Decorating a Green Dorm Room

By Reena Jana
August 11, 2010

It’s hard to believe that summer is nearly over and that college students are gearing up to get back to campus—or arrive there as freshmen. Many schools, from Notre Dame to Stanford, have established “sustainability offices” which now suggest steps that new and returning students can take to lower their energy consumption and carbon footprints. We’ve done our homework and found ten products—many which also serve as clever décor—that any dorm dweller with a desire to “go green” can appreciate.

Plus, our curated list of eco-conscious goods jazz up any small space, reduce energy bills, or cut waste…qualities that will keep these finds helpful long after graduation rolls around.

1. One of the most basic dorm necessities is bedding. Organic cotton sheets are an easy—and comfortable—way to outfit a planet-friendly room. Current eBay sales data show that the average price of organic cotton sheets has dropped 50 percent in recent weeks. This suggests that eco-chic bedding like these luxurious 250-thread-count twin sheets, made from 100 percent organic cotton fibers grown without chemical pesticides, are becoming increasingly affordable.

NEW Organic Cotton Twin Sheets (buy it now price, $35.66)

2. Organic cotton sheets wouldn’t make sense without eco-friendly pillows. Earth-conscious manufacturers use fillings such as recycled plastic bottles that are re-fashioned into soft fibers, and encase them in organic cotton. Here’s a set of four large (20 x 28 inches) pillows that fit this bill—complete with a cute green gusset to remind you that you’re helping the environment.

Set of 4 Eco-Friendly Polyester Pillows (buy it now price, $35.98 for set of 4)

3. Not all mini-fridges are alike. Pick a dorm-sized refrigerator that meets Energy Star specifications. This means that a device uses less electricity than others of comparable size. This sleek Danby Millennium Series 1.8 cubic foot compact fridge, for instance, uses 20 percent less energy than similar refrigerators.

NEW Danby Compact All Refrigerator (buy it now price, $129.99)

4. Rather than purchase new posters and frames to adorn dull dorm walls, re-using retro signs can add a highly original and personal accent to a dorm room. Try spelling out your name or initials by re-purposing old movie-theater-marquis letters, or pick up a vintage advertisement for a favorite product or restaurant.

NEW Sunbeam Bread Vintage Sign (buy it now price, $18); Movie Theater-Marquis Letter (buy it now price, $12.95)

5. This clever set of six attached small solar panels fan out like the petals of a sunflower and looks fun on a windowsill (think of it as part room accent, part power source). It comes with ten adapters to use with a variety of gadgets.

NEW Sunflower Solar Portable Charger for Cellphones (buy it now price, $56)

6. To add color to an institutional dorm room, consider using a spill-proof rug made of recycled materials. MadMats makes a variety of eye-catching floor coverings, many made from old plastic bottles. Best of all, they wipe clean fast and can handle the occasional spilled coffee.

NEW Indoor/Outdoor Rug (buy it now price, $69.40)

7. To cover windows and add a comfy look, try window coverings made from bamboo, which doesn’t require harmful pesticides to grow or insecticides to thrive. Plus, these shades can help block hot sunlight so it’s not as tempting to run electricity-draining air conditioning.

NEW Burnt Bamboo Roll Up Blinds (buy it now price, $29)

8. This small, portable fan comes with internal rechargeable batteries. The compact size of this lightweight device means you can fit the fan on a desk for late-night study sessions.

NEW Portable Rechargeable Fan w/ AC Adapter (starting bid, $7.99)

9. Don’t let “vampire” electronics such as computer printers and monitors suck away precious energy when not in use but remain plugged in. Try using a “Smart Strip” from Bits Ltd. This handy gadget, essentially a sophisticated version of a power strip, senses when you’ve turned off your computer. Then it automatically turns off peripheral, plugged-in devices so you don’t have to remember to turn off each machine—or a power strip—each time you head out to class.

NEW Bits Limited 10-Outlet Smart Strip (buy it now price, $34.24)

10. Rather than have boxes and bottles of chemical-laden laundry detergents and fabric softeners cluttering your room, try NaturOli’s ultra-earth-friendly soap nuts. They’re derived directly from trees, and are completely free of chemicals. Pack several soap nuts into a small muslin bag (included) and toss into the washing machine. NaturOli’s soap nuts have recently won more than one prestigious Green Dot award, which recognizes innovative environmentally sound products. This pack includes enough for 160 loads—by our rough calculations, perhaps enough to last even through a couple semesters of (green) dorm living.