Everyone has his or her own image of a typical college dorm room. Maybe it's a groovy Greg Brady-inspired pad, complete with tie-dyed tapestries and lava lamps. Or maybe it's a shrine to Animal House, decked out with beer posters and pin-up girls. But whatever the theme, students are still most likely to go for the classics when it comes to decorating those four blank white walls.

John Keyser, store manager of Artifax, 323 E. Calder Way, said that classic rock posters are still some of the most popular items his store sells.

"People just aren't buying music posters for the new hot bands," he said. "I mean, a lot of the stuff I sell today I've been selling for 15 years."

Keyser said he always has a huge demand for rock gods like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Bob Marley.

"Someone like Bob Marley still sells, and I'm sure always will."

Of course music is always a big seller, but college students still want posters that reflect their second favorite pastime.

"The beer drinking posters are always a classic," Keyser said. "Some of the designs on them have been around for years, but kids still want them."

Besides using posters as a way to cover up blank wall space, Earle Harner, store manager of The Apple Tree, 136 E. College Ave., said students still go for those hippie-inspired tapestries.

"People are always looking for tapestries because not only are they decorative, they're versatile," Harner said. "You can use them to cover walls, to put over couches or tables, or to use as a bedspread."

In addition to focusing on covering bare walls and furniture, Harner also said students are looking for different ways to light up their rooms.

"The lava lamps still sell," Harner said. "We've also been selling a lot of the paper shades and paper stars. They're good mostly for mood lighting, because they give off a really subdued light."

Art and movie posters are still a big seller at The Apple Tree, and Harner said student tastes haven't changed that much over the years.

"The Van Gogh's and M.C. Escher's are always popular when it comes to the art posters," Harner said. "And I know I've been selling those Simpsons posters for at least 10 years."

Even some icons that have been around for years are starting to become trendy classics.

"We've been selling a lot of Lord of the Rings posters, and Johnny Depp has been a really hot seller lately," Harner said. "I'm sure it's because of all the recent movies that have been coming out."

So what do students cite as their popular decorating items of choice?

"Definitely tapestries, those John Belushi college posters and tons of Dave Matthews posters," said Lindsay Rieman (junior-telecommunications). "And guys always have pin-ups of Carmen Electra or Pamela Anderson on their walls."

Nate Reed (sophomore-music education) agreed that pin-ups are a common theme for guys.

"I know a lot of guys will put up pictures of pop stars," Reed said. "I think whatever makes you comfortable or happy, go for it."

Rachel Palevsky (sophomore-rehabilitation services) said she thinks a lot of the drinking posters are popular because they reflect college life.

"People have beer posters because it's college," Palevsky said. "Plus, they're funny."

But when it comes down to it, not all students are going to be sold on what's considered trendy to decorate with.

"I'm more likely to buy the vintage stuff, because I'm really into the oldies," Andrea Paparelli (sophomore-elementary education) said. "I'm not going to buy something trendy just to have it up on my wall."