by Joan Inong

Created on: August 06, 2009   Last Updated: August 07, 2009

Starving college students don't need expensive furniture. As long as your furniture is functional and comfortable, you don't need to spend a pretty penny on something that only needs to last as long as you are in school. The following are some cheap dorm room furniture ideas.

College students need seating the most. With most college students living in a small box, they will need all the seating arrangements that they can fit in their tiny rooms. Bean bag chairs come to mind. These are really inexpensive, yet last for quite a while. And, most of all, they are very comfortable and portable. You are able to move bean bag chairs around without all the hassle of heavy furniture with sharp corners and edges. Papasan chairs are also very comfortable, and if you look online at classified ads, you may be able to find one for less than $60. These chairs also last a long time, and are made with durable wood.

Assemble-it-yourself furniture is perhaps the least expensive type of furniture you will buy. Stores like Ikea and Walmart are great for college students looking for cheap dorm room furniture ideas. First, Ikea and Walmart stock up on furniture that you have to assemble yourself, which decreases the price of the furniture dramatically. Secondly, the furniture is functional and easy on the eyes. If you are living in a typical college dorm, chances are that you won't need fancy furniture with carvings. Assemble-it-yourself furniture is very simple and you don't need many tools to put them together. Ottomans are also great for dorm rooms, because they are quite small and you are able to move them around easily.

If you are in need of any type of furniture, take a look at online classified ads. Look for garage and yard sales, and even look at the free items section. Most of the time, the furniture will look very old and used, but sometimes you can find a nice gem. Dressers are often really inexpensive if you look online, but sometimes, you can get a deal if you purchase a few dressers at one time at a furniture store. Ask the manager about it, and team up with a few friends who also need dressers.

If you need shelving, but don't want a bookshelf to clutter your floor, then you might like wall shelves instead. These are easy to put up and are less pricey than traditional bookshelves. Go to your local home improvement store and ask them about wall shelving. They will instruct you on how to install them. Always check with your dormitory's rules before putting any holes in the walls, however.

Whatever furniture you decide to put in your dorm room, remember that there are really cheap options out there. Living in a dorm doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice comfort and your money just to use functional furniture that will last.

Learn more about this author, Joan Inong.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.