate’s bedding matches She bought her duvet from Urban Outfitters.</p>
<p>SWT…Anthropology is her number one choice too…I just which roommate matching happened sooner. She is so ready to get on with college; plus, my husband handles things better when I can spread them out…haha.</p>
<p>Neither of my kids’ colleges allowed window treatments at all. Anything hanging on the windows needed to be fire retardent and provided by the college (they had nice blinds in both cases).</p>
<p>Bought nice stuff from BB&B since we knew D would spend a lot of time studying in her room (and indeed she does, wishes she was able to spend more time sleeping and less studying but that’s the way it goes). RM also bought nice stuff. Room is so small and there is so much stuff crammed into it the value of matching/designer/coordinating is totally nonexistant - but we don’t regret the quality (which is what we were looking for) of soft sheets and fluffy pillows. If you’re only sleeping in them 5 or 6 hours a night, they might as well be comfy!</p>
<p>Neither of my boys cared much about what they got and neither coordinated with the roommate. “Something blue I guess.” They definitely don’t have their names spelled out on the walls, or bulletin boards. Neither S1 nor his roomate put up anything on the wall. S2 and his roommate each have a poster. Their main decor seems to be hats and jackets hanging from hooks. Both kids got a matching set of sheets and comforter from BBB. I think they each got some sort of extra cushion beyond the basic pillow. No window treatments. S2 says they’ve rearranged the furniture in the room several times. The only reason I got new towels from them is that most of the towels in our house are over 30 years old.</p>
<p>I bought an expensive comforter for my son. It keeps him warm at night but it is too bulky to fit in the dorm washing machines. He doesn’t use a top sheet so I think this item will get left behind when we pick him up in the spring.</p>
<p>D and her roommate coordinated everything last summer. Their room is matchy-matchy, but it’s really cute. (At least I think it is.) They bought the majority of their stuff through PBTeen. D handpainted letters for their names, I made the the drapes (against the rules), and we ordered the rug (large & hot pink) off EBay (best price). It really depends on the roommates’ personalities and what they’re able/willing to spend.</p>
<p>I have the same sofa as the girls that won first place in the room decorating contest in that link. That’s about as fashionable as I get! Most of my stuff came from target, and when I had a roommate last year it did not coordinate at all with her stuff-- this year I have a single and most of my stuff matches or complements the rest but my rug doesn’t quite match, it was donated to me. My room has a lot of decoration but it’s all ME stuff, not so much trendy interior design stuff. Lots of string lights and movie posters. The girls in my dorm tell me I have the coolest room in the building, but I am pretty sure it’s just because of that silly couch. :P</p>
<p>Try to resist. First, ask your son what he wants. My son wanted far less than I wanted to get. I am a “feather the nest” type. He is the “let’s see what I need” type. </p>
<p>Window treatments? All dorms I have enountered have blinds. If your son wants something else, you will probably need to use a tension rod. I suggest you wait. My son would have thought I was nuts (more than usual) if I suggested curtains.</p>
The majority there will. My D and her roomate looked at that site (I’m pretty sure it’s the same one) and they decided on Anthropology instead. Thier room is super cute…but they are girls. I dont think boys really care.</p>