Holly Jolly Dorm

Photo by Christina Morgera

Tina Kasin
Staff Writer

Halloween and Thanksgiving have passed, November has come to an end, and it’s time to wish Christmas (and finals) a warm welcome. It’s getting colder and darker outside, and looking at the pile of schoolwork that has yet to be demolished, life can seem very depressing. However, Christmas is all about happiness, so why not turn your dorm into a holly jolly Christmas, if only to relieve some stress off your shoulders? Now, our residence halls have pretty strict decorating policies as far as Christmas goes. You can’t hang up lights or have candles. But don’t let that stop you.

Put on some Christmas music (a Christmas spirit requirement). Start with cleaning your dorm room. Yeah, that has probably not happened very often for the past months. Go ahead, your room deserves it. It is almost surprising how much dust and dirt one room can collect in a short amount of time.

Once the room is clean, head over to the local dollar store at the Broadway Mall, which has many different seasonal decorations, like stockings and garlands. Get some and put those on your door.
Go to Walmart or Target and pick up a small and cute Christmas tree and decorate it with ornaments in whatever size, shape and color you desire. Then, do your bed, and get Santa pillows or Santa hats and throw them on top of a red bedspread.

Be creative if you are trying to stay within a budget. Make snowflakes out of white print paper and attach them to walls or windows. Find gift boxes and wrap them up like they were presents and attach them right next to your beautiful snowflakes. Ah, you didn’t know you could be this artsy, did you? And here is a suggestion if you’re too lazy to do this yourself: go to a kindergarten and have the kids draw you Christmas drawings or make snowflakes. It is cute, and you can tell people that there is a story behind your decorations this year. Playing with children also tends to be a good stress reliever.

“I really wish we could have Christmas lights in our rooms. I don’t understand why, and I don’t know what else to do with my room either. I don’t think I’m going to decorate my room this year, but if I was going to, then I would hang snowflakes on my window, and garlands,” said junior Education major Mia Hansen.
“I’m going all out this year. I’ve got a couple of different advent calendars and a mini Christmas tree. Then, my friend and I are going to make a fake fireplace and put a Christmas tree and presents in front of it. And then I’m going to snow spray my window, and hang mistletoe above my door. My walls are going to be decorated with snowflakes,” said sophomore International Business major Ruth Fredriksen.

Take a picture of your decorated room, and send it to the Pioneer (cwpstpnr@gmail.com) to be published.

Christmas is all about being creative. Happy Holidays!