<p>I tried to be relatively equitable when it came to claiming the side of the room. My mom decided that I had to move in on a particular side because the door opened facing the other side of the room, and she correctly guessed that my roommate would be the one coming in at all hours and not me, most of the time. </p>
<p>That being said, I felt bad about it so I gave her the desk chair with less stains. She also got the big window which she was happy about. So if you feel really bad about claiming one particular side, you can be nice and give your roommate the nicer chair/desk/dresser/ etc.</p>