MNN - Mother Nature Network

Last week, I gave an extended shout-out to Georgia Tech grad Jenny Drinkard's Quirky-borne modular, American-made crate storage units. Naturally, this got me thinking about all the other dorm-ready goodies that have been on my radar as of late (sorry to be the messanger of bad news for all of you in-denial students and vacationing educators out there, but back to school season is indeed in full swing.)

 

As mentioned previously, there’s been a huge push over the past few years for dorm-bound students to green their small spaces. Unlike “real life” where you have more authority over the eco-friendliness of your living space, dorm-dwellers have to mind the details since buying large furnishings and fixtures and dealing with utilities is out of their hands. Small but important conservation efforts and small-scale purchasing decisions, mainly revolving around décor and organization, are key.

 

It’s also super-crucial, of course, to make your living space — as prison cell-esque as it may be — special. No one wants to live in a room with bare walls (aside from the requisite black light poster), a mini fridge, and a heap of dirty laundry. Spruce up a dormitory domicile with hand-me-downs from home, flea market finds, and these 15 unique furnishings and accessories — several are useful beyond the dorm room —  that’ll help it stand out from the others in the quad and, most importantly, feel a bit like home.

 

Urban Ikat Organic Sheet Set @ PBTeen ($69/Twin XL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Naked Art @ MIO ($25)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cardboard Storage Trunk @ CB2 ($24.95)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iPhone Hand Dock by Harry Allen @ Areaware ($65)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cork Pinboard by Suck UK @ Amazon.com ($76.43)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eau Good Water Bottle by Black + Blum @ Black + Blum ($20)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blackbird Mending Kit @ Blackbird Ballard ($35)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laundry Soap for Men @ UncommonGoods ($10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almond Soap on a Rope by D.R. Harris & Co. @ The Future Perfect ($25)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preserve Food Storage - 6 Mini Containers @ Abe's Market ($12.60)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quirky Storage System Crate @ OfficeMax ($19.99 - accessories sold separately)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laundry Bag with Hook by Ferm Living @ House & Hold ($79.95)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Urbio Happy Family Magnetic Vertical Gardening System @ Urbio ($75)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clutch Walnut Table Lamp @ CB2 ($99.95 - 13W CLF bulb included)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Izola Reflections Toothbrush Set @ Izola ($12.50)