How to Decorate a Dorm Room

When Boy#1 was getting ready to go to college, I asked him if he'd like to get in touch with his new roommate and coordinate colors of their bedspreads. He looked at me for a long moment without saying anything. Finally he spoke.

"Mom, when I was born, did the doctor forget to tell you I was a boy?"

When I was going off to college, my roommate and I carefully chose matching bedspreads, pillows, everything down to the dry erase boards we double-sided-taped to our doors. A boy, I have learned, needs to know only two words: Navy, and blue.

Navy is the decorating equivalent of the little black dress, and makes college shopping a breeze. Navy comforter, navy towels, navy sheets, navy trashcan, and for variety, three blue striped washcloths. Done.

Boy#4 is the final child I will outfit for college. It was my last chance to gussy up dorm room.

"How about a valance? That would look nice and homey."

He looked at me with the exact same expression his oldest brother had when I tried to put the decor in dorm decoration.

"Mom, we have mini-blinds."

Of course. Silly me.