Let's Be Green: A Guide To Eco-Friendly Decorating (Dorm Room Style)

Dorm rooms are rarely set up to be a warm and inviting environment, but with a little touch of eco-friendly materials, you can make your once drab dorm space into a fab green college dorm room with exceptional ambience.

Let us first begin with the most important part of the room: The bed. Let’s face it, without a cozy and comfortable bed to sleep in how are you expected to make A’s all semester? Thankfully, there are many bedding companies that are selling eco-friendly textiles, such as hand woven blankets, certified organic cotton sheets, and comforters made from recycled fibers. PristinePlanet.com compares a variety of retailers that specialize in green products, and at Bed, Bath, and Beyond you can find an assortment of luxurious, eco-friendly pillows made from recycled water bottles. Why bother with those old-timey pillows that your mom bought you for Christmas last year? For less than 20-dollars you can purchase a comfortable, green pillow that you will not only feel good about buying, but feel good using.

When setting up your desk in your room, be aware of the office supplies that you have purchased; it may not seem like a big deal at first, but when you realize that nearly half of all trees harvested are used for making paper products, using sustainable, earth-friendly goods should really be a top priority. A variety of merchants are now selling recycled and tree-free notebooks that are not only attractive, but also very efficient. Ecopaper.com and Boku books, both of which sell notebooks and journals made from tree-free paper, are making a huge impact with their 100% post-consumer recycled products. Also, don’t forget about setting up a recycling bin next to your desk so that your waste can be turned into something fantastic in the future.

Additionally, you can even sport your good penmanship without feeling bad about hurting the environment: Earth-friendly pencils and pens that are biodegradable and made from recycled materials are available at most office supply stores. While at your local office goods store, why not pick up some energy-saving light bulbs for that desk lamp? Surprisingly, it’s the small adjustments to your everyday living space that really help in saving the environment. So every time you turn on that lamp to study, just think: You are doing your part.

Now what are we going to do about those bare walls? A quick stop at your local thrift store can offer a treasure trove of unusual and stylish decor. For example, you can purchase record albums for next to nothing; why not frame them (frames are easily found at second-hand stores as well) for a unique, retro look. Or how about creating origami animals from old magazines to hang from your ceiling? Urban Outfitters carries fun and reusable wall decals that are easy to use and remove. Just peel and stick for a kitschy and cool look! If you're fortunate enough to have windows in your dorm, why not get a plant? Plants naturally clean the air, ridding the toxins and pollutants that may be pervading your dormitory. Try a Peace Lilly, Rubber Plant, or a Boston Fern. The plant will not only serve as an eco-friendly air filter, but also add charm and color to your space.

Let’s talk a bit about toiletries and accessories. There are several wonderful companies such as Seventh Generation, Method, and Tom’s of Maine that make exceptional products that are green and organic. A personal favorite is Tom’s of Maine Natural deodorant stick in Calendula. This aluminum-free, unisex deodorant is made from hops, which is a natural way to fight odor and inhibit the growth of bacteria. Seventh Generation makes a variety of 100% recycled facial tissues, toilet paper, kitchen soaps, and laundry detergents that are both effective and safe for the environment. So when doing laundry or just cleaning up, remember the earth-friendly products that are available to your disposal.

One last idea involves the quintessential take-along shopping bag. There is no reason why anyone should be without a grocery tote bag. You can find many at your grocery store checkout line, but why not get one that's a little more fashion forward? Envirosax, Kawaii, and RuMe make modern grocery bags that you will want to take to the store. So next time you're making that midnight run to the market for snacks, be sure to take along your own grocery bag -- they're much cooler than your average plastic sack that will only spend a lifetime in a landfill.

Moving away to college can be scary, but with the right tools, it can be an enjoyable and earth-friendly experience. You'll be spending much of your time in your dorm room, so why not make it as comfortable as possible? Select recycled and organic bedding, energy-saving light bulbs, earth-friendly office supplies, and creative wall decor. Make this year a green year!


Here are a few helpful links to get you started:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/nodePage.asp?order_num=-1&RN=1138&

http://dev.origami.com/diagram.cfm

http://www.pristineplanet.com/

http://www.ecopaper.com/

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-ten-houseplants-for-cleaner-air.html

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?popId=APARTMENT&navAction=poppushpush&isSortBy=true&navCount=108&pushId=APARTMENT_FURNISH&id=A_FURN_WALL