9 tips from decor experts for a comfortable and functional dorm room

abcnews.go.com:

For many college students, a dorm room is their first home away from home

For many college students, dorm life is an introduction to independent living — their very first «home away from home.” And as exciting as this chapter is, it’s also a challenge: How do you turn one room into a work, sleep and hangout space?

We got some advice from decor pros:

1. First, make sure you and your roommate/s are on the same page. “Talk to your roommate and make a plan for who’s bringing what,” advises Lauren Phillips, associate editorial director at Better Homes & Gardens. „Letting everyone feel like they have a say in the room can go a long way towards building a strong relationship.”

2. Find out more about the building and room you’re moving into. “Does it have a semi-private bathroom or a hall bath? Are the walls bare cement blocks or plaster?… Shop to the space you’re actually moving into,“ says Phillips.

3. Think twice about a loft or bunk bed. “It’s fun for a few days or weeks, but by fall break, you’ll regret having to climb up a ladder to go to bed every night,» Phillips says. She does recommend raising the bed enough to allow for under-bed storage. In any case, bring a mattress pad for some added softness and cleanliness.

4. And speaking of storage, set aside the space and budget for it. Prioritize things like hanging rods that double your closet’s capacity, over-door shoe racks, stacking bins and those under-bed organizers.

5. Bring plenty of chargers and power strips with long cords. “There almost definitely won’t be enough outlets, and the ones you do have will inevitably be in inconvenient spots,” says Emily White of Dormify, a website that specializes in dorm stuff. And consider furniture with built-in plugs or ports.