10 Ways to Furnish a Dorm Room

In the next few weeks, thousands of young adults will be embarking into the brave new world of college dormitories for the first time, or returning as upperclassmen to a dorm or apartment. How well I remember when I moved in to my first dorm room. I had sheets and a pillow. That’s it. Suffice it to say that the concrete blocks of my first “home away from home” made for a less-than-homey environment!

Do your young adult a favor and help make his or her dorm room a place that is comfortable and relaxing with youth furniture. Going off to college is stressful and overwhelming enough, so it’s important for young adults to have a place that makes them feel good about this new chapter in their lives.

Maximizing comfort and organization in a small space with teen bedroom furniture is one way to make a dorm room feel homey and relaxing for your child (and set your mind at ease as well).

Here are a few ideas to help your young person furnish his or her new space!

1. Start with a big rug to soften the look and feel of hard, institutional flooring. Plus, it will make the room more inviting to lounge or exercise on the floor.
2. A featherbed mattress topper or mattress pad can really improve the comfort of a dorm bed, and they are available in either feathers or fiberfill.
3. Good lighting is essential. Have focused task lighting at the desk — as well as lamps by a chair and near the bed — so your child can read and work anywhere.
4. A comfortable place to sit is a must. It can be a side chair, loveseat, or even a pile of pillows, but it will serve as a great place for studying, lounging, or talking on the phone.
5. Desk space is also very important, of course. Some dorms have built-in desk space, but they are typically small and have very limited storage space. Find a home office computer desk with plenty of room to spread out (and store) books, papers, notes, and a laptop. Desks can also provide filing space for completed schoolwork, pay stubs, insurance papers, and scholarship applications. Check out Opus Designs by Hooker Furniture’s “Kendall” desk and hutch. Its smaller scale is great for cramped dorm rooms, plus it has several storage options and a built-in corkboard (see #9!).
6. Solve storage problems with a very organized closet. Evaluate the space, then add peg racks, over-the-door shoe racks, belt and tie holders, and/or hanging shelves to organize clothes and accessories.
7. Large body pillows are great for sleeping, but they can also be used to turn the bed into a makeshift sofa when friends come over, or for lounging comfortably on the floor.
8. Laundry and shower totes help to organize and carry just about everything. Keep a big one on the floor of the closet to collect laundry, and use another to hold bathroom supplies.
9. A large bulletin board or white board is perfect for notes, photos, schedules, calendars and assignments. It can help your child get organized, show off mementos, and serve as a message center.
10. Wall decor can be another touch of home. Use artwork to reinforce colors from your child’s bed linens, the rug, or to highlight special interests. Make a collage out of favorite photos, hang favorite posters, or whatever feels like “home” to them.

When children feel like their space is their “own,” they will love living there. Of course, maybe then you’ll have to bribe them to come home more often!