Picture your room as it is now. Now imagine your dream room. Does anything different pop into your mind?

Rather than keeping your old, gloomy living area, revamp it by taking a few suggestions from others around campus. According to numerous students on and off campus, there are many ways to decorate your room without having to use too much money, effort, or time.

“I kept my old New Jersey license plate to fill up some space on my white wall and to bring some uniqueness to my room,” said junior Meagan Walton, a Resident Advisor in Milner.

Walton also suggested using old records and album covers as a way to be sustainable.

“We have a projector in our common area so we can show videos,” said sophomore Michael Gatton in an e-mail interview.

Projectors can be quite costly, but according to Rentaldecorating.com, one can find secondhand items at thrift stores or reduced items at local department stores such as Target, WalMart, or Sam’s Club. Buying secondhand is a great way to stay sustainable and cost-friendly while spicing up a room or an apartment.

“I put up pictures of my friends but cut them into shapes of hearts and use ribbons to make them colorful,” said senior Julie Langseth, who lives off-campus.

Distinctive decorating with photos could be a great way to “frame” pictures without buying any new items.

“I spruce my dorm up with a rug, my couch, memorabilia, and sports paraphernalia,” said senior and RA Matt Sinclair.

Each of these personal items could be something that one might have in order to bring a new ambiance to the room.

“I put scrapbook paper all over my walls to sort of act like wallpaper,” said senior Sam Golley. “You can get all sorts of designs and colors and mix-match them to create a cool look on your walls.”

You may think that campus life restrictions are too strict to get truly creative when decorating, but in reality, there are many options such as the adhesive poster strips that can be found at Target or WalMart. Sticky tack is always a great option.

Share your dorm room or apartment ideas with your friends. If there is an idea that stirs your soul, then take the initiative to make your living space your own. Try something new and turn your room from gloom to Va Va Voom!

Check out some Do It Yourself resources below that can help anyone with any decorating style:

1. Dormdelicious.com

2. Rentaldecorating.com

3. Blogs.ajc.com

4. www.powertochange.com/stu

dents/living/dormdeco/