A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way

Many SNC students have always had their own bedroom. So it can be a little disconcerting to suddenly find themselves sharing a room – not to mention with a stranger, and in fairly tight quarters. But with a little ingenuity, students can carve out some personal space of their own, plus give themselves some measure of privacy. Here are a few ideas of how to do so.

1. Set up a screen divider. The zigzagging dividers are like little walls and can easily be moved around.
2. Install curtains. If your student has a lofted bed, she can hang curtains on the bedrails to create a private little fort underneath.
3. Purchase a laptop privacy filter. An additional screen that attaches to a laptop screen, the filter makes it nearly impossible for roommates or visitors to see what’s on your student’s screen, unless they’re sitting down right in front of it.
4. Use noise-canceling headphones or earplugs. These help screen out any number of annoying sounds, from snoring and humming to phone calls and alarms.
5. Scout out private zones. When your student wants to speak to his girlfriend, or perhaps hash out some issues with you, he might not want his roommate to hear. Stairwells can be a good spot for such conversations. So can, say, that corner of the dorm common room where no one ever hangs out.
6. Play spa music or the sounds of nature. Sometimes playing some soothing background music is all it takes to muffle conversations or annoying sounds.
7. Bring your own fridge. Having one larger refrigerator in the room may save a little space, but if your student is going bonkers because her roommate constantly eats her food, it may be better if each student has her own fridge.
8. Rearrange the furniture. Depending on the dorm room and its furnishings, your student may be able to move the beds and desks to create personal niches, or at least ensure both students are facing the opposite direction when at their desks.