I have storage containers that fit under my bed, and I have a shoe rack in the closet. Carleen Smorra says it's not easy to get things from her home in New Jersey because she doesn't have a car. Smorra, a sophomore, advises students to use bunk beds to save space. We're using our floor space for a few bean bag chairs. We like the extra seating for when our friends stop to visit.
Space is a concern because so many students want to live on campus.
This semester, Department of Resident Life reports that almost 8,350 students are living on-campus, and nearly 1,000 housing requests were denied because of lack of adequate accommodations. Tracy Karstetter, coordinator of marketing programs for the Department of Resident Life, says there are a number of reasons for this lack of room. She believes that there are other contributing factors, including convenience and a healthy economy. Students are packing differently when going off to college as well. The latest trends in dorm room furniture include inflatable furniture, lava lamps and futons.