One of the most memorable parts of college for most students is their first dorm room. Frequently, these rooms are smaller than the bedrooms they had at home, while having to be shared with another person. Despite that, a dorm room is typically a student’s first place that’s finally “theirs.” To make it as comfortable as possible, it’s important to optimize what space you’re afforded. Fortunately, this can become what makes that first room so memorable and can be something you look back on fondly. Here are a few tips you can implement to get the most out of your dorm room.

• Futons. Right up there with fight songs and all-nighters, few things scream “college” like the futon. This piece of folding platform furniture has met the needs of students for generations by satisfying the need for a couch and a bed in a single piece of furniture. To optimize the futon, you can always replace the stock futon pad with futon mattress foam, transforming it from a stopgap purchase to a long-term solution by making it as comfortable as any individual bunk or sofa could be. Even if you have the space to have a separate bed and couch, a comfy memory foam futon is perfect for having friends over too.
• Lofts. Building a loft makes use of the vertical space in a room, opening up the horizontal floor space. Lofts can be as simple as two stacked beds, or a single bed can be lofted with a work or relaxation space under it. By some creative students, tree-top living spaces have been built, effectively creating a multi-story dorm room.
• Bean Bags. Good luck naming a piece of furniture that’s more fun than a bean bag chair. Perfect for studying, relaxing, and everything in between, today’s bean bag chairs are made in many fabrics, colors, and sizes so you can find one that fits your personality and space perfectly. The free-form shape of a bean bag means they can fit into tight spaces where traditional framed furniture won’t fit, and if you do need all the floor space made available, just toss them on the bed. Fat chance of that happening with a recliner!