8 Ways to Make Your Dorm Room Feel Like Home

Going off to college or university can be an exciting transition, especially if you’re planning to live on-campus in a dorm room! Being away from home and moving into a tiny dorm space can be a bit of adjustment, though. It’s easy to feel homesick in a new place without your friends and family. That’s why our Photo Experts have put together 8 décor ideas that will make your dorm room feel more like home.

1. Make a Collage Print of Friendly Faces

Seeing the smiling faces of your family and high school friends can help you feel more at home – and our collage posters can showcase all of them in one giant print you can hang on your wall! Just drag and drop your photos into the poster templates (your choice of colour) for an easy piece of wall art to brighten up your dorm.

2. Add Depth With Reflective Surfaces

If the small size of your dorm room has you feeling a little claustrophobic, there are a couple of tricks to help make your space seem larger. Mirrors are a classic way to help make a room appear more open and bigger. Another way to create the same kind of effect is with our Photolab’s aluminum metal panels! These have a high-gloss finish that will catch and reflect light, helping to make your small space feel bigger. As an added bonus, our aluminum panels come ready-to-hang, making them a quick and easy way to decorate the walls of your dorm. You can have them printed with any choice of photo, or order an aluminum panel montage wall or aluminum panel collage if you want to showcase a selection of multiple images.

3. Use Easily-Removable Wall Clings

Just because your dorm room is only a temporary home for the semester doesn’t mean you can’t make it your own! Our removable wall clings make it easy to decorate your walls without having to use any nails or screws…and they peel off easily without leaving a residue. They’re made of a water resistant 100% polyester fabric with a repositionable self-adhesive backing, making it easy to apply them to a wide variety of surfaces.

4. Give Your Mousepad Some Personality

You’re at college to study, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with your study space! Add some personality to your desk with a mousepad customized with a fun photo of your choice.

5. Make Something You Can Hug & Squeeze

Have a photo of your family, friends or pet printed on a pillowcase, so you can give them a hug anytime you miss them! They also make a nice accent piece for your bed – you can customize a pillowcase with a scenic photo that works with the colour scheme of your dorm room to really pull the space together.

6. Customize Your Calendar

A new school schedule and new routine would benefit from a bit of organization to ensure you’re staying on top of class times, assignment deadlines, exams, and study breaks with friends. Instead of hanging a generic calendar, why not personalize your own magnetic memo board or calendar with some of your favourite photos? That way, it can double as a piece of décor in your space!

7. Personalize Your Smartphone

A smartphone is a must-have for keeping in touch with family and friends while at school – whether it’s video-chatting, texting or calling. It will hopefully help you from feeling too homesick. And adding little reminders of home, like a photo of your closest friends, to a smartphone pop-up grip is also a fun way to keep them close (because, let’s be honest, your smartphone never leaves your side)!

8. String a Photo Garland

A non-permanent way to add some life to your dorm walls is with a photo garland. Just use some colourful Washi tape, Command Small Spring Clips and some twine/string to hang your photos from. With vintage-looking prints trending right now, we suggest printing your pictures in one of our 7 vintage print styles: classic old tape, classic scalloped edge, classic colourful stack, classic showcase, classic four square, classic white and classic retro (the last 3 would be similar to the nostalgic Polaroid!). They can be printed as glossy, pearl or on one of our specialty papers, including bamboo, metallic, Kauai and Baryta. Square prints are also a great option, perfect for your showcasing your Instagram snapshots. You might also find our NEW half sized prints to be a perfect fit too.

Capturing College Memories

College and university are not only a place to learn, but a place to make new friends and new memories. And a great way to preserve and display those new memories is, of course, with photos. Single-use film cameras and instant cameras have become incredibly popular right now, and these also result in fun physical photos you can use to decorate your space!

In addition to being able to print all your digital photos (order via our London Drugs Photolab App on Google Play or the App Store!), our Photolab also still offers film processing, so you can always bring in those single-use film cameras to us to be developed. Or if you want truly instant prints, then pick yourself up a Fujifilm Instax or Polaroid Originals and some instant camera film so you can snap and add to your photo garland in seconds. We also have a selection of pocket-sized photo printers so you can print out your favourite memories from your smartphone in an instant. Print a copy for yourself and a few for your new college buddies!

Be Prepared with Emergency Bags

When the unexpected happens and you need to evacuate your home immediately, the last thing you’ll want to do is try to think of everything you will need to take with you. That’s why it’s always best to be prepared in advance. A grab & go emergency bag is a great example of how you can have everything you need all in one spot so you can do exactly that – grab it and go! We’ve curated a few essential items that may be important to have on hand to build your own grab and go emergency bag.

Emergency Bag Essentials

Keep this emergency bag where you can easily access it, such in a closet by your front door, or you can even have it ready in your car. An important thing to remember is to avoid reusing the same items you would pack on trips, such as camping. It may seem practical, but you might forget to switch them back to your emergency bag and not have them when needed. As well, don’t forget items that may benefit your mental health or that can help you pass the time, such as your favourite book, a deck of cards, a boardgame or some movies downloaded on a tablet, etc. For more items, you can browse our full emergency preparedness selection here.

Digital Downloads: Easily Print and Display Canadian-Made Art

Photo credit: @saraboychukphoto (shop featured digital print)

Filling your home with beautiful, locally-made prints has never been easier! Digital downloads have become extremely popular as of late, and they have made acquiring new décor for your house as simple as clicking a button.

Many local artists, bloggers and photographers have digital prints or ‘printables’ available for purchase (or in some cases, for free!), which can easily be downloaded straight to your computer. These digital prints are usually also available in several sizes, so you can decide which will suit your space and frames best. Once you download the file, you can then simply upload to our Photolab and order as many high-quality prints as you like (for personal use – more on that later) on whatever print surface you like! With in-store and curbside pick-up available at your local London Drugs, we can have your prints ready for you in record time. Many people find digital downloads to be a great way to update their space with locally-made art, as the process can be faster than waiting for a physical print to ship in the mail from the seller, and allows greater flexibility in terms of display.

Below are just a few local options to source digital prints to decorate your home. You can also hop over to Etsy, where there are virtually endless choices for digital downloads for sale from local Canadian artists and photographers!

Fraîche at Home

Photo credit: Fraîche at Home (shop featured digital print)

Photo credit: Fraîche at Home (shop featured digital prints here & here)

Tori Wesszer of Fraîche Living, who is known for her aesthetically pleasing and delicious recipes, also has a collection of style-forward digital prints for the home – many specifically for the kitchen! From coffee guides and recipes to inspiring quotes, all of Fraîche at Home’s prints will add a special touch to your space. They also make a great gift for a foodie! Her digital prints start at just $10.00.

Sara Boychuk Photography

Photo credit: @saraboychukphoto (shop featured digital print)

Photo credit: @saraboychukphoto (shop featured digital print)

Photographer Sara Boychuk’s Etsy shop has a selection of wall art for digital download, featuring scenic landscape images. Her photography captures the beauty of Canada’s great outdoors, with images of the Rocky Mountains to the lush forests of the West Coast. They will add a truly Canadian feel to your home! Her digital downloads are available for as little as $10.00, and she’s even added new prints (including the 2 above) in anticipation of this blog feature, so be sure to check them out!

Clean & Scentsible

Photo credit: @cleanandscentsible (download featured digital prints here & here)

Photo credit: @cleanandscentsible (download featured digital prints here & here)

Jenn of Clean & Scentsible releases the sweetest printables seasonally, to help keep your home feeling fresh and welcoming! Some of our favourites right now include her cute bee and honey printables, lemonade printables and s’mores printables. The featured printables you see above were all printed as 8×10 or 11×14 pearl prints from our Photolab. They’re great for styling a snack table, or just to display in your kitchen or really anywhere else in your home. Jenn kindly offers all of her printables free of charge for personal use!

Printing Your Digital Downloads

Ordering a print of Clean & Scentsible’s lemonade printable on our Photolab website

Printable Sizing

Before making your purchase, make sure to check the sizing of the printable. Our Photolab can print a wide variety of standard and enlargement sizes, but it’s best to double-check to make sure the print isn’t a custom size. If you don’t see a standard print size offered, you can always reach out and message the seller to see if they are able to offer the print in a different size.

Also, just be sure before you purchase that you are purchasing the digital file, as some artists do offer both digital and print versions of their work.

Quick and High-Quality Printing

Digital downloads offer a quick and easy way to get new prints up on your walls. A few clicks online and you’ll have a digital print ready to download. Then it’s as simple as uploading it to our London Drugs Photolab to order in the print size and surface of your choosing! We have a wide range of sizes for high-quality glossy and pearl prints/enlargements, as well as fine art papers including canvas, bamboo, Kauai and Bartyta to give your printables that gallery-quality look.

Our Photolab also offers prints that come framed and matted, so all you have to do is choose where to display them! Or choose to add foamcore or premium foamcore to select prints.

For extra quick turnaround, make sure to order for in-store or curbside pick-up. Otherwise, we can also deliver right to your home.

Note about Copyright

In most cases, these digital download files are meant for personal use only, and not for commercial use. If you’re unsure, just check with the owner first to better understand the copyrights before downloading and printing.

Custom Art

Many Etsy sellers also offer a custom element to their printables. For example, they can customize the artwork to include a name, or in some cases, the entire artwork can be customized. Be sure to check the ‘description’ section of the Etsy listing to see how your customization preferences should be communicated to the seller.

 

If you order prints featuring a locally sourced digital download, be sure to tag us on Instagram or Twitter, we’d love to see how you’ve displayed it!

 

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Living

You can still have a memorable summer this year, even while staying closer to home and heading outside when the sun is out. There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors, from gardening in your backyard, to picnicking at your local park. We’ve curated some items you can find at London Drugs, that will help make your time outside more enjoyable!

Camellia Leaf Privacy Screens

This Camellia Leaf Privacy Screen is a great addition to any outdoor space. You can use it to dress up an existing fence, cover up an unsightly one, or create a fence where you need it!  They are durable, lightweight, and easy to install. As well, they require little maintenance and expand to fit a wide variety of spaces, like a smaller apartment patio or balcony. Made with polyethylene plastic and a sturdy willow frame, these 6.7 feet x 3.3 feet screens are also fade-resistant for 3-5 years, depending on sun exposure.

Bond Portable Gas Fire Bowl

If your ideal evening is kicking back and relaxing outside, we would definitely recommend getting yourself the Bond Portable Gas Fire Bowl. It brings a warm and inviting vibe to any outdoor space. Made out of durable steel, this gas fire bowl has a 54,000 BTU heat output fueled by a clean burning 20lb external propane tank (sold separately). It features an instant electric ignition with flame control knob, a locking lid with handle for portability, and also includes pumice stones, a 10ft propane gas hose with regulator and tank seat.

Garden Accessories

Are you an avid gardener, or want to start growing spices or vegetables at home? You’ll love the Bond 4-Tier Greenhouse! It features 4 wire mesh shelves for ventilation and a plastic cover with zippered flap, giving your seedlings and flowers a great head start sprouting or blooming. Plus, with dimesions of 2.25 x 1 x 4 feet, it can fit a variety of outdoor spaces, even the smaller ones.

If you want to decorate your outdoor space, but don’t really have a green thumb, not to worry – we have a wide selection of patio decor you can use instead of plants to add your own personal flare! From rustic and nautical, to whimsical and tropical, we’re sure you’ll find something that fits your style. Explore our full selection of patio decor here.

Canopy and Bug Tents

Getting outside and soaking up a little sun is great, but for those hotter days, this Collection by London Drugs Heavy Duty Canopy is great for providing a little extra shade. The canopy, measuring at 9.8 x 9.8 feet, features a polyester fabric with a PVC coating and folds away conveniently for easy storage and portability.

If you enjoy the heat, but can’t stand the bugs, we have a solution for you! Made from sturdy 11.5mm fiber glass and 19mm steal tubes, this 9.8 x 9.8 foot Collection by London Drugs Bug Shelter provides protection from pesky mosquitos while also offering a little bit of shade.

We hope you found these items helpful in making the most of your summer this year! Don’t forget to browse our full selection of outdoor living essentials in store and online.

 

3 Ways Photos Can Boost Your Happiness

After a year of isolation and reliance on digital technology to stay connected, many of us are feeling digital burnout. According to a recent study commissioned by Fujifilm Instax, this has made physical items like photos all the more desirable, especially as so many of us are feeling sentimental, missing our loved ones and our regular routines and activities.

Photos are a great way to remind us of the ‘good times,’ but did you know they can actually boost your mood? The Fujifilm study found that 60% of adults reported looking back on old photos when they were feeling unhappy, stressed or looking for a way to cheer themselves up. In fact, 43% felt by simply looking at a physical photo, their mood was boosted, compared to just 12% who said the same about digital images!

Check out these 3 ways that photos can help boost your happiness, and keep scrolling to the bottom for some photos shared by local photographers that represent happiness the most to them (they might just make you smile, too!).

1. Photos can remind you of those you care about

Fujifilm’s study found that 2020 has meant people want more reminders of their loved ones around them (48%). Filling your space with photos of those you love – a significant other, kids, extended family, friends, pets – can help you feel more connected to them.

Take note of places in your home that you frequent the most (your main hallway or home office?) and display your photos in those areas, so those special faces are always in sight. Our Photolab offers a wide variety of prints and enlargements to fit all kinds of standard frames, so you can easily print and display photos of all your loved ones. For high traffic areas like your main hallway, we also recommend aluminum metal panels, which have a lightweight and highly durable surface that is resistant to fading. We also have aluminum panel collages that can display photos of all your loved ones together in one place.

2. Photos freeze your happiest moments in time

Looking back at photos helps us relive happy moments over and over again. According to Psychologist Dr. Emma Hepburn, “Research suggests that recalling positive personal memories can help elicit positive emotion and engage reward-related neural circuitry, which can be beneficial for wellbeing. Having these memories in physical form, for example, photographs around the house, can help create positive feelings on a daily basis when we see them.”

If you find yourself in need of a mood boost, try surrounding yourself with images of your happiest memories – photos of a trip you took abroad or a special day like your wedding day or a birthday. You don’t have to limit yourself to frames on your walls or shelves either. Our Photolab offers magnetic prints, as an example, so you can easily stick those happy moments to the fridge, a file cabinet in your office, or a locker! Other creative ways to display those photos include pillow cases, blankets, door mats, mousepads and more.

“Because of their physical nature, each photograph also has its own history,” says Dr. Hepburn. “So, we remember not only the event itself, but create memories and meaning around the physical object. We can feel attached to a photograph so the physical act of holding and looking at a photo creates emotions.”

3. Taking photos gives us greater enjoyment

Research shows that taking photos of experiences generally translates to greater engagement in the experience itself, and in turn predicts greater enjoyment of that experience. In fact, those who take photos of their experiences seem to hold their enjoyment longer than those who don’t take photos. So the next time you’re headed out for a fun activity or experience, don’t forget to bring your camera!

Film photography is also a great way to slow down and appreciate the moments you are capturing. Due to the nature of film photography, it requires the photographer to be more intentional with their photo-taking: you are limited by the number of exposures on your roll of film. This can be beneficial when it comes to capturing your experiences, as it becomes part of the experience itself! Not to mention, when you’re done shooting, the act of picking up your developed photos from the Photolab is an exciting and special part of the film photography experience too. The anticipation and excitement of seeing your images developed for the first time is just part of the reason why so many love shooting on film.

What images bring you the most happiness?

Below, some local photographers are sharing their favourite photos that bring them (or someone they know) happiness! We hope they inspire you to find the photos that bring you the most happiness too.

“I have been a newborn photographer for over 10 years now and I also love to mix in my love of dogs. Last year a wonderful couple booked me for their newborn shoot and I knew their senior dog was terminal at the time. I insisted that he come to the session and I would include him when I felt he was ready. We did the new born portion and at the end I asked to try something. Baby was totally settled and Drake the dog was calm. With the help of the parents we set up this pose and it evolved into this image that will forever be one of my happy moments. We were all in tears. All they wanted was for their fur baby to meet their human baby. I doubt I would ever be able to recreate this, nor do I want to. This image is just for them. (Mom and Dad were hands on this whole pose for safety). – @sunnyshphoto

 

“The heart in between my couple as they share a Wedding Day kiss had me squealing while editing this photo afterwards and it brought a tear to my couples eyes when they saw it!!” – @esthermoermanphoto

 

“There are many ways a photograph brings me joy, this image in particular, I can remember how it was cooler out than I thought it would be and how happy I was to get back in my vehicle and warm up! I love the textures and patterns of growth criss-crossing the abandoned bridge. I remember the stories my friend and I shared and the laughs we had. I remember my drone stopped working but not letting that deter me from the views and sitting on the bridge watching the sunset. There’s a lot of ways a photograph can bring you happiness, for me, it’s the adventure, big or small and the views that I’ll remember for a lifetime!”@c_marsh15

 

Photo credit: @prairierosephoto

“Happy baby calves running around on fresh pastures in April bring me happiness” – @prairierosephoto

 

“That sweet smelling warmth of spring & summer, it can only be described as pure happiness. We wait for this all year, don’t we? This image brings me joy because it embodies how I feel about this long-awaited time of year… golden hour, those beautiful moments before the sun turns in for the night.

I am reminded to pause, to breathe deep… embracing fresh oxygen from the top of my head and letting it run down to the tips of my toes… barefoot, grounded, part of something bigger than myself. Happiness is surrendering to ebbs & flows of the ocean tide —which could be heard in the distance while capturing this particular moment in time. Perfection.”@callypetersenphotography

 

Now it’s your turn! What images bring you the most happiness? Surround yourself with those images by choosing physical prints to fill your space. To print your photos, just download our London Drugs Photolab App (available for iOS & Android) to order directly from your smartphone or order online or in-store at our kiosks. And if you’re not sure what the best way to display your images is, our LD Experts are always happy to help!

 

Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas That Will Warm Her Heart

If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, not to worry! With Mother’s Day being a bit earlier this year, even the most seasoned gifter might be a little off their game. Luckily, there are still plenty of Mother’s Day gift ideas that are not only quick and easy to order but are still thoughtful and made with love. From one-of-a-kind cards to personalized mugs and photo books, below are some of our Photolab’s top last-minute gift ideas that will warm her heart.

A Thoughtful Mug for Mom

Showing mom you think she’s the best mom ever is easy: just put it on a mug! You can add personalized text to any of our Photolab’s mugs, so you can tell her exactly how much you care for her. Add a photo of your choice as well – one she will be able to cherish for years to come.

If you have young kids, you can encourage them to design their own special mugs for mom with the help of our Take and Create Books. These books are full of templates for items including our mugs, which they can draw their own artwork in, and then have those drawings digitized and printed on a mug (or other gift items). You can learn more about our Take and Create Books here.

Our mugs can be ready for pick-up in just 24 hours, making them an excellent choice if you’re in a pinch for a last-minute gift. Plus, they only take a few minutes to customize!

A Special Locket Full of Love

With a personalized locket, mom can keep her loved ones close to her heart at all times. Choose from locket-sized photos in various shapes, including circle, heart, oval, and square, to match your chosen locket. Each print also comes with a variety of sizes from 1”x1” to 0.2”x0.2” so you can pick the one that fits perfectly.

If you’re gifting to a senior/grandmother, it could also be a thoughtful surprise to include old photos of her and her children. Rather than cutting up the originals though, make sure they’re digitized first! Our Photo Scanning Box service can help you digitize large amounts of old print photos quickly and easily.

These locket prints are ready for pick up in just 24 to 72 hours at most of our locations.

A Photoshoot Just for Her

Treat mom to a photoshoot that’s all about her! This gift requires no prep time at all but is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation for your mom and how beautiful she is inside and out. Hire a local photographer, or pick up a camera and stage your own photoshoot at home for her. You can include the kids as well, but take some photos just of her too. Make sure to mention in your ‘Mother’s Day Photo Shoot’ gift that she’ll receive a selection of prints/enlargements or a canvas gallery wrap to commemorate the experience and preserve those special images. This can also be a thoughtful gift for a mom-to-be!

If you’re looking for pointers for doing your at-home photoshoot, make sure to check out our DIY Studio modules; it’s free to sign up, and you’ll get all kinds of helpful tips from pro photographer Erin Manning in each module. For your Mother’s Day photoshoot, we recommend checking out the modules on ‘Composition Tips’ and ‘Lighting Techniques.’

A Photo Book of ‘Moments with Mom’

So many of our most memorable moments in life are often with mom. Help her cherish them by preserving all of your favourite moments with mom in a fully personalized photo book. Hand-pick the photos displayed on each page, and even add thoughtful notes to tell her why those moments mean the world to you. Don’t worry about the design element – we have a Mother’s Day template all set to go for you, so you can simply drag and drop your images!

If you’re tight on time, not to worry. Our Express Book, an 8×8 photographic book with a leatherette cover, is easy to customize and ready for pick-up in just 24 to 72 hours.

A One-of-a-Kind Mother’s Day Card

Sometimes there just isn’t a Mother’s Day card in the card aisle that says exactly what you want to say. That’s where our personalized greeting cards come in. They can be customized with any theme and photo(s) of your choosing, plus you can add a truly personal and heartfelt message for mom that is one-of-a-kind. Just knowing you took the time to make a card for her is sure to warm her heart!

Left it a little late? Just because you’re looking for a Mother’s Day card last minute doesn’t mean it can’t still be thoughtful. Our single-sided photo cards and premium folded greeting cards on photographic paper can be customized and ready for pick-up in just 24 to 72 hours!

A Photo Button for the #1 Mom

Tell the world your mom is #1 by designing a photo button that she can proudly wear all Mother’s Day like a badge of honour! Want it to say something else besides ‘#1 Mom’? While ordering, add any text (and photo) you like! Our buttons are fully customizable. We also have both 3” and 1.25” round buttons, as well as heart-shaped buttons to choose from.

If you’re thinking of ordering one for your mom, just make sure not to leave it too last minute: our photo buttons are ready for pick-up in just 5 to 7 days.

 

To customize your Mother’s Day gifts on-the-go, just download our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android to order straight from your smartphone! Otherwise, you can also always order through our Photolab online or in-store using our kiosks. For exact turnaround times, please check with your local London Drugs Photolab.

3 New Exciting Items at London Drugs This April

Here are some of our favourite new items available in store and online this month.

Bubly SodaStream Drops

Bubly sparkling water has grown in popularity over the last few years, and now you can make it at home using your SodaStream machine! Brighten up your sparkling water with these SodaStream bubly natural flavour drops. The fresh and vibrant taste adds a delectable hint of fruity delight to make each effervescent sip a delicious mouthful. Add these drops to your SodaStream sparkling water to create your favourite bubly flavours in your own home. Made without sweeteners, added sugar or calories, these drops let you indulge in a rich burst of goodness without the guilt. Available in store and online.

Owlet Smart Sock Activity Tracker For Babies

The Owlet Smart Sock activity tracker for babies ensures you can rest easy. The Smart Sock sensor tracks heart rate, oxygen levels and sleep patterns and communicates via the Owlet mobile app to keep you updated on your little one’s sleep quality, while the included Base Station uses lights and sounds to alert you of changes to your baby’s safe levels. With wireless charging, and an app that allows you to track your baby’s wellness in real time from anywhere, this smart monitor is practical and can help you gain valuable insights to set new routines. It fits comfortably for a sound sleep and sweet dreams.

Canon EOS R5

Canon’s new EOS R5 is now available online and in store. Building off the legacy of Canons full frame cameras, the next generation offers refined performance and reliability. With its 45 megapixel full frame sensor, 8k cinematic movie capture, high-speed continuous shooting of up to 20 fps and high speed autofocusing with dual pixel CMOS AF, it packs a list of features too long for this blog. Suitable for a wide range of professional and hobbyist applications, this new camera is one to consider if you’re looking to upgrade in the near future.

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