Inexpensive, Casual Furnishings for Dormitory Life

Here's some ideas for decorating your boring dorm room with inexpensive, functional furnishings.

College dorm rooms are boring and impersonal. They've filled with mass-produced dorm room furniture: two beds, two desks, two dressers, and not much else. So how do you decorate a dorm room on a student budget? College students can't exactly afford an interior decorator and custom furniture, and there's not enough space for a big comfy couch.

When furnishing a dormitory room, keep these criteria in mind:

●               Dorm room furniture should be cheap. Even if you have a big budget, a dorm isn't a good place for expensive stuff that can be stolen or destroyed. Cheap used furniture is easy to find. Check the classified ads in your school newspaper and look around campus for fliers. Or search for bargains on eBay. And don't forget to look in your parent's attic. If your taste is expensive, but your budget is not, consider a Restoration Hardware furniture dupe to help you get the luxury look for less. 

●               Dorm room furniture should be compact. Space is at a premium, so less is more. Don't be a space hog and annoy your roommate.

●               Dorm room furniture should be functional. With so little space, the things you bring in should serve a function.

●               Dorm room furniture should be cozy. A few cheap pieces of furniture can make your dorm room feel a lot more like home.

●               Dorm room furniture is a great college student gift. If your relatives or friends are looking for a great gift for a college student, tell them what you need for your dorm room.

Сheap, Сozy, Сompact Dorm Room Furniture

●               Area rugs. Most dorm room floors come with icy-cold tile floors or grungy carpets. A colorful area rug instantly makes the room cozier. And it doesn't take up space. Be sure to buy a cheap area rug, because your rug is likely to be gross by the end of the school year. Here's what to look for in a dorm room area rug.

●               Dorm sleeper chairs. Fold-up dorm chairs are comfortable and can be used as a bed for overnight guests.

●               Dorm fridge. A mini fridge makes the room cozier. It's always nice to be able to come home to a glass of juice or something from your refrigerator. And be smart: use your refrigerator to stack a few things to save space. Dorm fridges often can be rented on campus. Here's what to look for in a dorm fridge.

●               Futon bed/futon chair combination. Here's an idea: ditch that dorm bed! Replace it with a twin or full sized futon bed that can double as a futon chair during the day. Cover it with a colorful futon cover and you have a comfortable, cozy, and very functional piece of dorm room furniture. Here's what to look for in a college futon.

●               Floor lamp. Lamp light can improve your mood!

●               Reading pillow. A big cozy reading pillow is both functional and decorative. It also takes up no space, as you can keep it on your bed.

●               Bookshelves. When finding a dorm room bookshelf, think compact. A tall, thin bookcase will take up less room and add lots of storage space. Someone is always giving away an old bookcase, so they're easy to find. You can always use milk crates, but a real bookcase makes your room feel more like home.

About the author: Diane H. Wong writes content for PaperHelp. She enjoys a challenge, whether it's working with new technologies or learning about different marketing techniques. In this case, she has an opportunity to share her experience with others and keep up with advancing technologies.