Shop now for dorm furnishings

WACO, Texas -- As students enter the virtually parent-free world of college, among their first tasks is searching out the furnishings and decor for their dorm room or apartment.

Furniture and domestic items, such as bedding, are in big demand at department stores right now -- and have been since the rush for the upcoming semester began earlier this month, according to Dale Ripley, hardlines manager for Target in Waco.

"About four weeks before (classes start), you start seeing them," Ripley said. "A lot of parents come in and start buying appliances for their kids."

And not long after the shopping begins, stores start selling out.

"We set up a dorm area and sold out completely in about two weeks," said Belk's in Waco store manager, John Schell. "I think (female students) try to make their dorm rooms individualized."

Preferred color schemes, particularly among women, tend to range from polka dots to solid, loud colors, especially reds, according to Schell.

Many college students learn to become experts at creative room decor. The lucky ones have parents who will do the shopping for them or send them off with a charge card or gift card.

But for many students, splitting the cost among roommates is the key to furnishing and decorating the room. The other trick to affording the expense is just being frugal-minded and finding the right places to buy the right things.

"We're seeing a trend from families with multiple kids," Schell said. "They begin shopping for their school needs early so they can split it up among paychecks."

Audra Peterson, who will be a sophomore at Baylor University, said she and her roommate from last year worked out a system where each provided necessary items for their room.

"I bought a fridge, and she bought a TV," Peterson said.

Students agree that allowing each roommate to contribute individual items avoids conflict when the school semester ends. "Splitting the cost (of each item) is tough because eventually you have to take the stuff home," Peterson said.

Furnishing a dorm room seems to have less to do with being trendy than being practical. Among the most popular items are chairs, pillows, small fridges, bedspreads and curtains, according to students. Lamps and clocks are frequently needed as well.

However, one trendy item is the video chair, which has been made popular by this generation of Googlers and gamers.

And beanbags, popularized in the '60s and '70s, are once again appearing in dorm rooms.

Computers rank high on the "needed items" list. Students cited the convenience of having a computer in their room as the primary reason.

"If you were assigned a paper on a Friday and it was due Monday, you would have to get on campus . . . so you could do the paper," said Kari Dickerson, an off-campus sophomore." Also, I moved 300 miles from my own city to another college, so to keep in touch with family back at home, my ability to e-mail became almost critical."

Futons and fold-out mats are increasingly common. The price for a futon starts at about $25, while the price for a mat starts at about $20. Prices vary according to size, model and, of course, store.

Students said bringing their favorite chairs from home or buying one was conducive to the overall studying experience, though it contributed to the sometimes motley arrangement of room decor.

College and dorm life can be fun, but be warned: Thefts can happen.

"If I can give anyone tips on how to make dorm life easier," Dickerson said, "it would be: Save all receipts from anything you bought for your dorm room . . . take pictures of everything . . . tag your belongings. Dorms aren't theft-proof. . . . Above all else, just have fun."

David Waller writes for the Waco Tribune-Herald. E-mail: [email protected]

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