Whether you are a seasoned veteran of college or fresh out of high school, you know that when you arrive in that dorm room, it is going to be home for about 9 months. Even in the best of the more modern dorms, there is not a whole lot of space in a dorm, but it is still home and thus you will need to furnish it with something more than that standard issue twin bed.
In order to properly furnish your dorm room, you need to keep that lack of space in mind. The best way to do that is to look for furniture that can multi-task or that takes up very little space for the purpose it serves. Additionally, since budget is always a concern for college students, consider cost as well. With those factors in mind, here are some pieces you should consider for your dorm room and some tips on shopping for them.
The Futon
Perhaps the most common piece of multi-tasking furniture found in dorm rooms is the futon. The futon certainly serves multiple purposes and thus qualifies as a good piece for your dorm room. Here are some tips on shopping for the right one.
First of all, measure your dorm room. Today, futons come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, which means you need to know which size is going to work best. Sure, you would love to have a huge luxurious futon, but bare in mind that if you ever want to move about in your room, you will likely need something short of that in a futon.
Once you have measured your room and know approximately how much space you want the futon to take up, shop around. Futons range in price a great deal, so you are well advised to shop around for the best price. Additionally, watch for sales in weekend circulars. Many furniture stores use futons as mark-down items to draw in additional business, which means you can often find really good deals.
Finally, to both save money and make it easier to move, assemble the futon yourself. If you do, you are ensuring that it will fit through the door of your room. While putting a futon together can take time, it generally does not take a great deal of skill.
Once your futon is purchased and assembled in your dorm room, you have a true multi-tasking piece of furniture. It can serve as a sofa during the day and a bed for those overnight visitors the rest of the time. If you get one that is adjustable on the back, it can even function as a recliner.
The Bean Bag
Another classic piece of dorm room furniture you may consider is the bean bag. Bean bags work great in dorms for a number of reasons. They can be used as chairs, as pillows, as foot rests, and even as beds when placed together. Bean bags are the ultimate piece of college dorm room furniture in terms of multi-function. Additionally, they can be stored on beds during the day or even in a closet. But how do you go about shopping for and buying a bean bag?
Most people just run to the store, look for a color they like, and buy the bean bag or bean bags. However, but by just knowing a little about them, you can actually get a lot more out of your dollar.
There are two keys to finding a quality bean bag that will have some durability: the material on the outside and getting the proper size.
First off, you have to make sure that you get the right size of bean bag. If you get a bag that is too small, the pressure of full grown adults sitting on them will cause tears and fast wear. In order to get the right size, test it out in the store. Sit on the bean bag the way you normally would and check how tightly the insides are pressed to the outside. This is also a reason to consider avoiding an internet bean bag purchase.
Secondly, you should check out the cover. The best cover is going to be a removable fabric that can be zipped up over the bladder of the bean bag. The interior will likely be a vinyl or plastic; make sure that the seams are well put together by lightly pulling on them and closely examining the stitching. By making sure there is an outside cover, you have something to hold in the Styrofoam when there is a leak. Also, you can then make a repair and not have it show.
Inflatable Furniture
Inflatable furniture is somewhat of a newcomer to the dorm furniture world, but it is definitely up to the task. While they are not the multi-taskers that bean bags and futons are, they more than make up for it in ease of storage. When deflated, you can store your furniture under the bed, in a closet, or even in a gym bag. If you have a small room, that means you can actually “put away” your furniture every night.
When it comes to shopping for inflatable furniture, you should look for something that is somewhat durable for the money. Open the package, if possible, and check out the seams first. You should look for something with triple layered seams. Additionally, check to be sure that your inflatable dorm furniture includes some sort of repair kit.
Finally, make sure you read the dimensions. Even though your furniture can be deflated and put away, that will make no difference if it ends up that it wont fit in the room in the first place.
As you can see, there are a lot of options when it comes to furnishing your dorm. Once you understand what fits the criteria for good dorm furniture (multi-tasking, easy to store, and easy to get in the room), you will be able to make that dorm room into a real home.
