I like to tell people that the vibe my roommate and I are going for in our room is “hotel lobby core.” A mishmash of soft lighting, neutral colorways and a vague, permeating scent of fresh laundry are the defining features of our capacious 1-room double. People seem to enjoy it too. Family, friends and friends of friends, all of whom, upon walking through the door, proffer a multitude of compliments and promptly take a seat on our fold-out futon.
Truthfully, none of it’s by design. Both my roommate and I lofted our beds and placed our desks underneath, and after a month or so, we found there was almost too much resultant space. So, we purchased a futon, rearranged some storage bins and were left with a delightful space to work, relax and even sleep. We attended a micro-garden workshop in LaFortune’s community kitchen and returned with two Tupperware containers now full of lush green foliage. A few fake succulents here, some real pumpkins leftover from Halloween, and our bay window is a veritable green space. With a few extra touches in the form of warm LED strips and a Black Friday deal on a TV, it’s hard not to feel at home in this little sliver of Philadelphia and New Orleans culture.
While I’m hardly a proponent of Marie Kondo’s near-obsessive dedication to tidiness, I do think it’s worthwhile for all of us to take a look around our room and see what little things we can add, or, just as importantly, take away, to make our spaces feel more whole. Indeed, in some of our quads and quints on campus, it’s tempting to fill the space with needless items simply because you can, but in an effort to be more purposeful, consider what defines your space and what items merely fall in the background. As always, there’s beauty in balance. While the bohemian/eclectic aesthetic your gregarious friend has in their room may work for them, you may feel overwhelmed or constricted by applying the same ideas to your space. Start small with a plant (fake or real, either work wonders) here or there or snag a colorful blanket at a thrift store. Experimentation doesn’t need to be costly, and the only way you’ll ever know what works is if you try, and ultimately you (and your roommate) will be better off for it.
Notre Dame as an institution prides itself on fostering community and continuously encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and try new things. While I wholeheartedly ascribe to this belief, and it is why Notre Dame has the best undergraduate experience in the country, there is a lost art in the design of a quality dorm room space. Lost in the midst of overplayed Barstool flags, there is something special about not only a room with character, but a room that people want to be in. A room that, after a particularly long day, involving a failed midterm, four classes and a lab, is exceedingly welcoming and relaxing, offering equal parts privacy and comfort. In truth, this is where your own Notre Dame community first begins, with your roommate, the people across the hall from you and the upperclassmen in your section. And sure, your dorm lounge will always be there, but the individuality of a dorm room begs more sincerity from the interactions that come from within. Ultimately, whether they’re a friend, romantic interest or business partner, the dorm room is an inherently more intimate and receptive space, and, in essence, serves as a gateway to meaningful connections with all those who pass through its door.