What is a Dormitory?

If you are traveling cheaply, staying at hostels with dormitories can save you a lot of cash. A long time staple of backpackers, most quality hostels keep their dorms clean and quiet. The hostels also provide a safe place to keep your belongings, usually in a locker.

At hostels the dormitories are usually divided by sex, but there are very large ones that have mixed rooms. It is always a good idea to inquire about which set up it is if the idea of sharing a room with strangers of the opposite sex bothers you.

I really recommend choosing a top bunk next to a wall, and in a corner, if you want the best night's sleep possible at a hostel dorm. Having people climb down past you, or always having others navigate past you can be a pain.

Moving away from home and into a dormitory can be a huge step for a lot of people. One of the strangest things for me to get used to was having to share the bathrooms and kitchen with total strangers.

I recommend that if you aren't used to sharing a room with others that you pay the extra to have a single room. I did this and it was a great retreat from the chaos on my floor. I loved meeting all the new people, but it was a bit overwhelming too. This is extra important if you are a quieter person who likes to enjoy downtime.

I remember some of my friends getting stuck with loud roommates and always complaining. I think it is best to either live with someone you know or stick to a solo room.

I spent one semester studying abroad and living in a Japanese dormitory the university provided. It took a bit of getting used to, having never shared a small space with so many people before.

There were ten of us in one large room and only one bathroom, so you can imagine that the mornings were a bit stressful. The dormitory furniture would best be described as utilitarian, functional but nothing you'd want to take home with you.

Some people I met said that this style of housing is quite common for single company employees, and that the conditions can be even more cramped! I find that hard to imagine.

It was a lot of fun for a short time, but all in all I really came to appreciate my personal space and own room, which I had always taken for granted.

@SurfNTurf - I love those loft bedroom sets. I know that when my niece goes to college in the fall she will have to buy some sheets for her dormitory mattress and they tend to be a little longer than the typical twin mattress.

She said that it is a twin extra long. I am going to wait until August to get some sheet sets for her because that is when they usually go on sale. I want to get her a few of the t shirt sheet sets. They are so soft and comfortable.

I am also thinking of getting her some other dormitory bedding, but I want to see how she is going to set up her campus dormitory before I buy her a bed in a bag.

I know that her school requires incoming freshmen to live on campus and on the second year they can live off campus if they like. I hope she stays in the dorm because at least there will be campus security onsite which does make me feel better about her living in dormitory housing.

I really like college dormitory furniture. These designs save a lot of space and really look attractive. For example, you can get a twin loft style bed on the top layer and a desk underneath it. I am thinking about getting this dormitory design for my daughter’s bedroom because she is looking for a more grown up feel to her bedroom.

I was thinking of incorporating a lot of storage bins and brightly colored bean bag chairs. I really like the hot pink and the lime combinations. They really add a punch of color to the room without having to use any paint.