NationStates Jolt Archive

My dorm room sucks. It's a 13x13 square of epic fail. I need to make it better if just for my own sanity.

So, how shall I go about making my little piece of hell less shitty?

(in case any of you are stupendously obtuse, I'm asking for your tips and tricks to making small spaces better and more homely).

My dorm room sucks. It's a 13x13 square of epic fail. I need to make it better if just for my own sanity.

So, how shall I go about making my little piece of hell less shitty?

(in case any of you are stupendously obtuse, I'm asking for your tips and tricks to making small spaces better and more homely).

Bunk beds or two single beds?

EDIT: actually... the person with the best ideas is SMUNKEE!

Bunk beds or two single beds?

EDIT: actually... the person with the best ideas is SMUNKEE!

Right now, 2 singles. We decided that we're going to loft them, so that should increase floorspace.

When I lived in the barracks I used flags for decoration. I had a big Michigan flag and a big French flag.

Rummage thinkgeek.com, that's always fun. Might actually find something too.

Right now, 2 singles. We decided that we're going to loft them, so that should increase floorspace.

Loft them? is that like making em bunk beds?

there are containers designed to be stored under beds. basically turning the un-used floor space under the bed into storage/drawers.

Add light to the space to make seem bigger. So make sure you have light colour walls and let plenty of light in the space. Adding bright, cheery colours can make you feel more comfortable. And be sure to personalise it as much as you can. This can help you feel less home sick.

Loft them? is that like making em bunk beds?

there are containers designed to be stored under beds. basically turning the un-used floor space under the bed into storage/drawers.

http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbl0.jpg

This is the loft we would be getting. The room here is also near identical to the one I'm in.

Get some posters or something. Adding mirrors is supposed to help make small rooms look bigger, but if you or your roomie is incredibly ugly that might not help.
If space is a problem, see if you can't raise the level of your bed. I managed to fit a fridge, suitcase, dirty clothes bag and laundry supplies under mine.

And, when all else fails, just follow Fiddlebottoms' patented 4 step problem to redecorating woes.
Step 1: Buy refrigerator
Step 2: Fill with beer
Step 3: Empty refrigerator
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 - 3 until the condition of your room is no longer a priority.

My dorm room freshman year was tiny. Loft your bed if you can, then put your desk and/or dresser underneath it. If you can't loft your bed, invest in some of those plastic storage thingies that are designed to go under beds. Find some posters that you like. Get throw pillows for your bed. If you have one of those big panel-like light fixtures, you could try to find some cool fabric to cover it with, or if you have a regular light you could try one of those paper (http://partyplus-rentals.com/Images/paperlighting/Turquoise_Star.gif) lantern (http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/4c/9/AAAAAniavHkAAAAAAEyX1g.jpg) things (http://www.chinesegallery.com/images/lanterns/squarelantern-blue.jpg) if you like that look. Hang cool stuff from your ceiling. Get a fun light fixture, or wrap strings of lights around your bed frame or hang them along the ceiling.

one word: pornography

I've yet to find a room yet that would'nt be improved by the addition of a few pornographic posters!!

Fiddlebottems has the right idea. You can also try the classic traffic signs or stripper posters.

My dorm room freshman year was tiny. Loft your bed if you can, then put your desk and/or dresser underneath it. If you can't loft your bed, invest in some of those plastic storage thingies that are designed to go under beds. Find some posters that you like. Get throw pillows for your bed. If you have one of those big panel-like light fixtures, you could try to find some cool fabric to cover it with, or if you have a regular light you could try one of those paper (http://partyplus-rentals.com/Images/paperlighting/Turquoise_Star.gif) lantern (http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/4c/9/AAAAAniavHkAAAAAAEyX1g.jpg) things (http://www.chinesegallery.com/images/lanterns/squarelantern-blue.jpg) if you like that look. Hang cool stuff from your ceiling. Get a fun light fixture, or wrap strings of lights around your bed frame or hang them along the ceiling.

or just a series of lamps. that way, one person can study while the other sleeps.

I would also find ways to combine things. like say... A PS2... you can play games as well as watch DVD's. Folding chairs... they may not be comfortable, but they can be stowed. Same with folding tables (http://www.pondsolutions.com/images/ab88031841-take-five-folding-cafe-table.jpg).

If you don't mind sitting on the floor... a you can get a folding table (http://www.jcollector.com/photos/TJ113-1.jpg) suitable for that. it can be put away for later use. Cushions can double as seats.

I have more posters than I know what to do with. You can always get wall scrolls instead. Less of a paint in the ass to put up (provided you grab some 3M wall hangers) and a bit warmer.

http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbl0.jpg

This is the loft we would be getting. The room here is also near identical to the one I'm in.

How much, if you don't mind me asking, do you end up paying for that shoebox? My apartment in Mt. P is at least 5 times bigger than that and I pay $435/month.

or just a series of lamps. that way, one person can study while the other sleeps.
This is crucial. I always had two desk lamps; one at my desk, and one clamped to my bedframe.

http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbl0.jpg

This is the loft we would be getting. The room here is also near identical to the one I'm in.

... can you attach things to the walls? I see space for small shelves above the bed for things like a clock, lamp, books...

there is also space under the bed for shelves.

... I would also say... a laptop instead of a desktop computer. when not in use, a laptop can be stowed in one of the drawers and can be taken to class.

Ikea?

Remove furniture, add beanbags.

Don't add lots of posters - it'll make the space seem smaller - instead, go make friends with an art student and get them to paint your room - we got one to paint a grape vine up the wall - it was pretty cool and only cost a joint or five.

If you want to paint in back :rolleyes:
How do posters make it seem smaller?

Fiddlebottems has the right idea.
These words are not spoken nearly enough in any context.

Remove furniture, add beanbags.

Don't add lots of posters - it'll make the space seem smaller - instead, go make friends with an art student and get them to paint your room - we got one to paint a grape vine up the wall - it was pretty cool and only cost a joint or five.

And, when all else fails, just follow Fiddlebottoms' patented 4 step problem to redecorating woes.
Step 1: Buy refrigerator
Step 2: Fill with beer
Step 3: Empty refrigerator
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 - 3 until the condition of your room is no longer a priority.

Whiskey is faster, but beer is cheaper. Depends on your priorities. And your taste. Or lack thereof.

Things to invest in: Beer fridge, 30 inch monitor from Costco, TV Card (if your PC came with Windows Media Center you probably do not need this. Also a computer chair that makes a good TV chair.

Setup your bed, as everything is going to have to fit around it and junk.Then setup computer with sweet-ass monitor along the wall that gives you the most room (ie your bed does not force you into your computer desk. Attach cable to your computer via TV Card. Place beer fridge within reaching distance of computer chair in both TV and computer mode, and enjoy.

How much, if you don't mind me asking, do you end up paying for that shoebox? My apartment in Mt. P is at least 5 times bigger than that and I pay $435/month.

Actually, I think my shoes come in bigger boxes than that.

These words are not spoken nearly enough in any context.

Fiddlebottems is a genius, Fiddlebottoms is a madman - make sure you understand the distinction before following any advice given.

How much, if you don't mind me asking, do you end up paying for that shoebox? My apartment in Mt. P is at least 5 times bigger than that and I pay $435/month.

The sad thing is these rooms are the biggest on campus. :(

you should absolutely loft your beds, only keep in season clothes in your dorm, anything out of season should be stored at someone's house is stupid enough to let you do that, but smart enough not to give your clothes away. Use hooks on your bedposts of your loft to hang things that need to be hung up. Try to live on a laundry basket of clothes (not including jeans because they take up the laundry basket).


DVD's CD's and other disc shaped things can be put into 3 ring binders and will take up much less space, lights should be in the form of things that hang from the ceiling if possible.

If you have random things, get some shoe boxes and shove them in there, then stack the boxes, this will give the appearance of a clean room. If you can get some folding chairs and tables so that you can have seating when you need it but stash it when you don't.

Hit freecycle.org and sign up for your local group, request anything you think might be useful (shoeboxes, folding chairs, etc.) and pick it up for free.


I might remember more later.

If you want to paint in back :rolleyes:
How do posters make it seem smaller?

They just do:

Make a Small Room Appear Larger
The first step to making a small room appear larger is to minimize the difference in color among furnishings, walls and floor coverings; blending colors may create the illusion of a larger space. Also, colors should be light and cool, and the number of prints should be kept to a minimum. Lastly, adding glass tables or wall mirrors may create the appearance of greater space.

Now get thee to hell for making me google 'home interior decorating'.

can someone explain to me why american universities make you share a room if you stay in university accomodation, i've never figured out what the rationale could be. considering how much you pay for university i'd expect them to at least provide individual rooms.

Now get thee to hell for making me google 'home interior decorating'.

You do know that you are now officially gay, don't you?

can someone explain to me why american universities make you share a room if you stay in university accomodation, i've never figured out what the rationale could be. considering how much you pay for university i'd expect them to at least provide individual rooms.because Americans are social and like to meet new people. that or they haven't rioted enough to earn the right of individual rooms.

They just do:
Make a Small Room Appear Larger
The first step to making a small room appear larger is to minimize the difference in color among furnishings, walls and floor coverings; blending colors may create the illusion of a larger space. Also, colors should be light and cool, and the number of prints should be kept to a minimum. Lastly, adding glass tables or wall mirrors may create the appearance of greater space.
Now get thee to hell for making me google 'home interior decorating'.
But in a dorm situation, posters and such are the only real options for adding color to the walls. I know if I painted mine, the University would have a hissy fit come Summer and I'd end up paying a couple hundred dollars so they could "repair" the damage and repaint everything with sanitorium-grade white paint again.

Oh, and something I just thought of: get a rug if you have open floor space. It's a nice change from the hard tile you've probably got right now.

Put up posters of beer and women.

;)

My dorm room sucks. It's a 13x13 square of epic fail. I need to make it better if just for my own sanity.

So, how shall I go about making my little piece of hell less shitty?

(in case any of you are stupendously obtuse, I'm asking for your tips and tricks to making small spaces better and more homely).

Since I spend most of my time in my room in front of my computer, I pimped my desktop instead and turned my shitty Windows XP blandness into Mac GUI goodness. Got a doc down the bottom, no windows tool bar, shadows on the windows, no desktop icons, that cool blue background, panther-skinned, calendar on my desktop etc. Took a few hours but worth it.

Put up posters of beer and women.

;)

Beer and Women...got it.

Beer and Women...got it.
But remember: posters only. If you attempt to capture a woman off the street and tape her to your wall, you may well get arrested.
It's also possible that she'll be flattered and love you forever, but the arrested bit is much more likely.

small cheap area rug: makes the space feel a little more homey, as well as keeping downstairs neighbors a little happier.

Loft the beds. Store everything under the bed.

Keep the shades open during the day if you can. Add a mirror or two (Ikea has some cheap, easy ones to hang. You can repair the holes in the wall with toothpaste come end of year.)

Don't use the ladder if you can avoid it. they take up tons of room. I used to climb into bed using my computer chair.

I also used the top of my closet as my desk (with my laptop), and used my desk for more storage

keep the floor clean. I lived with 3 other guys, and we tended to shove everything towards the corners, which left the rest of the space feeling bigger.

A few posters or pictures will make the room feel like "yours" instead of "this shithole I live in". I kept my pictures inside my closet door, so that was my personal area.

Lights, if they are allowed/you can hide them, are great. Christmas lights are perfect.

Keep the crap to a minimum. I tossed my laundry detergent and softener, and just borrowed my roommates. Same can be done for lots of stuff

But remember: posters only. If you attempt to capture a woman off the street and tape her to your wall, you may well get arrested.
It’s also possible that she’ll be flattered and love you forever, but the arrested bit is much more likely.
Beer on the wall however...

Now that’s an idea!

You do know that you are now officially gay, don't you?

Dammit!

But in a dorm situation, posters and such are the only real options for adding color to the walls. I know if I painted mine, the University would have a hissy fit come Summer and I'd end up paying a couple hundred dollars so they could "repair" the damage and repaint everything with sanitorium-grade white paint again.

America is a fascist regime and this just goes to prove it - the artists always suffer first.

The British Attitude to Rules - Lesson 1

Forbidden by college regulations to keep a dog at Trinity, Byron kept a bear.
I have got a new friend, the finest in the world, a tame Bear, when I bought him here, they asked me what I meant to do with him, and my reply was "he should sit for a fellowship." ...This answer delighted them not.

because Americans are social and like to meet new people. that or they haven't rioted enough to earn the right of individual rooms.

well sharing a room is only one more person on top of the hundreds you will meet in your first year at uni. the only thing i can think of is perhaps some puritan thought it would stop people having sex if they had to share their room.

Beer on the wall however...

Now that’s an idea!
I know many people who decorated shelves or windowsills with various (empty) beer and hard alcohol bottles.

can someone explain to me why american universities make you share a room if you stay in university accomodation, i've never figured out what the rationale could be. considering how much you pay for university i'd expect them to at least provide individual rooms.
I guess individual rooms would cost even more. Students are usually allowed to stay off-campus, if an individual room means that much to them.

can someone explain to me why american universities make you share a room if you stay in university accomodation, i've never figured out what the rationale could be. considering how much you pay for university i'd expect them to at least provide individual rooms.

I think it's part of the "college experience" or somesuch other crap (TM).

My mom was going on and on the other day about how sad it is that I am finally going to college (which means finishing my degree.....whatever) and how I never had the "dorm" experience.......apparently she says, the dorm experience helps you to transition into the "real world" and learn to solve problems and work together......I don't know what kind of "real world" experiences I haven't come upon yet, but whatever they are, I hope to avoid them.

I think it's part of the "college experience" or somesuch other crap (TM).

My mom was going on and on the other day about how sad it is that I am finally going to college (which means finishing my degree.....whatever) and how I never had the "dorm" experience.......apparently she says, the dorm experience helps you to transition into the "real world" and learn to solve problems and work together......I don't know what kind of "real world" experiences I haven't come upon yet, but whatever they are, I hope to avoid them.

i value my privacy far too much to ever put up with sharing a room with someone. it's definitely something i too can do quite happily without.

I guess individual rooms would cost even more. Students are usually allowed to stay off-campus, if an individual room means that much to them.
That would be my guess. Most people I knew at uni actually looked forward to meeting their roommates freshman year; I got along great with mine and am still good friends with her. Freshmen were required to live on campus, and didn't have singles, although there was one dorm that had two-room doubles for the frosh. After freshman year, you were free to move off campus if you so desired, but most people chose to stay in on-campus housing (a lot of housing in the area was either far away, or prohibitively expensive). One of the more popular options was suite-style housing, where you and your suitemates all had individual (usually tiny) bedrooms, but shared a living room and sometimes a kitchen. Overall though, most people I know didn't mind having a roommate too much.

Freshmen were required to live on campus

Ummm... What? That has to be the most absurd thing I've heard all day. So you couldn't even live with your parents or move in with a friend off-campus? I must be misconstruing this...

Ummm... What? That has to be the most absurd thing I've heard all day. So you couldn't even live with your parents or move in with a friend off-campus? I must be misconstruing this...

The dipshit new president of our university is planning to implement that. He is planning to fuck up the school pretty much.

Ummm... What? That has to be the most absurd thing I've heard all day. So you couldn't even live with your parents or move in with a friend off-campus? I must be misconstruing this...

That's how it is at many US public universities, although many of those let you live with your parents if you live within X miles of the university. I didn't have to live in the dorms my freshman year because I was 22, thankfully.

Ummm... What? That has to be the most absurd thing I've heard all day. So you couldn't even live with your parents or move in with a friend off-campus? I must be misconstruing this...

Yeah, it's the same in my university. Freshman have to live on campus unless they live within a certain radius of campus (I think it's 30 miles or so).

Upon lofting the beds, put in a futon (amazingly useful, as it serves both as the couch, and as a bed for guests, drunk buddies, and pleasurable company ;) ).

Also, get a rug. Preferably one that can be easily cleaned (getting beer out of a rug can be quite the hassle) and covers much of your floor space without racking up huge costs. Then, add a TV and mini-fridge facing the futon, and some extra folding chairs/novelty chairs, for whenever you've got buddies over (to watch the game/entertainment news, where ever your tastes lie).

Lastly, but most importantly, if you are a man amongst men, acquire a Spartan Helmet decorative thingy to complete the process. Also, as Poitter said, some pornographic posters (you are 18, right?) would make you immensely popular. Be sure to have a way of covering them up/neutrally positioning them to lay the blame on your roomie if the pleasurable company is every in your room.

Spartan Helmet that just kicks ass:
http://www.mwart.com/images/p/300_The_Movie_300_Leonidas_Helmet_NE49241_7106.jpg

I know many people who decorated shelves or windowsills with various (empty) beer and hard alcohol bottles.

I do that, to an extent. I only put local beers and wine on my shelf.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a353/tuebor/beer-1.jpg

Ummm... What? That has to be the most absurd thing I've heard all day. So you couldn't even live with your parents or move in with a friend off-campus? I must be misconstruing this...
Nope. All freshmen were required to live on campus, and roommates were assigned to you unless you were married.

(in case any of you are stupendously obtuse, I'm asking for your tips and tricks to making small spaces better and more homely).

What about those of us who are stupendously obese? I'm sure they would have tips and tricks for making small spaces better, since everything is smaller for them. If have offended anyone, I am sorry :(

Yeah, it's the same in my university. Freshman have to live on campus unless they live within a certain radius of campus (I think it's 30 miles or so).

That would cut alot of new students to our school. The dipshits in charge are trying to change it from a commuter campus to a green, walk-around campus. Dumbfucks think they can just pull it out of their asses and throw around absurd changes and rules and then charge students for the privilege because they don't have a football team, in the South.

That would cut alot of new students to our school. The dipshits in charge are trying to change it from a commuter campus to a green, walk-around campus. Dumbfucks think they can just pull it out of their asses and throw around absurd changes and rules and then charge students for the privilege because they don't have a football team, in the South.

:eek:

My god. I didn't think those even existed.

well sharing a room is only one more person on top of the hundreds you will meet in your first year at uni. the only thing i can think of is perhaps some puritan thought it would stop people having sex if they had to share their room.I think the answer is my riot option really. The universities don't really do the whole single room dorm because they can get away with shoving the majority into a shared room which is more economical for them. If people started having huge hissy fits over them, the might change to keep the best students in their school, but until it is a major issue, they are going to continue to stall.

That would be my guess. Most people I knew at uni actually looked forward to meeting their roommates freshman year; I got along great with mine and am still good friends with her. Freshmen were required to live on campus, and didn't have singles, although there was one dorm that had two-room doubles for the frosh. After freshman year, you were free to move off campus if you so desired, but most people chose to stay in on-campus housing (a lot of housing in the area was either far away, or prohibitively expensive). One of the more popular options was suite-style housing, where you and your suitemates all had individual (usually tiny) bedrooms, but shared a living room and sometimes a kitchen. Overall though, most people I know didn't mind having a roommate too much.THEY MAKE YOU MOVE!?! People here would not put up with that bullshit. Their is a fair amount of legislature that prevents that kind of shit here, but if it weren't you'd see a student led school lock down or possibly a riot if one of the schools here tried a cash grab on that scale. Living on campus should be an option for people that have/want to move their but those of us who live within driving distance already should be able to stay where we are.

I think the answer is my riot option really. The universities don't really do the whole single room dorm because they can get away with shoving the majority into a shared room which is more economical for them. If people started having huge hissy fits over them, the might change to keep the best students in their school, but until it is a major issue, they are going to continue to stall.

I've a question: does this apply to the athletes as well? I was reading this (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/09/04/the_cancer_corrupting_us_colle.html) yesterday and am therefore wondering if the dorm scenario is applied across the board.

Far from being humble members of the student body, these fake students live a separate, pampered existence. They often either don't attend classes or take fake courses (sample question: "How many halves are in a college basketball game?") Far from being ordinary students, these athletes swan around in sports cars, train in state-of-the-art facilities, play in purpose built stadia, have tutors do their coursework for them and are flown to games in hired jets.

Not only has pro college sports driven down academic standards and debased university culture, says Dowling, but at the vast majority of colleges it contributes nothing financially. He cites several examples of football and basketball coaches earning $500,000 or $1m salaries while classes are taught in ramshackle classrooms, honour-student courses are abandoned, and tenured professors sacked.

At these colleges, sports are totally commercialised and massively hyped, says Dowling. Academic standards have crashed, and in the vicious scramble for players, recruiters engage in "brutally cynical behaviour" that often shades into criminality. This billion dollar culture of "corruption and hypocrisy and self-deception" has, says Dowling, turned hundreds of US colleges into intellectual wastelands dominated by a braying, moronic, drunken and mindlessly violent yahoo "booster culture".

I plan on getting an apartment.

/snotty

I've a question: does this apply to the athletes as well? I was reading this (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/09/04/the_cancer_corrupting_us_colle.html) yesterday and am therefore wondering if the dorm scenario is applied across the board.I doubt it does here. University sports are not that popular here. Although if the NHL continues to fuck things up at its current rate (ie salary cap and "New NHL"). It might rise abit, but I bet most defectors would just watch Junior Hockey instead.

:eek:

My god. I didn't think those even existed.

Yeah, we have a hockey team. I think they have to travel to Minnesota to play anyone.

Yeah, we have a hockey team. I think they have to travel to Minnesota to play anyone.

I go to what I think is the only public university in this state without a hockey team :(

THEY MAKE YOU MOVE!?! People here would not put up with that bullshit. Their is a fair amount of legislature that prevents that kind of shit here, but if it weren't you'd see a student led school lock down or possibly a riot if one of the schools here tried a cash grab on that scale. Living on campus should be an option for people that have/want to move their but those of us who live within driving distance already should be able to stay where we are.
Yep. Move out of your room at the end of the year, move into your new room at the beginning of the next year. No one seemed to mind terribly much, it was just the way it worked. And apart from freshmen, you were free to live off campus if you liked, but the vast majority preferred not to do so.

I know many people who decorated shelves or windowsills with various (empty) beer and hard alcohol bottles.

I was those people. Really adds character to a room, and the RAs can't bust you for empty bottles. ;)

I didn't really go for the posters of naked girls, nor did my roommates. There's a risk that such would tend to make actual girls uncomfortable. I had a couple of movie posters... a Say Anything poster and a The Incredibles poster signed by the director, Brad Bird. Posters related to drinking and drinking games are pretty much timeless, of course. You could also put up interesting news articles, cartoons and the like on your walls.

A rug is a must, as is at least one lamp. Futons are terrific if you have the space. Also consider a dish chair (http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/410VYDKX20L._AA280_.jpg). A TV and a video game console of some sort are always popular, though at times it can be hard to get people out of your room.

Oh, and if it's not too late try to arrange your room in such a way that you won't be bothered if your roommate has to stay up later than you doing work, or vice versa.

I can't believe you have no choice in it. What the hell? Why aren't the Libertarians or someone stirring shit up about this? I can't imagine it would be difficult to sue (or even threaten to) and get the entire rule/law thrown out the window.

I can't believe you have no choice in it. What the hell? Why aren't the Libertarians or someone stirring shit up about this? I can't imagine it would be difficult to sue (or even threaten to) and get the entire rule/law thrown out the window.

People just don't seem to care that much. Most people I know who lived in the dorms are glad they did because it was an easy way to make friends. Also, the vast majority of students here go to school in a different city than the one they live in, so they've got to live somewhere.

Have you considered strobe lights yet?

Whew, what a strange room.

Okay, here's what I recommend you do,

Get some new low rise furniture, so it'll give more space between those bunk beds and your floors. One or two beanie chairs would help as well.

Choose your color carefully, never ever use anything dark on a tight space, makes your breathing harder.

Lighting, ditch the general lighting, for a few spot halogen lighting on strategic positions,... corners maybe.

Get a carpet, possibly something you can wash every other month (because you'll spill liquids on it, either from a bottle or a body).

For your penis sake, choose your posters carefully if you plan to get laid in there.

I can't believe you have no choice in it. What the hell? Why aren't the Libertarians or someone stirring shit up about this? I can't imagine it would be difficult to sue (or even threaten to) and get the entire rule/law thrown out the window.

it's not a big deal. You go to college, you don't live with your parents, you live with a roommate, even if you moved into an apartment near campus you would have to have a roommate (or even more since near campus housing is expensive)

it's not a big deal. You go to college, you don't live with your parents, you live with a roommate, even if you moved into an apartment near campus you would have to have a roommate (or even more since near campus housing is expensive)What about those who can live with our parents? Why should we give up our FREE housing to go pay to live at uni?

What about those who can live with our parents? Why should we give up our FREE housing to go pay to live at uni?
My uni campus was one of those big, pretty, picturesque places; it wasn't a commuter campus at all. While there were some locals, most people were from at least a couple hours away, some from the other side of the world. Of the people I know who would have been able to live at home, none of them would have chosen to do so. Most social activity happened on campus, especially so for the freshmen. Your dorm was an important part of your social life freshman year.

Which is to say, I don't really have an answer for your question, particularly with regards to the legalities of it all. I went to a private university, but maybe it's different at public ones? I really don't know.

*wonders how many of these suggestions breach the tenancy contract*

I'm pretty sure the loft one does. I would definitely get written permission to do that before you did. You don't want to stuck with exaggerated 'repair' charges at the end of the year.

Ikea ftw on dorm rooms.

Let's see, how did I have my old dorm room...generally bunk beds are best cause they free up space, and you can hang a big curtain to hide both beds that way so as to allow for maxium secks.

Put in real pimps.

http://pimpsofgore.com/pimps.jpeg

:)

What about those who can live with our parents? Why should we give up our FREE housing to go pay to live at uni?
As much as I love the cost of free, I prefer to spend as little time at my childhood home as possible. I think a lot of it is an American thing (at the age of 18 you're supposed to be your own self-sufficient societal unit, even if you are still in school) and the rest of it is just issues with my parents (another great American tradition).

What about those who can live with our parents? Why should we give up our FREE housing to go pay to live at uni?

if you live with your parents within a certain radius of the school you can often get an exemption.

There are other ways to get exemptions too, but I don't remember most of them, like if you are married or have health issues or are a minor or if you have a child you can live at home freshman year.

Put in real pimps.

http://pimpsofgore.com/pimps.jpeg

:)

Hahaha! :cool:

*wonders how many of these suggestions breach the tenancy contract*

I'm pretty sure the loft one does. I would definitely get written permission to do that before you did. You don't want to stuck with exaggerated 'repair' charges at the end of the year.

Lofting varies by school. Some strictly prohibit it, some allow it only if you buy a standard lofting kit from the school, and there are probably a few out there that allow it without restrictions.

I'd be careful about painting the room, personally. Many schools don't allow that or will only allow it with very specific colors.

I'd be careful about painting the room, personally. Many schools don't allow that or will only allow it with very specific colors.
Which is what I said. Don't paint it unless you want to paint it back. Go with posters or wall scrolls.

That would cut alot of new students to our school. The dipshits in charge are trying to change it from a commuter campus to a green, walk-around campus. Dumbfucks think they can just pull it out of their asses and throw around absurd changes and rules and then charge students for the privilege because they don't have a football team, in the South.

*blinks*

Are you at the University of North Florida?

When I was in residence at uni I did not do very much to change the look of the place- I put up a large map that I got when the school library had a purging and gave away tons of them for free (I happen to like maps, so I was quite happy). Painting or changing the lighting was forbidden, but the room did have one wall in a different colour, which was cool. I used a shower rod in front of the closet (It was more of an alcove I guess, since it was not designed with doors) to hang two flags (German and EU). What else? ...I bought a reasonably good-looking bedspread? That was about it.

My biggest focus was on giving the place interesting things to do rather than being interesting to view. Computer games, books, puzzle games, and the like made the place reasonably fun. I also endeavoured to spend lots of time outside of the room, out where there were people to meet. University is great for doing fun group-things like going out to eat together or hopping on a bus to see a concert, play, or museum. The already much-mentioned drinking is also a perk of residence life.

By the way, the idea that roommates prevent the schoolkids from having physical fun with eachother is ridiculous. My suitemate (Rather than being crammed into one room, we each had our own and shared the kitchen and washroom) managed to loudly enjoy the company of his girlfriend for a surprisingly large percentage of the time we lived together. My guess is that making students share rooms halves the amount of residences that have to be built. They are also good in the event of medical emergencies- Having a roommate could be quite useful after drunken tongue-swallowings, shower-slips, diabetic disasters, and general illnesses.

*blinks*

Are you at the University of North Florida?

No.