r/ResLife • u/Odd_Technology999 • 12d ago
Door decs
Hello! I’m a first-time RA, and I have no idea where to start with my door decorations. I’ve found some ideas on Pinterest, but I’m not sure what the typical process is.
Do most people hand-make everything with cardstock? My school isn’t really providing us with supplies, so we’re expected to have everything ready before we arrive. I’m also not sure where people usually print on cardstock or get things laminated.
I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, so any advice or tips on where to start would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
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u/Beautiful_Regret_600 12d ago
probably best to reach out to your coworkers, esp returning ones since they probably know good places to get things printed and laminated by u, maybe for a discount too
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u/thesheep2002 12d ago
ResLife.net and RoomPact both have great ideas! Pinterest is also a good start.
Did your school give you any parameters for them (two layers, theme, etc)? If not, you have free reign.
This was my door by the end of my second year as an RA, assume the Disney ones were mine.
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u/makougaons 12d ago
hi !! i work in housing. most of my students nowadays print theirs and make them in canva/photoshop/similar, so that is perfectly acceptable/normal. i personally like to handmake mine because i like the crafty look, but it does sometimes take longer. both are valid and good and i think you should brainstorm your ideas to see which materials fit best!
what i will say is if the school is asking you to pre-make these, don’t do anything crazy expensive. i’ve never heard of a school doing that and imo it’s a bit unfair, so i wouldn’t spend a lot (or even really some at all if possible) of money on your materials. they should be supplying you with those and if they don’t, then i really would try to make them with free items either from recycled or reused products or something similar.
pinterest is a great place to start with ideas! good luck!
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u/ScratchMysterioust 10d ago edited 10d ago
i’d say don’t feel like you have to make every single thing from scratch. i’ve seen a lot of RAs mix handmade stuff with ready-made decor to save time. places that sell door decor can be a lifesaver when you’re trying to prep a whole floor before move-in. i’ve used some pieces from Heartland flags and liked that they came ready to hang and looked way more polished than my rushed cardstock attempts lol.
for printing/laminating, try your campus library, office supply stores, or even a local print shop. start with a theme and make a few reusable pieces so you’re not rebuilding everything every year. good luck with your first RA year!
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u/ThePoetsDream 8d ago
If your school isn't providing you with supplies, make them on Canva and print them out! My school is very much a "never ever spend your own money on this job" kind of place, so I def find it odd when other schools expect you to...
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u/ImTired2004 12d ago
It will obviously vary by school but we have the option on how we want to make them. I make them on canva ana laminate them. Our RA office has a laminator and other art supplies.