BoomerGirl Diary

Dear Mi-Ling: My 18-year-old college daughter wants to paint her dorm room red! Her furniture is white wicker with an iron day bed. Her room is very small — barely 8 by 10 feet, with one window.

What is the best way to go about this? Is red not a good idea? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

— Pat

Dear Pat: Red is an invigorating color. It's great for an office. It stimulates your creativity, as well as your appetite.

If she wants red, give her what she wants. However a more soothing option might be brown, orange or cinnamon.

She can always pump up the color by accenting her room with accessories that include red. Another option is to paint just one accent wall red.

Once she places her white furniture in the room it will absorb most of the color and give her a nice backdrop.

Comfort is key when creating a dorm room.

Buy high-quality sheets and comfy bedding. Add lots of pillows, blankets and a few stuffed animals to finish off the ensemble.

To absorb more of the color, add a nice pair of drapes and a few pieces of artwork or posters to the walls.

I decorated both of my kid's dorm rooms over the past couple of years. Painting was not an option. We simply used punches of color from artwork, drapes and bedding. I didn't want to deal with repainting the rooms at the end of the year.

Her dorm room should be a home away from home. A successful design will provide her with a sense of security and an environment that will encourage good study habits.