Pre-nesting

Whenever I'm about to move to a new place (new dorm room was really the only experience I had with that) I get really excited about planning. REALLY EXCITED.

And living in my own dorm room with no room mate for three semesters really gave me a chance to see just how much I could make of big, white walls, small space, and what I had. It is a deep source of regret on my part that I did not photograph my dorm room from my senior year in college. I think I had the best room in the whole building. My windows faced south and west (yes, windows on TWO WALLS) and my bed was in a perfect little pocket next to the A/C unit, my papasan chair fit perfectly, and it was all well-lit by three beautiful lamps. When it was clean and all in order, it was such a haven. My girls came in at the beginning of the year and said 'Oh! This is so beautiful! It looks like an apartment!' I DO have pictures of my first dorm room I had all by myself (and I was quite proud of the arrangement). Someday I will take you through the "Room Tours by Rufus" that I put together for a friend away at the Disney College Program (where she met her now husband!).

I'm hoping to recreate that effect with my apartment room. The trouble is that now I have to work with a larger bed (a full size instead of twin) and I haven't seen the space. In fact, the only thing I have to go on is the apartment's layout on the website. Soooo....being the incredibly industrious woman I am, I took a screen shot of the layout, copied it into paint, and rearranged the furniture conveniently arranged in the original layout. I got quite my favorite room in all of the layouts because my closet will be in the bathroom (no wet footprints on the carpet and extra wall space!) and there are two windows, one in the room and one in the bathroom. (Light! I crave natural light!) So, I have eight possible arrangements and will proceed to bore you with the details.

Internet security has reminded me that posting a blueprint of my apartment might give a bit more accessibility than I ever intended. Sooo...I'll just post my room!

This is the original layout of my room. I don't think that it provides for optimum floorspace. Plus I don't like having my desk by a window

. Imagine poor grad student Kate sitting at her desk watching the undergrads play sand volleyball or swim in the pool or play basketball. I don't know which one I'd see from my window, but it makes me sad to think I'd see that and the green trees and everything while trying to focus on child development. Or worse, research. That class will kick my butt this year!

This next one has the bed by the window. Much better. Problem: bathroom door looks like it won't open all the way with the dresser there.
Okay, now my head is going into the window, the dresser can be used as a nightstand, and the desk has its own wall. I don't know, it looks a bit cramped, yes?

Hmm, even more cramped. And awkward. Not to mention, if I want a TV in there (still debating) I'll have to use another piece of furniture to put it on. No TV in bed, insomniac rule #1. And this...well the only option is to put it right on the dresser and stare at it. Not good.

Now this one...my head is RIGHT on the other side of my room mate's door. I have no idea how active she is but I doubt I'll stand for that very long. And my desk is back by the window. And I kind of have an idea using the walls on both sides of a corner for my desk. Because the room is small, I am going to have to employ a lot of wall storage.

Now here are three options with the dresser taken down and put under my very tall (and will be taller with my 6 inch bed lofts) bed. I have a telephone stand that functioned as a printer stand senior year that can be used as a TV stand...televisions are so ugly. Anyway, its drawer and cabinet will afford me extra storage and it has a very small footprint...maybe four square feet.


I also have a papasan chair that I have carried with me to each of these rooms I've had by myself. I intend to take it with me for reading and TV viewing so I don't tell myself I can do either of those things in my bed or at my desk (except for the reading part...I guess I can do that at my desk). I'm hoping with one of these plans that it will fit in. My room mate says it should fit fine. If not they'll put it in the living room. It already has a few jury-rigged mends in the frame from my drowsy clumsiness, so I guess I can take any more damage it incurs in the living room.

I think I like the middle layout without the dresser. With the desk on a different wall I can divide the space up and I'll definitely have the wallspace I hope for. Plus, my bed will be on an outside wall so I don't have to worry about unwanted noises from room mate. Well I will...but only a little.

Next post: my desk plan. Laptop solutions, organization plan, and pretty pretty pictures.