NEWSDAY Article

NEWSDAY Article

Dorm room tips from Metropolitan Institute of Interior Design students (Newsday Article) :

Newsday Article from Deborah Lempert Interiors

Practical, space-saving ideas are essential to dorm-room living. In this space, designed by Deborah Lempert, a Great Neck-based designer who’s been studying at Syosset-based Metropolitan Design Institute for 1 1/2 years, the red, gray and white color scheme pulls together a room that’s full of clever solutions. “My son is a sophomore in college, and my daughter is looking at colleges this year,” says Lempert. “So I know the challenges.” She used washi tape ($2.98 per roll, at Michael’s) to make wall art, and Command hooks ($4 to $18, Bed Bath and Beyond) to hang everything from hats to bags. A steamer trunk, also covered in washi tape, provides extra storage, as do storage drawers and a hanging shoe rack. A foldable lounge chair sits next to a floor lamp ($63.99, by Equip your Space at Bed Bath and Beyond) that features three shelves plus a charging station. The floor got covered in a cozy shag rug, and blackout curtains were hung from tension rods. “To shorten the curtains, I used double-sided tape,” says Lempert. “I can change the length later when he moves.” She also hung a tapestry ($32.95, Ambessone via Amazon), and got a desk lamp with additional storage to keep study needs organized. Overall, the small space is designed to help students get organized. “A lot of students don’t realize how small the dorm room space is,” she says. “They bring too much.” Lempert says that luckily, lots of stores have great options that incorporate both storage and display.