How to Outfit Your College Bedroom

When you head off to school, you'll need the basics plus a few creature comforts in your bedroom. Some advice follows.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Alarm Clocks
• Bed Linens
• Clothes Hampers
• Computer Desks
• Drawer Chests
• Ironing Boards
• Irons
• Mirrors
• Pillows
• Plastic Storage Drawers
• Reading Lamps
• Throw Rugs
• Two Sets Of Sheets
• Wastebaskets

1. Make sure there's a comfortable mattress set and bed frame, a bedside table and high-wattage reading lamp (ones that you can aim are versatile) for the table. Supply a roomy chest of drawers and large wall mirror, too.

2. Look for a computer desk, comfortable chair, desk lamp and wastebasket if you will be using a computer for term papers and other schoolwork. Ready-to-assemble desks are usually inexpensive and offer the advantage of disassembling for a move.

3. Buy two sets of sheets, a mattress cover, a blanket, a bedspread and at least one standard bed pillow. Plan on a special bed pillow with back support if you like to sit up and study in bed.

4. Make sure you have an alarm-clock radio or alarm-clock CD player with battery backup to ensure a that you wake up for that early class.

5. Plan on an ample number of clothes hangers for the closet and possibly a shoe rack (unless you are a one-pair kind of student).

6. Personalize your room with accessories from your bedroom at home: posters, framed family photos, sports memorabilia and the like.

7. Consider items such as a throw rug beside the bed, clothes hamper, makeup mirror, facial-tissue dispenser and coaster for the bedside table, and under-bed storage drawers (great for off-season clothing and spare sheets). You may also want to stow an ironing board and iron in the bedroom.

Tips & Warnings

• Shop for furnishings that are sturdy (to survive moves), easily portable and economical. Secondhand stores, garage/attic/yard/rummage/tag sales and newspaper want ads are good sources.
• In large cities, you may be able to rent furniture.
• Remember that a high-quality mattress pad (the egg-crate foam rubber, for instance) can improve a marginal mattress in a furnished bedroom.

on 11/22/2005 The first week or so that you are at college you won't need as much as you think. In the weeks before you leave, make a list of what you use every day. If it's not on that list, chances are you won't need it at school.

on 11/22/2005 Don't take a lot of things that you hardly ever use. You may think you will need them eventually, but in the long run, it's just more clutter to worry about.