Sophomore business major Jamie Walters won the ‘Best use of Space’ contest in the homestyling competition for the residence halls. CAITLIN PRARAT DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: Dan Kloock

The days of decorating your residence hall room with a single poster and string of lights are over. Kent State residents redefined decorating in last week’s “Everything Zen” homestyling contest sponsored by Kent Interhall Council.

Fish aquariums, fish paintings, plants, a dream catcher and an owl clock made sophomore business management major Jamie Walters’ room look like it belonged in a remote cabin outside of his residence hall. After a stressful day of class, Walters said the couch and fish tanks made it easy for him to relax.

Walters won the “best use of space” category in the contest.

“It’s the best arrangement I could think of with the stuff I brought,” he said.

The “best theme” winner of the competition was freshman pre-marketing major Jody Fetzer. Her exceptionally clean room was covered with pink daisy cut-outs and other pink accessories.

“Best stress-free environment” went to Jenna Henning, freshman paralegal studies major, and Kayla Giovanoli, freshman pre-journalism and mass communications major.

“It’s really bright and girly,” Henning said about their blue and lime green room.

Jamie Bork, sophomore fashion merchandising major, showed KIC judges the room she shares with Shannon Colon, sophomore visual communication and design major. Their retro-style room sported James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Andy Warhol artwork posters. The women got creative and covered the would-be white walls with Andy Warhol shower curtains.

Megan Weaver, senior integrated language arts major, and sophomore nursing major Andrea Huff created a very homey setting in their room, complete with comfy couches and pictures of family. They set up a table of biscotti and coffee for the KIC judges to enjoy.

Weaver and Huff were roommates last year who decided to live together again this year.

“It was so random because we both chose purple as the theme,” Weaver said.

Contact room and board reporter Julie McKinney at [email protected].