Don’t Relive Your Dorm Room Doom! Treat Yourself To A Furniture Upgrade

Freshman and sophomore undergraduates don’t have much choice in their room furnishings. There’s that formica desk/hutch combo, the rickety plastic chair that calls to mind 7AM choir practice in the third grade, and of course, the bed. That blue, too-hard, horizontal abomination mattress upholstered in rubber for easy cleaning has wreaked havoc on aesthetic considerations and our precious spines for half a century. Millions of college students nationwide contort themselves into uncomfortable cramped positions on that darned thing each night, and it looks like it’s here to stay.

For many a student however, junior and senior year bodes better for furnishings and health, because these are the years that most colleges allow an off campus move. Below are some tips on upgrading the three dorm room furniture staples to something a little more “late 20’s”.

The Desk

Don’t skimp on the desk, unless you enjoy being relegated to the cramped campus library every December and May. A large, comfortable work space in the home is essential for academic achievement. What’s more, 80 to 90% of the population suffers from chronic back pain according to American Chiropractic Association, and our habit of hunching over inadequate study space probably has something to do with that statistic. When buying, consider a lighter plastic model that can be easily moved into natural light, with enough overhead and under foot shelf space to suit your needs.

The Chair
Always get something cushioned with enough lumbar support. Wheels and height adjustment features are a plus because when it comes to comfort and style, flexibility is key. If you do your homework, you just might find a chair that can pull triple duty as an entertaining chair, a work chair, and a second bed. Then again, If you find yourself falling asleep in your chair because it’s more comfortable than your bed, it may be a good idea to look into adjustable beds…

The Adjustable Bed
In keeping with the theme of flexibility, adjustable beds solve the problem of inadequate spine support and fill the key criteria of dual functionality. With just a cursory internet search, it becomes clear right away that the choices are limitless. Those who like to “starfish” sleep can consider a king size adjustable bed, while those who are always cold have the electric bed as an option. There are adjustable beds that cater to couples, with twin adjustable mattress firmness options and adjustable memory foam bed covers for those Princess-and-the-Pea-like sleepers. Perhaps most importantly for the college student coming into their own, the slight incline provided by most adjustable beds can prevent curling up or painfully bending your legs while writing that last fifteen page paper (and then inevitably falling asleep on your keyboard).

So remember…get through years one and two, sleep more years three and four, literally and figuratively.