Freshman adds some ‘boom’ to res hall room

The new Residence Hall, which opened in fall 2009, came with plenty of furniture and zero personal style. Undeclared freshman Sid Nivas, McDermott scholar, turned his room into a livable, individualized space.

How have you made this space work for you?

For some reason I have a tinge of interior design in me, so it kind of came naturally. I bought a bunch of stuff without really realizing how it fit together. When we moved in, I just threw it in there and it actually turned out pretty good.

After that, I just added to it by picking a dominant color and going with it. Everyone needs a space they can go back to at the end of the day, a place they can relax, and that’s what I wanted my room to be.

How long did it take to get your room set up?

It came out the way I wanted the first time I tried it. I’m pretty organized, so when we got the floor plan before we moved in I basically knew where everything was going to go. It came together the way I expected, which was pretty cool. I wasn’t expecting it to work out that easy.

What did you bring to outfit your crib?

I knew that my dorm would be small, so I couldn’t bring everything from my house. I brought the things that matter the most to me and the things that were required. For what’s necessary, I bought things like a computer, sheets and all that.

Other than that, I brought stuff I already had because it reminded me of home, including a picture from graduation and my diploma. I like seeing stuff when I walk in, so I came with a bunch of posters and a giant rug.

I went to the Blockbuster that was closing down in my town and they were selling these big canvas posters, so I bought one of Ghostbusters and one of Fire, Water and Earth, and then I knew those were going to go on the wall and I’d be done.

What’s is your favorite thing?

I’ve really liked cars ever since I was 3, so my favorite thing is a model BMW Z3 that my best friend from high school gave me for my birthday.

How much time do you spend in your room?

I don’t spend that much time in my own room, honestly. The only things I do in there are homework, reading and sleeping. I’m usually in the living room with my roommates because we’re all pretty close. We have an open door dorm, and we don’t really care if other people come in or not.

How do people react when they enter your crib?

When people come into my dorm, the first room they see is always a mess, like a regular college room. When they get to the second door they see a room that is cleaner and has stuff put away and its organized, which is good. Then they see mine, and then my room’s like, ‘boom boom pow!’ So, it’s kind of like a progression of all three levels.

What would be your advice to people who want their space to be used efficiently and nicely?

Just try to keep organized, or at least put things where they need to go. Don’t use the floor as your closet, because you have a closet for that reason. Also, people need to make sure that they are happy in their room. No one should dread walking into their own room. It should be inviting and homey.