Before you start packing for the move, take some time this summer to research and find some neat furniture and storage items that make great use of the space and put your personal imprint on your digs.

First, double check the size of the room and the available space you have for bringing personal items. If you are sharing your room with a roommate, reach out to discuss common interests and needs.  Then plan out quickly who is bringing what so that you do not have any duplicates and optimize your use of the space.

Here are 10 ideas for furniture that can do double-duty as storage and can usually be found at affordable prices.

1. 1. Sleeper Chairs
      These chairs act as both a chair and a comfortable bed and in a reasonable footprint. These chairs come in various sizes and colors and you can pick one to match the color scheme for your room.

      Credit: Target.com

   2. Storage Bench or Ottoman
      The storage bench is a clever idea to squeeze items such as blankets, pillows, extra clothes or books. A storage bench or ottoman can also serve as a table for placing books or food when entertaining.
      
      

      Credit: Wayfair.com

   3. Bed with storage drawers
      If you are allowed to bring your own bed in the dorm room, you can feel a lot more organized with a storage bed with drawers for your clothes, shoes, books or personal items.
      
      

      Credit: Wayfair.com

   4. Folding Chairs
      You can easily store a few folding chairs in your closet or a corner for days where you have company without wasting valuable space in your room.
      
      

      Credit: Amazon.com

   5. Book shelves that double as a room divider
      In college you will need lots of space for all the books and papers you will accumulate and having a bookshelf that can double as a room divider is a great way to make use of your small space while providing a bit of privacy in your room.
      
      

      Credit: Hayneedle.com

   6. Murphy bed desks
      This is a queen wall bed with a built-in desk.  It functions as a desk during the day and a bed at night. It comes with matching side panels that are sold separately for extra storage.   Supercool for tight spaces, this is something you may even more likely consider for your first apartment off campus.
      
      

      Credit: Costco

   7. Rolling Drawers:
      Drawers provide a great way for organizing items in your closet or to move the unit around for easy access when it is needed.  An alternative idea:  Raise your bed using PVC pipe or blocks over the bed corners (if your school allows), use low height rolling storage under the bed.
      

      Credit: Target.com

   8. Customizable shelves and cubes:
      These are especially handy in dorms where cubbys and closets do not come with built in space.  They let you use virtually every square inch for storage.
      

      Credit: Bed Bath and Beyond

   9. Hanging shelves and shoe hangers:
      Hanging shelves are great where you have fewer clothes to hang and many items that require folding.  Shoe hangers free up space on the ground for more storage and offer fast and easy access to your shoes without searching when you are running late.
      

      Credit: Kohl’s

   10. Two-tiered workspace for laptop, monitor and keyboard
       There are numerous workspace units on the market these days that allow one to setup a flexible station on a flat surface. These are height-adjustable solutions that turn a desk into a standing desk. The multi-tiered design provides an upper area for a laptop and a monitor, while the lower area has room for a keyboard, a mouse and other items.
       
       

       Credit: Varidesk.com

Dorm room decorating

Your new home away from home, your dorm room, will be equipped with a bed, desk and chair, chest of drawers and closet. But, it won’t have a lot of personality. That means you can make your dorm room a place you will love to spend time in and where everyone on your hall wants to hang out! As you reflect on what you might need to decorate your dorm, dollar signs might be flashing before your eyes, but it is possible to do it on a budget!

In fact, interior designer Merri Cvetan has decorated dorm rooms completely with items she has found at secondhand stores like Goodwill.

Here are some of her tips for decorating on a budget:

• Start with a color scheme. Cvetan always starts in the linen department of Goodwill to find a bedspread or duvet cover. “This will determine the color scheme,” she says. “Then, it will be much easier to find coordinating accessories.”
• Make sure that everything you purchase is still in good condition and washable. Sheets for your bed might be one thing you should consider buying new.

Think artsy

You won’t have a lot of floor space, but you will have plenty of blank wall space, so take advantage of it! Using posters is an easy and inexpensive way to add color and personality to your dorm.

• com offers one of the largest selections of posters on the Internet, from movie posters to prints of artwork, starting under $10. You can also create your own poster designs.
• If you want to display photos of your friends and family in a cool way, CVS allows you to create a collage poster, and other items by uploading your photos at the CVS photo center online (cvsphotocenter.com) or at an in-store kiosk.
• Cathy Hobbs, celebrity designer, also has the following suggestion: “While it may be unrealistic to paint walls, removable stickers are a wonderful and extremely decorative option. There are numerous patterns, graphics and colors galore!”

Coordinate your space

After you pick a bedspread, coordinate your other items by keeping them neutral or in the same color scheme.

• “Pick out some fun throw rugs that will jazz up your room,” Hobbs says. “Also, you can find inexpensive bath mats in all kinds of colors and patterns.”
• If your walls have corkboards, cover them with sample wallpaper pieces or an inexpensive piece of fabric to have a fun surface for posting pictures, your calendar and other items.
• Pick up some extra sheets or scarves that match with your color scheme. They can be used to hang on walls, cover a mismatched table or chairs and as curtains.
• Buy a funky collapsible chair or two to create a seating area in your dorm in sight of your TV. Add throw pillows, a lamp and a small table or container covered with a piece of fabric and you are all set to entertain!

Tips to remember    

• In the tight space of a college dorm room, one of your best allies is organization. Find baskets, plastic containers and desk and closet organizers to keep everything organized and easy to find. Feng Shui consultant Tess Whitehurst says, “keeping your room as clutter-free as possible will help you psychologically to feel clear, awake and alert while you’re studying.” It will also make your room more appealing to visitors.
• Art doesn’t have to be confined to the wall! Bring your own creativity into the room with some DIY projects. Make your own throw pillows, decorate a plain lampshade to match your room or make your own photo collage or scrapbook with memories from home.

Sara Rowe is a freelance writer published in various publications for teens and preteens.