<p>nc7777 - do you know what the quality of the rugs were that you could order through the school? They are significantly less expensive than the ones that I have seen (like half the price) and liked at Target and other places so I wasn’t sure about the quality. I would like to avoid traveling 8 hours with a rug but will if the quality is poor with the ones you can order.</p>
<p>Last year my son’s suite mates had a rug from the company that rents the loft beds and it looked really nice, partly because it fit the room really well size-wise. Because of the room size we had to go with something smaller than we wanted. I think it was 5’ x 8’; 6 x 9 rugs were nowhere to be found and anything larger was too big for the space. I wish we had done it that way because the options weren’t great otherwise. </p>
<p>As for refrigerators, we bought one at the Walmart in West Columbia after we got there, $94 for a nice one with a small freezer. You can also order things from Bed Bath and Beyond and they will have it ready for you at the Columbia store. That will lighten your load on the way down. We also bought a printer in Columbia rather than take it with us. Our son was also appreciative to have it and not have to go somewhere to print. </p>
<p>Something no one else has mentioned is that at least in Columbia Hall the desk is pretty small with very little storage and there are no shelves for books and things. I’m sorry I can’t remember exactly what we did to give him shelf space at the back of the desk against the wall but it was really needed!</p>
<p>I’ll also “second” the selection of USC gear at Walmart and to a lesser degree Target in Columbia. Not just clothing either…you’ll find even more items than the bookstore has.</p>
<p>Thanks Nellivis - We may just have to order a rug through that company then - I just hate to do it sight unseen! What I have found somewhat helpful is to look at the pictures on the housing website of the different rooms (not just the dorm that your student will live in). You can get ideas for things that might be helpful. There is one picture of a desk that has a shelf on it (that I am sure would have been brought by the student). We would have never had thought to bring something like that for extra storage for their books.</p>
<p>//\ my older daughter has a folding shelf that we got from The Container Store if u have one of those near you. I think it comes in white and maybe black or a wood stain or sonething… We bought it two years ago but I know they still sell them. It folds totally flat and we just put it underneath everything in the car. She used it on top of her desk freshman and sophomore yr in her dorm and I think she can even use it on the floor as a book shelf in her off campus apt this year. We have a store right near us but u may be able to order it online .i think it was like 90.00or something but its totally worth the money. I think bed bath and beyond had some kind of metal one too… This one is wood though and its holding up really well.I am def going to get my freshman d one.</p>
<p>ahsmuoh - </p>
<p>I think the rug from the loft bed group was ok. We got an inexpensive rug and at the end of the year it was inpretty bad shape because my son’s roommate was pretty messy/sloppy. Even though these were boys and I know girls are typically (but not always!) neater, I would still recommend an inexpensive rug. </p>
<p>I looked at the shelf my son used on his desk…we found it at Ikea. It’s an “Ekby Jarpen” shelf (a brown/black color) and as I recall, there were different lengths (and maybe widths, too) available (I think his is 7.5" x 31" or so). The legs are sold separately; I can’t find the exact one online. They were right by the shelves; they’re round; 6" high, brushed stainless steel with a rectangular plate at the top for screwing into the bottom of the shelf and round “discs” as feet with protective plastic on the bottom. I seem to recall that the legs came in different heights as well. We wished we had gotten a 2nd, shorter shelf to put on top of this one for more space. I want to say that this combination was around $15.</p>
<p>Question re: the wardrobes / closet space … are there shelves in the wardrobe /closets at all - even just one where the hanger pole is attached? I’m thinking we could put some shelving on the floor of the closet and utilize some of that space as well? (such as for towels and the extra set of bed linens). Specifically for Columbia Hall</p>
<p>I took a picture at orientation of the inside of the wardrobe in the Honors dorm. There is a shelf on both sides so really there are 4 flat spaces (the two sides have a shelf and the floor of both sides)</p>
<p>As far as the shelves for desks - do they have backs on them? Are they deep enough for text books to sit on? DD is trying to figure out what she will need and thinks she should either have them deep enough to lay the books flat or a shelf with a back so she can stand the books up.</p>
<p>Looks like Columbia hall has stand alone wardrobes…if they are like the ones in honors, there are 2 sides…one is full length hanging with maybe a small shelf and the other side is divided so you can hang shorter stuff top and bottom. For extra bedding/towels, we got a plastic tub with lid and put on top of wardrobe, which is otherwise wasted space. If you have time moving in, you might want to wait til you see it to determine what you need and hit the local Target or Walmart. I think D hung a shoe holder from long side of her wardrobe.</p>
<p>If I recall correctly, the wardrobe has a hanging bar on one side (for longer items) and the other side had some shelves, maybe another bar as well? The dresser drawers are a good size. There is also room on top to store extra things, so it would be good to bring some clear/opaque plastic containers to store “extra” things up there. There is also a space between the wardrobe and the wall adjacent to the hallway - my son and his roommate put their laundry hampers there, also the vacuum “stick” we bought them. </p>
<p>Another thing to think about is where they will hang their towels. There might have been towel bars in the bathroom but I don’t think anyone used them. An over the door rack for the room door or Command hooks are good ideas.</p>
<p>Scmom… My d and I found the target and bed bath and beyond during orientation, but I forgot to try and find the walmart. It looks like there are a few of them. Which one do you recommend if we need to make a trip there on moving day?</p>
<p>There is one if you continue out garners ferry past target. Also one on forest drive at I-77. There are also all 3 stores in harbison area which is not as convenient to USC unless staying out there.</p>
<p>Thank you. Scmom12!</p>
<p>Having a hard time finding a hutch or shelves for the desk in Captstone! The website shows the desk is 42". D had a very nice hutch that she used at her residential arts school but it is too long (it won’t go to waste, since her brother is going to the same school this year!) Any ideas on where I can find something to expand her storage room on the small desk??</p>
<p>DD’s desk in Capstone came with a shelf under the desk that she used for her books. She didn’t put one on top of the desk. I assume that is common to all the desks in Capstone.</p>
<p>Also, there is probably a good FB page for capstone - dorm or scholars- and that’s a good place to ask other students what’s in the rooms and what they found useful</p>