There are many different things you can learn about a person from their room. Their taste in decor shows what they like, their knick-knack collection shows how cool they are, their window treatments are the eyes to their soul. We are here to discuss a specific aesthetically pleasing trend that has stood the test of time — the 'Frat Boy' room. Here are the key things you need to have in order to achieve this popular, laid back style.
1. It's Dark
A fraternity boy's room is essentially a miniature man-cave. It's dark, cold, smells weird, etc. My advice here is to not turn the lights on — you never know what you'll find in there — probably something you'd rather not see. There are reasons these boys keep the lights off, including the most obvious fact that it's probably a disaster and they could do without seeing the mess they know their mom would be yelling at them for if she were there. Another obvious reason being they think its time for bed...or something along those lines.
2. It smells weird
Could be the smell of stale cigarettes, unwashed sheets and various clothing, or last week's midnight run to McDonald's — you decide.
3. There is a huge TV but not much of anything else
I'm talking the first thing you notice is the TV, and then you realize he doesn't have a bed frame. And it's cool to not have a bed frame but... like... who doesn't have a bed frame? A fraternity boy.
4. A 'frat couch'
A frat couch is not and will never be a normal couch. You might be wary of sitting on this couch in light clothing or just in general. This couch has seen it all. His buddies have probably crashed there a time or two; hell, he's probably crashed there a few times. Countless snacks and video games have been enjoyed on this couch among other things. This is the type of couch one might find on the side of the road by someone's trash cans because they don't want it anymore because it is gross. Yeah, it's gross.
5. Various posters and cutouts of explicit content, cars, or famous people
If you see a poster of a naked chick, you can take a guess that you're in a boy's room. If that naked chick just happens to be right next to a poster of Gucci Mane circa 'So Icy', you are definitely in a fraternity boy's room. If you just happen to look over to find a life-size cardboard cutout of President Donald Trump, you are 100% in the home of a fraternity male, most likely somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. SEC!
6. Miscellaneous Paraphernalia
'Paraphernalia' is a great word to use in this case because it covers a wide variety of suspicious items. I'm not going to speak negatively of my fellow Greek brothers, but there are many an 'accessory', if you may, which could be deemed NSIP (not suitable in public) or somewhat illegal which can be found lying around the fraternity boy's room. Among these could be tobacco products, glass figurines, or lighters for their candle collections.
7. Anything red, white, and blue or camouflage
Finding something of these characteristics could be easily confused with the belongings of a redneck. However, if it adorns the rebel flag, it's not full-on hunting gear, or it's just plain patriotic, it probably belongs to a fraternity boy. This includes but is not limited to: cut-off jorts, beer belt, Americana bro-tank, neon orange vest, 'Make America Great Again' hat.
8. Coolers
This is a dead giveaway. A Yeti here, a stack of NOLA 20something's over there. Girls have spent countless hours sanding, priming, painting, sealing, and filling coolers for these boys. A cooler is like a fraternity guy's sidekick — it holds his beer while he gets down at the darty. A cooler sees everything and doesn't say a word. It sits there and looks good while also serving a purpose. But if it looks kinda beat up you know that was a good-a** weekend.
SEE ALSO: 8 Steps To Making The Ultimate Cooler For Formal Weekend
9. Trash
Okay. I don't know why this is a thing. Fraternity boys don't seem to understand that the trash doesn't magically collect itself from all over the room and put itself in the trashcan. A couple Busch Light cans here, an empty Doritos bag over there, a forgotten styrofoam cup on the floor. Come on, guys, you're better than this.
10. Video games and other small electronics
Yes, that is an X-box by the TV, and those DVD's are the games. And the DVD boxes protect the games, but protection is for geed's. You ever heard of a Juul? He's got one. How about like 6 different suspicious cords all in a huge knot? He's got em. A laptop? Of course, he needs that for school, duh.
11. Items that have clearly been stolen
'UA Parking' reflective sign. Can you guess where he got that? Not from the nice guy who gave it to him. A traffic cone — a classic. If he's got one of these, you can rest assured that he is the total package. The little orange order number signs from Whataburger. A composite that belongs to a fraternity of which he is not a member. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we've got ourselves a class A thief.
