Students at Northwest College have maximized their small living space in the dorms and apartments to make it more like home.

For Sullie-Ann Keantjes, who lives in Simpson Hall, having the right lighting to avoid headaches was a priority.

LED and media lights gave the room a more softer and welcoming tone because the harsh dorm lights can cause headaches, she said.

“Don’t be afraid to put your own personal touch on [the dorm],” Keantjes said. “You don’t have to keep the same set-up when you first walk in; it’ll look better when you design it.”

The way her room was first set up, she had no room for her desk and her bed, so it looked too cluttered, she said.

To maximize the space in her dorm, Keantjes lofted her bed and converted the space below as a working area, where her dresser, mini-fridge and storage boxes lay.

Meanwhile, roommates Kate Aisenbrey and Jordan Grindheim said their combined taste in a ranch-style home made it easier to agree on the layout and design for their Trapper Village apartment, giving it a home-away-from-home feeling.

“Compared to the dorms, this space was awesome,” Aisenbrey said.

Aisenbrey and her roommate agreed that moving from the small dorms to an apartment was a nice upgrade to a larger living space along with their own kitchen and bathroom.

“Even if people come over, there’s just enough room for everyone to be there,” Grindheim said. “Lifestyle-wise, we just tried to make it so that it was like both of us,” she said. “So it was more like being at home.”

To maximize space, they said to find a layout, use the corner space and stick with it.

Earlier this month, Northwest College hosted a room-decorating contest for students. For first place winner Karsen Binstock, a music-themed apartment suited his taste. Second place went to Aisenbrey and Grindheim, while Keantjes came in third.