<p>Finances are limited in this family so I thought I was being clever in keeping in storage two old futons and two old corner coffeetables (maybe end tables is more accurate) for DS’s future use. The operative word here is “old”–the furniture is not damaged, just, well, old. I did buy a new futon cover but that might just be the limit of what I can do.</p>
<p>First, I kept reading about how everyone will go shopping in IKEA; next I saw a Saybrook blog on facebook with a photo of an L-Dub common room (I don’t know if you need a Yale password to read it):</p>
<p>I am also the mother of a first year and I think that in NO WAY will you embarrass your child with used furniture. I have looked at lots of facebook pictures of common rooms and the one you have referenced in your post looks like the exception to me. I have seen rooms with plastic lawn chairs and milk crates… Has he contacted his suitemates to see what they are bringing? That is important…you don’t want 4 futons! I say bring the used furniture! Have you asked him how he feels…do you ask because he is concerned? We are bringing a used refrigerator and a used (illegal) microwave…if that helps.</p>
<p>He won’t be embarrassed, but I think you should show him what you have and let him connect with his suitemates and ask if they want him to bring any of it after he describes it. Likely they’ll think it’s great, but I wouldn’t bring it unannounced - furnishing the common room needs to be a group decision.</p>
<p>Used furniture is fine. My freshman year, toward the end, my suitemates and I pulled an abandoned couch off the street to incorporate into our common room. I of course wouldn’t recommend bringing something like that at the start of the year, but as long as the furniture of the type in question is desired - I think the only real requirement is that it be in reasonably good shape and acceptably clean.</p>
<p>We only did Ikea because we live too far away to drag the old couch. Believe me, there are plenty of basement-salvaged furnishings at Yale. But do check with suitemates first, in case someone has something else in mind, or an unlimited budget.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for the input. DS did communicate with suite mates and told them what he could bring. Others are bringing the TV, a rug, etc. for the common room. However, they are buying new, although early on in the planning one of the roomies was talking about using craigslist to pick up used futons.</p>
<p>All our furniture is clean, just been used for a decade or so. We’re only bringing one futon for starters until we see how the living room shapes up. Also, the other futon does need a new mattress which I will purchase if the suite decides they want it. DS offered to put photos of said furniture on facebook if the rest of the suite wished, but no one took him up on that. DS is well aware of family finances and of the furniture he has at his disposal. (He also has a couple of folding bookshelves and random other things he could take). He is away this weekend, so hasn’t seen the picture in the Saybrook blog. Is the common room really that unusual?</p>
<p>Yes, I would say that common room is not the usual. During freshman year my S and suitemates never even got around to putting anything up on the wall, and had barebones furniture. There might not be room for 2 futons, either, so I would suggest just the one with the new cover–that will be just fine, as long as no one else is bringing one. Once you get in a rug, t.v., bookcases, etc., from the other kids, it will start to look pretty nice. I would also suggest a floor lamp if anyone has one. As long as things are clean and sturdy, no need to buy new.</p>
<p>Stringkeymom - I think a cherished futon will be an excellent contribution to the room. I also think you are wise to hold off on the tables until you see how much room they have. Four bodies in the common room take up a far amount of space without any furniture!! I also agree that the trips to Ikea depend a lot on geography - someone from Florida will wait and go to Ikea, whereas someone from the northeast will bring furniture. </p>
<p>Freshman year, DD brought a futon as her major contribution. Last year, since she had more space she brought a leather recliner from home (gently used). It is the without a doubt the most heavily used piece of furniture in the room. No one cares that it was second - handand when guys stop by the room they really like it!</p>
<p>Since this seems to be the latest L-Dub thread, I’m going to try asking a couple of questions for S. He’s on the 5th floor, so a large double, no common room. </p>
<p>From a video we saw that included a tour of one of those rooms, it looks like there is no regular height closet in the 5th floor rooms but a trunk room out in the hall. Is that right?</p>
<p>The guys are expecting not to bunk their beds and use them as seating instead of getting a futon, which is apparently typical for the 5th floor set-up. But do people put their unbunked beds on risers so they can get more storage underneath?</p>
<p>Are there any built-in bookcases on the 5th floor or does it make sense to bring one in?</p>
<p>Finally, how can they hang things on the wall? Apparently Yale Facilities gives out something to help with hanging, but we can’t figure out what that something is and have been resisting calling the school at what must be a very busy time.</p>
<p>wisedad, very few people have lived in the 5th floor of L-Dub, so you’re unlikely to get a particularly informed response. I have been in rooms up there, but only a couple times - social gathering spots generally tend to naturally form on lower floors - so my recollections are hazy. </p>
<p>I don’t remember the closet situation, but there will be somewhere to hang clothes regardless, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. The video sounds like it could very well be right, though, as plenty of rooms lack closets.</p>
<p>The standard 5th floor set-up does not involve bunking, so I think you’re on the right track there. It should be possible to raise the beds for more storage space if you want, though I’m not absolutely sure about that.</p>
<p>There are no built in bookcases on the 5th floor (nor anywhere else in L-Dub). You can bring a bookcase or not as you prefer, at this point, my books live in giant stacks against the wall.</p>
<p>For hanging things on the wall, the only thing I’m aware of Yale giving out are hooks that can be stuck to the wall, and are useful for hanging towels, raincoats, and the like. But I assume you’re talking more about things like posters, in which case the most common medium seems to be some sort of sticky puddy. I don’t think Yale supplies this, but maybe I’ve just forgotten.</p>
<p>Wow!! How long are your Apron strings? They will figure things out without you. They are the best and the brightest, will make their own decisions and will change the world if you let them.</p>
<p>To Britham. Your response sounded a little mean spirited. (Maybe you did not intended that way, but that is how I interpreted it). You might recall that not so long ago you did not let your children “make their own decisions” as found in your post a few years ago…here is your post:</p>
<p>“Easy answer. You call during the day when he is in school. My wife did all the scheduling for both of our Choaties. She is after all in charge of the family schedule. It might be awkward for your son if asked by the scheduler “Is the morning or afternoon better on Septemeber 13th?” “I have the second week of October wide open. How does that work for you?” He freezes and hands the phone to you and its all over. Interaction of the prospective student is not required until the interview. That’s when you stand back and let them show their stuff. They are after all only 12-14 years old.”</p>
<p>Please don’t make this parent feel bad, when all they want is some reassurance and guidance.</p>
<p>Yes, thanks for the spirited defense, BHM. I suspected that poster was a male who lived near Yale, probably in CT, and sure enough. He may think from my screen name that I’m a dad, but as I’ve noted elsewhere, “wisemom” was already taken. And it will take us 17 hours in my Explorer to get to New Haven.</p>
<p>I want to update this thread for next year…judging from the common rooms I saw during move-in, a used futon would have been very welcome in most suites.</p>
<p>In my child’s suite, the 4 of them ALTOGETHER have spent about $200 on stuff for the common room. This amount got them a floor lamp, a small rug, two Target butterfly chairs, a small bookcase and a few large cushions for the window seat.</p>
<p>None of them were eager/willing to shell out $300 or more for an IKEA sofa. They would have loved to have someone’s old basement-stored futon. I would bet they are fairly representative of many incoming Yale freshmen. </p>
<p>I’m sure they will improve the room during the course of the next 9 months (although it looks pretty good to me even now).</p>
<p>Just for future reference… my S as a freshman last year split the cost of a futon (metal frame) from the bookstore for $200 minus a 10% B&N card discount.</p>
<p>We actually got an IKEA futon for about $149 two years ago (which suitemates split cost of); not their top of the line, but sturdy, comfortable and nice-looking.</p>
<p>In case anybody in the future looks for info on the L-Dub (Lanman Wright Hall) 5th floor and finds this thread, we can now report that it also quite dark up there, due to the rooms having only single dormer windows instead of the more expansive windows available on the lower floors. So plan to bring or buy some lamps if that’s where you are assigned.</p>