5 Valuable Tips for Picking Out Your Dorm Room Furniture

Whether it's your freshman or senior year in the campus dorm, one thing is certain: Your dorm room and the experience you have within it's walls can be as enjoyable and productive, or as non-eventful as you choose to make it. With that said, here are some suggestions on how to transform your new dorm room from just another hole in the hall to an academic and recreational sanctuary.

1. Don't Forget the Bare Necessities

No doubt, one of the most fundamental aspects of your dorm room is what's lying on the floor; and by that I mean a decent rug. Very few dorms have carpeting, so it's absolutely crucial to have something to tread on, as well as something upon which to set the rest of your dorm room furniture. Choose something that's easy to shake out when it's time to clean. It doesn't have to be too flashy or too big, just be sure to place it in an effective location such as beside the bed or at the entrance. Remember, this is your home for the time being!

2. Your Desk is What You Make of It

You may be planning on doing most of your studying in the library; however you might want to count on at least some work (or facebooking) going down inside your dorm room from time to time. Regardless of what you end up doing on it, your dorm room desk is going to be an absolutely vital piece of furniture. Choose a desk that is practical and functional, while at the same time cool and inviting. Corner desks work great because they provide more work space and efficiently utilize what is already a limited area. If you have a good desk in your dorm room, you're going to spend more time sitting at it.

3. A Chair is Your Desk's Best Friend

Assuming you take the previous suggestion to heart and get your desk set up in the corner, you're going to want a reclining chair with wheels and a smooth surface on which to navigate. Imagine this- you've got your laptop on the left side, your lecture notes and text books on the right, and you're rolling back and forth making easy work of your problem sets while social networking at the same time. Then your phone rings, but due to your strategic desk positioning you don't have to get up. No, you just push off and roll back to your table when the call is completed. In short, make sure your chair compliments your desk and accommodates all that takes place in those precious college years.

4. Nothing Compliments a Desk Like a Table Bookcase

Depending on what your focus is, your dorm room table could be bench-style where you set up your stereo and stash your book bag, or it might be a bookcase on which you carefully stack the classic literature you'll be devouring throughout each semester. Either way, you need an auxiliary desk piece to complete the productive area of your dorm room. A nice table reduces clutter in your room and can add style and convenience all at the same time.

5. Your Bed is Where You Lay Your Head

Whether it's the beginning or the end of another day in academia, make sure your bed is your favorite place to crash and your favorite place to wake up. Spending a few extra bucks on some quality bedding (or having your mom send your baby blanket) is going to be well worth the effort, expense, and possibly embarrassment. Every day begins and ends in your bed so if nothing else, do it right!