“back To School Ideas”

ALL POSTS TAGGED "[“back to school ideas”]"

Daily Delight: Industrial Chic Locker Baskets

by Marianne Canada August 6, 2012 6 Comments

Here we are in August, and somehow it’s time to start thinking about back-to-school. I swear school starts earlier every year! I’ll admit that my school days are long past, but I can’t help but wax nostalgic about the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and the squeak of new shoes. And so, my inner middle-schooler gave a little cheer when I spied this so-old-school-it’s-new-school basket rack from Hertz Furniture.

Hertz Basket Rack

Picture this rack in a pool house or mud room, keeping wet swimsuits, muddy shoes, and sports equipment stashed in style. The best part? The rack comes in 20 colors ranging from vibrant teal to neutral putty. What do you think, would you bring a little locker room chic into your home?

College Prep: Dorm Room Decorating Ideas

by Kayla Kitts July 27, 2012 5 Comments

The dog days of summer are still upon us. While many of us are trying to head to the beach, soon-to-be college students are prepping for a new school year. Summer vacation is almost over and classes will soon be back in session. Moving away from home for the first time and into a college dorm is an exciting (and slightly stressful) event. I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous than when I met the person I’d be sharing an 11-by-14-foot space with for an entire year. But, if you go into the experience well-prepared, your first year of dorm life will be a breeze and maybe even your most memorable year of college.

So college kids (and parents), how do you decorate a bland dorm room? Sharing a space—a super tiny one at that—requires some smart, space-saving solutions. It’s ideal to coordinate with your roommate ahead of time so you don’t end up with double mini-fridges or futons. Think you’re ready? Check out these functional and stylish dorm room decorating ideas for inspiration before your big move.

Rearrange your furniture to find the best layout (do this first!). A bed pushed against the wall as a daybed can also be used as a “couch” when you’re not sleeping:

dorm room decorating ideas hgtv Courtesy of Dormify.com

Avoid clashing colors or patterns by working with your roommate as your own design “team.” Agree on a color scheme or a simple, neutral palette:

dorm room decorating ideas hgtv Courtesy of PBdorm

Add personality to the walls with unique artwork. We also love personal inspiration boards. What a positive way to start each day!

dorm room decorating ideas hgtv Morgan Georgie :: HGTV.com

We’re just getting started. Check out all 20 of our dorm room decorating ideas. And for even more dorm room inspiration, this savvy article has everything from move-in tips to our top dorm essentials.

My 5 Fantastic Back-to-School Finds For Your Study Space

by Brian Patrick Flynn August 18, 2011 8 Comments

Most interior designers have that one project that started it all. Some have glamorous stories such as: decorating a rich neighbor’s pool house, remodeling a jet-setter’s pied-a-terre in Paris, and/or scouring the globe for a rich collector’s much-desired rare finds. Mine involved stealing cat-pee-covered country-style side tables from curbs in Tallahassee. Of course, by the time I sanded them with the roughest grit possible, hand-painted them canary yellow, then gave them a glossy finish with spray lacquer, they looked amazing. Am I bitter? No. In fact, I look forward to the hype of back to school this-and-that to see what I can find that’s affordable for champagne-taste-on-a-beer-budget students. As the back-to-school season is in full effect, I scoured the interwebbies to find some excellent pieces to make humdrum study spaces a bit more fun. From a designer pen to a do-it-yourself organizer, here are five great pieces for your own study space which won’t break the bank but possibly look like they did. And you won’t even have to deal with cat pee, such a deal!
Russel and Hazel Folders What’s exciting about opening a 3″ ring binder packed with reports and homework assignments? Absolutely nothing. Enter Russell + Hazel. Their translucent Yummy Folder Set sports graphic delectables sure to distract students from the grueling academic tasks at hand, at least for a moment, before hitting the books.

Jonathan Adler Chevron Ink Pens - HGTV design blog

Leave it to Jonathan Adler to make something as uninteresting as a basic pen insanely fun. His Chevron ink pens are as chic as any of his furniture pieces, art or lighting. Considering you can’t scribble notes or write a thank you letter with a chair or a chandelier, these writing utensils are the perfect justification for those who cannot afford big ticket Jonathan Adler items to splurge on his desktop products.

White Student Desk

Quite a few major retail chains have made a killing selling their versions of the basic parsons desk. Well, since the look is super basic and they all pretty much look the same, what’s the sense in shelling out $300 to $500 bucks when Overstock has something just as great for only $135.99? Well, of course, if you’re the type that enjoys throwing money away for absolutely no reason, I’m sure that’s fine. But since 99% of students are two bags of Ramen noodles away from starvation, I’m sure saving an extra $164.01 is rather helpful.
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HGTV How-To: Create a Kids’ Desk + Clothespin Clip-Art Rail

by Kayla Kitts July 27, 2011 2 Comments

It’s back to school time, and HGTV is here to help you create that “big kid” desk just in time for the new school year. This custom, kid-sized desk, created by feature blogger/designer Brian Patrick Flynn, is easy to put together by using plywood and stair posts to create the frame. We’re thinking the more vibrant and colorful you paint it, the less they’ll complain about homework time (maybe). Plus, to keep the kiddos (and you) even more organized when schedules, report cards and forms start flying in the door, create this simple, playful clip-art rail.

Kids-Desk-Clothespin-Organizer-HGTV-How-To

Head over to HGTV.com for a complete materials list and detailed step-by-step instructions to create both the stair post kids’ desk and clip-art rails. Then, come back and share your completed (or in-process) projects with us in the comments below.