Making the Most of Your Dorm Room

Moving out of your parents’ house is a major milestone for college-bound students. Even though you may have to share a closet-sized room with a roommate, the freedom it entails can make your new abode feel like a castle. The key is to select pieces of furniture that are multifunctional and compact easily to make the space feel as roomy as possible.

As graduation approaches, keep the following tips in mind as you plan for your new digs:

• Pick out a really comfortable reading chair. Since you’re going to have your nose in a book for four years, it’s imperative to have a comfortable place to read. A futon chair is a great choice because it can double up as a bed when friends and family come to visit. A futon chair can also be adjusted to accommodate several sitting positions so you can relax and lounge on it too. Papasan chairs are also dorm-room staples because they’re lightweight and can be moved in and out of the dorms with ease.

• Incorporate a modern sofa bed. A modern sofa bed is a great choice when you’re short on space. Simply sit on the sofa during the day and pull the bed out to sleep on at night. If you’ve ever slept on a bad sofa bed, fear not; today’s models are as comfortable as they are stylish. Sofa beds leave plenty of floor space during the day for spreading out and will make your space feel larger.

• Bring some bright lamps. Most dorm rooms still use florescent lighting, which not only looks unnatural but can also be prone to flickering. Experts agree that it’s better to get your light from several sources to balance the room and ensure that you have the right kind of lighting for the task at hand. You’ll need a bright desk lamp for doing homework, some cozy ambient lighting for watching TV and a bedside lamp for reading before bed.

Bonus tip: Many home-organizing stores offer free dorm-room planning sessions before each semester begins so be sure to keep an eye out for one near you as the school year approaches.