Tips for furnishing your college habitat

Heading to college this fall? Whether it's your first year or fourth, you're sure to learn some things about college life that you wish you'd known before walking on campus. Here's one of those secrets: College habitats are almost universally small, and how you furnish yours will have a big impact on how well you enjoy and perform in college.

Dorm rooms are notoriously snug spaces. Even if you live off-campus in an apartment, you'll likely be sharing it with multiple roommates, which can make the space feel small. You'll want furnishings that fit your space, maximize efficiency and that can hold up to the rigors of college living.

As you're getting ready to furnish your college habitat, keep these pointers in mind:

Size counts

Because your personal space is likely to be very limited, it's important to keep furnishings to scale. Dorm rooms usually already have a bed that fits appropriately into the space. In an apartment, a smaller bed will almost certainly fit better in any bedroom, especially if you're sharing your bedroom with a roommate. Twin is in when it comes to right-sizing your bed for college living.

Your college habitat will also likely include a desk. In reality, you probably won't do much studying there, so your desk can be a great place for your flat screen TV. Be sure to secure it with a mount. Products like Sanus' Full-Motion Desk Mount make it easy to desk-mount flat screens or computer monitors up to 30 inches, without the need for any installation tools. Or you can opt for a mount kit. Sanus offers one that attaches to furniture such as a desk or dresser, to provide a more finished look. Both options are ideal when mounting your TV on the wall isn't possible.

If you live in a dorm, you'll probably sit on the bed most often. But for those times when you're having guests, a folding chair or two comes in handy. You can store them under your bed and then bring them out only when needed.

Storage strategies

When was the last time you saw a dorm room with a walk-in closet? If you're living on campus, you'll be lucky if your digs have any closet at all. Lack of closet space is also a perennial problem for apartment dwellers. If you are fortunate enough to have a closet, be sure to use it; clothes stored on hangers take up far less room than those wadded up on the floor or crammed into a drawer.

Most likely, however, your college living space will require smart storage strategies. Under-bed storage can be a lifesaver in college habitats. You can squeak out some extra space by using risers that lift your bed a few more inches off the floor, inches that can be turned into more storage space. Just be sure to use devices designed to safely raise the bed, rather than doing it yourself with a few phone books.

Increasing efficiency

Limited space also means that whatever you put in it needs to function efficiently. Items that have multiple uses, such as an alarm clock that doubles as an iPod charger, save space by doing jobs that would otherwise require several things to accomplish. You can find floor lamps that feature attached shelving, laundry bags that double as a backpack, and electric brooms that sweep your dorm room and your car efficiently.

Efficiency and safety go hand in hand. Often, the devices you'll need to make college life easier and more enjoyable, like a PC, alarm clock, TV and stereo, come with a lot of cords that can be a trip hazard. Cable Tunnels are a great way to keep cords out of the way and keep rooms looking tidy. Easy to install, you can use the tunnels to conceal cords. And they can be painted to match your wall color.

Furnishing your college habitat will require planning and possibly some downsizing, but ensuring that everything in your environment fits properly and works efficiently will help make college life a little bit easier.