Back to School Special: Greening Your Dorm

Early September marks the time of the year when driving along the interstate you see station wagons, vans and cars stuffed to the brim with clothes, books, furniture and gear of college students across the country, heading back to school.  Many will be staying in dorm rooms or renting apartments, and they all have one thing in common: they need lots of stuff.  That's right.  Existing in a space without mom's kitchen supplies or needing to furnish a bare bones apartment with friends can be costly and quite the opposite of eco-friendly.  There's a lot of space to fill, and pressure to have a hip or even simply functional space to entertain and of course, study.  We at 'g' wanted to share some of our best ideas for preparing for the next college semester in the greenest ways possible - if you are a college student or have one in your life (child or grandchild, friend or other family member), read up and consider carefully!

Add personality with accents like vintage lamps and second-hand furniture

We're now at the start of another school year.  Take a minute to think ahead.  At the end of second semester, curbsides will be lined with furniture, appliances, and other dorm decor that students would rather ditch than pack up and take with them.  Dumpsters fill up with items purchased and used for sometimes less than a year - so, why contribute to the waste?  Starting with second-hand items is one of the best ways to green your dorm decor!

Brightly colored vintage glass bottles add a nice decorative flair. Why splurge for new when you can reuse?

First, raid your parents home for anything they might have in the basement of have duplicates of.  Sure, it's trendy to go out and purchase a veggie peeler with the pink enamel handle, but if mom has three in her kitchen utensil drawer, why get a new one?  New things mean new raw materials, and lots of energy going into the manufacturing and packaging.

Next, explore other avenues of cheap (and sometimes free!) second hand items.  Many cities now have a chapter of "freecycle" - a forum where people post items they are giving away free, no strings attached.  You may also have great luck finding functional and unique items at thrift stores and yard sales.  And, go to these places with an open mind.  Find a bookshelf that will suit your needs but hate the finish?  Paint it to suit your own style - you could even come to 'g' to pick up some eco-friendly (and VOC-free) Milk Paint.  Remember to consider the function, and whether or not you really need soemthing, before making the purchase.  We also liked this article that details how to choose used furnishings and decor. Come across a used sofa whose price is right but upholstery isn't?  Cover it with a funky throw blanket.  There are so many creative ways to make your mark with someone else's stuff. 


With a little bit of patience and an eco-savvy flair, your space can be one of a kind and reflect your unique style.  Continuing with your green-sense, at the end of the year before filling the dumpster with your decor, see if you have any classmates who may want to buy any of your belongings or take them off your hand for free.  Some schools have drop-offs to donate used goods to be given to shelters or sold the next fall for the next batch of incoming students...And, if yours doesn't have this service, be a green entrepreneur and start it!