The furniture provided in your dorm room has maybe two advantages: it's already there, and it's free. Unfortunately it's usually ugly as hell. But do you have to deal with this ugliness? I say no way, José (or whatever your name is). Here are some tips on how to furnish on the cheap.

Here's a suggestion if you need to provide your own furniture, but you don't want to spend a fortune or sacrifice style. If your crafty or have some assistance from someone with experience, consider refurbishing old furniture. I got a used coffee table for free from my mom's coworker. It was worn, marked up, and an unattractive color. So, I decided to paint and personalize. I went to Home Depot and bought paint and a lacquer that wouldn't ruin photographs.

The small size of the living area is the major issue for the dorm room decorator. When working with such a compact space, including pieces of furniture that double up in purpose and function increases the room's usable space. This way, you can use all the space of the room, from the floor (for storage) to the ceiling (for sleeping.) For example, you can pair a desk and a bed by using a loft bed. You can increase the storage space with a bunk bed. All these combinations offer tons of creative solutions for a smart student decorator.