If your room lacks shelving, Cook suggests creating your own, a task that may seem a bit daunting to the un-handy among us. Cook insists the project is actually quite simple and economical as long as you arm yourself with a sturdy drill and hammer. Once you have shelving, you not only have a place to organize and store books, CDs , stereo systems, trinkets, and clothes, you have space to walk. Cook also says multi-functional furniture is a clever way to saving space. For example, replacing the standard desk with a drafting table provides a comfortable workspace when set at an angle and an ample surface for entertaining dinner guests when laid flat.
Some models collapse altogether for easy storage.
Architect Scott Vlasak, a recent graduate of RPI, agrees that innovative use of space and multi-functional furniture is key in the quest to make college dorm rooms as livable as possible. Vlasak proposes finding creative ways to make storage units double as furniture. For example, a trunk that holds your sweaters can also be used as a coffee table. Bolt-free shelving made from cinder blocks and slender wooden boards is great for extra seating. Vlasak also suggests arranging furniture in such a way that it doubles as a partition, clearly delineating living areas within a single room.