Best way to arrange a triple dorm?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I live in a triple dorm room that is not forced, but is small. Not super small, but it's not huge. It's basically a square room with a sink area and 1 large closet and 1 small closet (i.e. for 3 people). I live on the top bunk right now, and personally, I hate it. But my roommate though I love her doesn't want the top bunk for fear of heights and my other roommate prefers her own bed which she got first claim during orientation. I'm very frustrated because I feel as though I don't have my own space- my desk and bookshelf are situated next together, but right next to my roommate's desk on the right. To get to my bed on the top bunk, I have to climb up on top of her bookshelf to climb up into my bed. I find it annoying seeing as how she also puts stuff on top of her shelf and on the steps on the bunk bed, making it hard for me to climb up. I don't have that much storage as them either, since one roommate can put things under her bed and has the biggest closet, while the other roommate with the lone bed can put things under her bed as well. I've had to put my drawers in my closet to save room and situate my bookshelf right next to my desk. Other than that, I don't really have any storage.</p>

<p>I've tried talking to them before about lofting all the beds, but one roommate literally glares at me everytime she hears about the idea of having a loft bed for herself because of her fear of heights, and the other is indifferent and sees no point in it.</p>

<p>So I'm wondering if there is any way or ideas that other students have as far as how to go about rearranging the room? Does anyone else live in a triple and how did you arrange your bed? Is there a bunk bed, did you have to loft all beds; is there a way to loft one or two beds? I'm sorry if this sounded whiny or confusing.</p>

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<p>"First claim"? Whose idea was that? How is that fair?<br>
I think you need to be firm, explain you have no storage or space, and work together to work out a solution -- either that, or bring in the RA. You're not going to get anywhere hinting and hoping someone picks up on it.
How do other people in triples like yours do it?</p>

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<p>I feel your pain. I was in a triple last year, but we all talked it through before we even moved in, and were able to have unbunked, unlofted beds thanks to some crafty furniture arranging. And our room wasn't what I would call large, either. I think you need to sit down with your roommates and maybe your RA and discuss dividing up the space fairly. I think that since you have the crappiest sleeping arrangement (i.e. top bunk), the biggest closet should be yours. And no way should the girl living under you put her stuff all over the place and thus impeding your ability to get to your bed. </p>

<p>Trust me, talk about it now and prevent the bitterness from setting in!</p>