Living on-campus can be a challenging, exciting and enlightening experience. Living in such a small place can present its share of problems when it comes to space, but with the right furniture your small place can feel spacious and fabulous.
After spending a year living in the dorms, I have compiled a list of furniture pieces that will help make the most of your dorm space and make it feel like home.
1. A foldable nesting chair
A foldable nesting chair is an inexpensive, yet oddly comfortable, circular chair. It is available in a multitude of colors that are sure to meet your dorm décor scheme. This chair is perfect for reading, relaxing in front of the TV or surfing the web with your feet propped up on a matching ottoman. Adding this to your dorm furniture collection is sure to give it the feeling of a chic living room.
2. A floor lamp
If you’re looking for an item that will be functional and add a cozy feel to your dorm, a floor lamp is the perfect piece for you. These lamps come in a variety of different colors and styles and are easy on the eyes.
Many students find the bright ceiling lights provided in dorm rooms annoying. A floor lamp will give off the perfect amount of light, just enough for homework but not enough to give you a headache. A floor lamp can be placed in a corner of your dorm and won’t take up much room at all. Floor lamps are also relatively affordable and can be bought almost anywhere that sells home décor items.
3. A full-length mirror
A full-length mirror is one of those items that many college students don’t realize is not in their dorm until they are already moved in. A full-length mirror can be hung from your door with command strips or propped against the wall. Having a full-length mirror takes up little to no space and is a necessity.
4. A safe
A small safe is completely necessary for dorm living even if you trust your roommate. In a dorm, people are constantly coming and going. It can be hard to monitor exactly who comes in. Unlike at your house, you won’t have a bedroom to keep your valuables in, so a small safe is the perfect substitute. Safes can be bought from major department stores like Target, Ikea, Walmart and more.
5. A mini fridge
Get ahold of your roommate before you move in or talk about it if you are already living together and invest in a mini fridge together. Not only will it help you keep leftovers cold for days, but you can always use it as a place to set your television or microwave.
Mini fridges can also be decorated with fun and quirky magnets, your choice of a magnetic white or chalk board and can even come in bright colors like red, pink and blue.
Regardless of whether you fill your mini fridge with ice cream, last night’s meal from the Marketplace or you just like to decorate it with magnets, every on-campus resident needs this in their room.
