Dorm Room Perfection

Posters are a traditional part of dorm life, and why not? How else can you decorate so cheaply, while making a statement about who you are and what you believe? This poster is a favorite of mine. What do you think?





Buy This Allposters.com

If you have room for some extra seating, it's a great idea to furnish some for all the people that will drop in to visit you. After all, you want your room to be the social hub of the dorm, right?

It's best to check first to make sure you have room before making any major purchase in the furniture department. Dorm rooms are TINY. (And check with your roommate to, to make sure you won't crowd each other out.)

One solution that worked for me was stacking the beds into bunk beds (great!) or a trundle arrangement (even better!) It made lots more space in our dorm room, and we just loved it!



Pictured: Comfort Research Big Joe Dorm Chair with Smart Max Fabric from Amazon.

Well, you probably don't HAVE to have one, but it sure is handy. Check with your school's regulations to make sure you're allowed to have one, but it should be okay. And what a blessing! To be able to make your own snacks, popcorn, hot beverages .... I could go on and on.

Pictured: Panasonic NN-SD681S, 1.2cuft, 1200 Watt Microwave with Inverter Technology and Blue Readout, Stainless Front

I can't live without my Coca Cola, and those darn vending machines get SO expensive. If you have room, and the university's okay -- it's a sort of major appliance, so it's best to check -- by all means try to get one. It's not an essential, but it's really, really, nice.

In the days before I had my fridge, we used to hang stuff out the windows in the winter to keep cold. Yeah. A fridge is way, way, better, believe me.

Pictured: Haier HNSE032BB 3.2-Cubic Foot Refrigerator/Freezer, Black

Okay, this one definitely IS an essential. Whether you share one big bathroom with a bunch of people, or a smaller one with just a few, you're going to be carrying stuff back and forth.

And even if you could leave you accoutrements in the bathroom, do you really want to? Do you trust your roommate not to use your razor or toothbrush? How about those weird friends your roommate keeps bringing home?



Pictured: Saltwater Canvas Black Mesh Tote - College Dorm Shower Caddy.

Check out your dorm's furnishings before you invest, but you'll probably need a good reading light of one kind or another. My dorm had built-in lights over the desk area -- which was great, but a little glare-y. And the room as a whole is probably well-lit. But if you like to read in bed, you'll definitely want a light that makes that easy to do -- and doesn't disturb your roommate, either.



Pictured: Fulcrum Multi-Flex LED Task Light, , available from Amazon.

Be sure you know how your room is configured before you invest in storage thingies. A lot of them take up WAY too much room, and make the room seem more cluttered than it did before.

Chances are you WILL have room under your bed to stash some stuff, though, and what better place for those clothes that you don't wear all that often? I love this under-the-bed storage container.



Pictured: Underbed Storage Chest , Black.

I'm not a coffee drinker myself, so I don't have one of these. But I know people who can't live without their joe. Your own coffeemaker is just the think to help you stay awake on those long nights of cramming for exams.



Pictured: Mr. Coffee DRX5 4-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black.

The best money I ever spent. Seriously.

You need your sleep. Getting a good night's sleep will make you smarter, healthier, more attractive, and more pleasant to be around. And roommates and neighbors don't always have the same ideas about quiet hours as you do.

Seriously.l Get the ear plugs.



Pictured: Hearos Xtreme Protection, 14-Pair Foam (Pack of 3) from Amazon.

Bring a little bit of home with you. I like this style picture frame, but you may have your own ideas. Whatever style you choose, it's nice to look up and see the folks you love smiling back at you.



Pictured: Aero 9-Opening Collage Picture Frame for 4-by-6-Inch Photos, Black.