Quintessential college decorations

“Animal House” poster
One of the most recognizable symbols of fraternity life is John Belushi in “Animal House” wearing the iconic “college” sweater. For people who are not into the thrill of going around stores in search of this classic, it can be found online at www.postergods.com for $11.99.

Dartboard
Although not exactly a great idea for  a dorm room, dartboards make the perfect addition to apartments. Not only do they add a nice touch to a living space, but they also liven up parties as a great source of entertainment. Amazon has many of these for sale starting at $23.97.

Empty bottles
Displaying empty bottles has become popular. All around campus, empty Diet, Coke and Sprite bottles are found stacked in the windows of residence halls. For those who want to start their own collection, it is easy and simple: Go out and buy the drink of choice, enjoy, then set it out on display.

Bar paraphernalia
Living on a dry campus, students of age like a subtle reminder of the places where they are allowed to drink. Bar signs are a stylish and friendly reminder. Most bars sell merchandise like T-shirts, pictures, bottles and posters. Kilroy’s Sports Bar and Grill sells these items: a poster for $25 and shot glasses for $4, according to www.kilroys-bloomington.com/merchandise.

Whiteboard wall calendar
Whiteboard wall calendars that apply straight onto the wall are very functional and help students who like keeping all of their events organized in an effective way.

“I like being able to see all my due dates and all my extracurriculars at the same time,” freshman Kelli O’Brien said. “I like it better than my weekly planner because I don’t know what I’m going to be doing the next week until I turn the page, and I like being able to see at a glance.”
These can be found at Target for about $24.99.

Pictures
The best way to make your personal space represent you is by hanging up personal photographs. You can hang them up in many different ways, like a collage on a corkboard.

“I think it’s nice to have lots of pictures because it personalizes your room,” freshman Melissa Wilson said. For creative students, this is an easy project, but for students who like the ease of having their decorations ready-made, picture frames can be found in many places in Bloomington. Hobby Lobby has a large selection of unique frames starting at $1.99. On average they cost $17.99.

Pizza X cups
Nothing proclaims “I attend IU” more than a large collection of Pizza X cups. These cups have many uses, but what seems the most popular is stacking them into a pyramid and setting them in the windows of the residence halls.

The cups might be collected when ordering a drink
or waiting for the discounts handed out in the cups throughout the year.
 
Music posters
Whether Bob Marley or Lady Gaga, thousands of music posters can be found in various stores like Nirvana, Greetings and Harvey Vintage. Posters of the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, the Jonas Brothers and almost any other musical artist or band can be found online at www.allposters.com.

IU memorabilia
IU gear can be found in practically every store in Bloomington. Almost anything can be found, from flags and banners to signs. For everything Indiana, go to the Indiana Shop located in the College Mall.

“Everybody has something with an IU symbol in their room. Whether it be a poster or a magnet, it’s important to represent your school and be proud of where you go,” freshman Gabrielle Harvey said.

Wall decals
Wall decals are simple decorations for around the room. They can be found at Target priced anywhere from $4.54 to $89.99, depending on the decal style and size.

Tap into your creative side by creating personalized wall decals using Post-It notes or paper and tape. Freshman Haley Mclean and her roommates took this approach.

“I like them for memories’ sake, and we like them for good conversation starters. Every time somebody comes into our room, they see them and ask what they’re about,” Mclean said.