RPS announces Top Cool Room winners

A pink-and-black color scheme, polka dots and that Marilyn Monroe style helped freshman Abbey Shaffer come out on top.

Shaffer was the grand-prize winner for Indiana’s Next Top Cool Room Contest.

Residential Programs and Services opened the contest to all students living in the residence halls and encouraged students to show creativity, personality and organization through the interior setup of their dorm rooms.

“I thought the contest looked like a lot of fun, and a lot of the girls on my floor suggested it,” Shaffer said.   

She also mentioned she thought about doing interior design as a minor, so the contest really appealed to her interests.

Indiana’s Next Top Cool Room Contest seemed to appeal to others as well, attracting 130 students or 62 participating rooms, said sophomore and RPS marketing assistant Matt Little.

Each room was judged on appearance, creativity and the overall impression the student had on the judge.

“The guys are a lot more into technology, using TVs, widescreens, computer equipment, games, the Xbox and the Wii,” said Pamela Sprong, RPS assistant director of marketing and communications. “The women use a lot of pink, greens and animal print.”

Sprong was one of the judges this year and said she was surprised to see the popularity of monochromatic layouts such as grays and blacks along with reds for accent colors.

Yet among them all, Shaffer’s room stood out.

Her bed was decked out with a white comforter accented with black polka dots, and her pillow sham was eye-catching due to the rhinestone pendent at its center. On the far wall, by the window, Shaffer set up a conversational area with a black table and slip-covered chair. For a touch of personality and contrast, she lined up multi-colored sunglasses atop her dresser.

But perhaps the boldest part of her room is also Shaffer’s favorite. Above her bed, there were black-and-white, poster-size photographs of Marilyn Monroe. They helped complete the overall persona of the room.

“Marilyn Monroe is my favorite,” Shaffer said. “She was really independent and gave girls a lot of inspiration.”

Sprong said although the contest was not as popular as it was in past years, RPS will repeat the contest next year because there was still a sufficient amount of participants.

Beneath the grand-prize winning room, were 19 first-place winners and 21 second-place winners. Four rooms received a total of 100 points, so the grand-prize winner was randomly selected, Little said.

Still, Shaffer said she was both excited and surprised when she heard she won and immediately called her mom with the news.

All of the prize packages were sent out Friday, and as the grand-prize winner, Shaffer will receive a GPS car navigational system.